DS260, marriage and last name change (DV2017)

[einholen]

Hi there!

It would be greatly appreciated if someone could clarify the following:

I'm a DV2017 selectee of the 2nd draw, I'm marrying my girlfriend and she's going to take my family name. Our marriage is going to happen early in December, and by our country's protocol she first has to obtain a new local passport (10 days) and only after that can she apply for a new foreign passport which would take another 30 days - all in all the process is unlikely to be finished much earlier than February 2017 (mid-January if we're super lucky).
My case number is EU28XXX, and I was mostly OK with submitting DS260 in December, less OK for January, and I'm worried a lot about having to submit it in February - the number is pretty high, and noone can guarantee that there will be enough visas if I miss my case number becoming current due to the backlog. I heard that there were success stories of people submitting even later than that, but still the earlier the better.

Here are the options I see now:
1. Submit DS260 for me now and unlock it to add my wife as soon as she secures all her new documents;
2. Submit DS260 right after the marriage using her old travel document with old last name, and bring the new passport to the interview (and/or unlock the form as soon as she secures her new passport to update this detail);
3. The same as (2), but specify my last name as her last name along with old travel document (with her maiden name in it).
4. Submit DS260 in February and hope for the best.

Thanks in advance!
Sergey

 

[Sm1smom]

Get married, submit the DS260 form for both of you in December - for your spouse, use her current passport number. List your last name as hers also since the plan is for her to take up your last name. There's a section on the form for listing maiden name/other names used.

Then when she gets her new passport, contact KCC to unlock her form and update the passport number section only. Attend the interview with both passports.

 

[einholen]

Thanks a lot!

I'm a little worried about specifying her name not as in the document I'm filling in - I heard so many warnings about how picky they are regarding correctness of information around marital status and dates, and had a feeling that they'll be happy to disqualify us right away as soon as they spot an inconsistency in the form
So perhaps it would be better to list her current last name along with old passport number, and change both the name and number when she gets it?

This is indeed all a matter of which document is more important - by the time we'll be filing DS260 the only document with my last name as her last name will be the marriage certificate...

 

[Sm1smom]

Thanks a lot!

I'm a little worried about specifying her name not as in the document I'm filling in - I heard so many warnings about how picky they are regarding correctness of information around marital status and dates, and had a feeling that they'll be happy to disqualify us right away as soon as they spot an inconsistency in the form
So perhaps it would be better to list her current last name along with old passport number, and change both the name and number when she gets it?

This is indeed all a matter of which document is more important - by the time we'll be filing DS260 the only document with my last name as her last name will be the marriage certificate...

Yeah, people hear all sorts of things which aren't generally true or correct .

The typical assumption in most places is that when a woman gets married, she takes up the husband's name - the embassies are aware of this. There's no requirement that says she must have a travel document or any other document with your last name before you can submit the DS 260 form as suggested.

Countless number of selectees have gotten married and gone ahead to list the wife's name on the form like I suggested while they're still waiting to process the passport. Again, there's a section on it for other names used where you can list her maiden name (as is on the current passport).

There's no need to overthink or over complicate a rather simple process. But it's your case, do whatever makes you comfortable.

FYI: they're not eagerly looking forward to disqualifying people for every and any imaginable reason. They're actually more interested in approving and issuing the visas.

 

[einholen]

There's no requirement that says she must have a travel document or any other document with your last name before you can submit the DS 260 form as suggested.

My concern stemmed mostly from a hint on DS260 itself ("Help: Surnames. Enter all your surnames as listed in your passport or travel documentation")

Anyway, after your explanation I'm relieved, and the plan now is to specify her married name on the form. Thank you very much Sm1smom!