H4 visa - name change mandatory

J

jerinusa

New Member
Hi all,

Two questions ....

- Is it mandatory that your wife change her name to include your surname after the wedding ?

- her passport is from Bombay and we'd be going madras for the H4 visa. Assuming that a name change is mandatory does she need to go to bombay and change her name in the passport before appearing in madras for the h4 visa ?


Thank you for your help.

Regards
Jerin
 
Originally posted by jerinusa
Hi all,

Two questions ....

- Is it mandatory that your wife change her name to include your surname after the wedding ?

- her passport is from Bombay and we'd be going madras for the H4 visa. Assuming that a name change is mandatory does she need to go to bombay and change her name in the passport before appearing in madras for the h4 visa ?


Thank you for your help.

Regards
Jerin
Click to expand...

No, she can continue to use her maiden name and it should not cause any problems for her H4 visa.
Remember that she has to be a resident of South India to get visa at Chennai. If her passport was issued in Mumbai, she should carry proof of residence in south India.
 
I was told to go to the chennai consulate cause I stay in chennai (my passport was from trichy, tamil nadu). I guess I was wrong then ... she needs to go to bbay (she has her passport from bbay) is it ?
 
Your wife can get her H4 visa stamp from Bombay consulate. You have to send your H1b approval, copy of I-94, All the pages of your passport, Employer letter that should state that you are working with them, job title and salary. You have also to send complete I-29 petition including LCA that was sent to INS for your H1 renewal (your lawyer or HR has that copy, get that copy certified by the lawyer) send your recent 3-4 Pay stubs, W-2 and Tax papers (she should show only what is asked) she has to fill up form DS-156 and Pay the Fees + Photograph (new style 2inch by 2inch)
She can take the services of:
http://www.visa-services.com
They can pick up her passport from home/hotel or she can visit the service center, one is in Andheri East other is near Hira Panna building, HAZi Ali or she can use drop box at consulate. It is easy to go to service center as they are open up to 4 PM and you get your passport back in 3-4 days at your home/hotel or can collect from Visa services office
It is not necessary to give the Residential address to get your passport back you can give any friends address or Hotel address to get your passport back through courier or collect it from Visa services office. Read the instructions from above site.
 
no need to change her name...

The H4 visa stamping consulate is identified by the place of residence of the person applying for H4 visa.
Typically this residence is proved by the permanent address on her passport.
For my wife..she never changed her name..had no problems getting H4 visa at Mumbai, then an H1 at mumbai, EAD, AP , green card.
 
Originally posted by jerinusa
I was told to go to the chennai consulate cause I stay in chennai (my passport was from trichy, tamil nadu). I guess I was wrong then ... she needs to go to bbay (she has her passport from bbay) is it ?
Click to expand...

Where is your wife living now? If it is Mumbai, she needs to apply at Mumbai consulate. If she is in South India, she will need some proof of staying there. Anything with her name and the south indian address will do. Ration card, voters card, driver license, bank pass book, etc.
 
When I checked with Channai consulate they informed that my wife can get her H4 stamped from Chennai. My wife's passport was issued from Mumbai and she is staying at Mumbai. Did I get wrong info? Please let me know.

VJ
 
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