Keeping maiden name - is it reason to deny GC based on marriage?

I

ilovethe80s

Registered Users (C)
My husband is about to take his oath as a citizen. We've been married for more than 4 years now and dated/lived together a total of 11 years PRIOR to getting married. I didn't take his surname. After he becomes a citizen, we plan to file the I-485 (adjustment of status). The I-130 (petition for spouse of a permanent resident) was filed in 2004 and is now approved. Is my keeping my maiden name a reason for USCIS to think our marriage is a fraud? We own two homes, share bank accounts, etc. etc. pretty much everything is in both our names. Is it harder for us to prove that we married for love? :) We are both from the Philippines and I guess it is seen as a "conservative," "traditional" culture (i.e. keeping one's maiden name is unusual). Anyone heard anything in a similar situation? Thanks!
 
Legally, there is no reason for you to take your husband's name. I have been with my husband for 5 years and married almost 2.5 years and still have not taken his name, due to the fact that I have to go thru so much paperwork just to change the name on my passport (we are from different nationalities); I do not anticipate you having a problem just for that, unless there is other things that will trigger a red flag on an immigration officer.
Honestly I know many people who just dont want to take their husband's surname. It is like a trend now. But I would ask an attorney if I were you. Mine say I am not legally obligated to take it.
 
I didn't take my husband's surename, and had no problem. I think as long as you have enough documents (joint bank accounts, deed, mortgage papers, utility bills, etc.) showing both of your names, there should not be a problem. I'm from Japan where the couple must take one of the surenames (usually husband's) by law. Pretty conservative:eek:
 
Just for the heck of it

Just for fun, I should add that aside from not taking my husband's surname, we also don't have kids, nor are we planning on having any ever. I should probably have mentioned that. Common sense still applies? :D

Have a good day everybody. I love this forum.
 
From my experience it shouldn't be a problem.

My wife still keeps her maiden name and we don't have any kids and we went through the AOS and later the I-751 to remove conditions and the question never came up. We rent a place and live together and had a small marriage with a few family members with no church involved and we mailed in our marriage certificate after signing it ourselves.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top