Question about name change while applying for GC

H

happy rabbit

Registered Users (C)
Dear All,

I will really appreciate your help.

My fiance (an American citizen) and I (currently on H1 visa) will get married soon. We plan to both change our names to the format of (his last name-my last name). I am not sure if we need all of our names on the documents changed before applying for green card, such as social security card, passport, driver's license, my I-94, and so on. Is there anyway that I could just sumbit the marriage license or current documentation?

Since we are living in different cities, I would like to get the EDA card as soon as possible.

Thanks a lot....
 
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Since you want to change last name, better do it before applyng fo GC so that all the documents to show your new name. If you decide to change name after you send them it's a hassle and you can save it now.
The first thing to do is to "correct" your social security card I think the form was SS-5 ( on-line available also). But better go to the local ss administration. It takes no more than 10 business days to receive the corrected SSC in the mail. Any place you go to for a change of name after that will want to see your corrected SSC and the marriage license.
Correcting the SSC should do for the 485/130/765/131 package. But afte you apply, make sure to put your new name everywhere - insurance, accountc, lease, mortgage... That's waht we did with changing name before applying for GC. And so far so good
You dont need to change name on I-94, intl passport or visa ... No way you can do it -> the event causing change of name happens after issuance of those docs.
Good luck!
 
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last name issue

NBC_June04, Hi!

I wanted to change my last name after I got married, but both places: SS office and DMV asked
for my national passport, or a Green Card,
or any other government issued document that shows my corrected last name.
Apparently, marriage license is not proof enough for an alien :confused:
I filed my I-485 with my new name , copy of my marriage license and all other
documents still showing my “old” last name.
The receipt came back with my “new” married last name and I will change it on my all other
documents after and when I get my GC.
Seems like this is the easiest way, at least for me.
 
Last name issue

That is really interesting, Jane.

I called the social security office and they told me the marriage license is enough for me to change the last name. Of course, I didn't tell them on the phone that I am an alien. I will check with them about that again.

It is good to hear that the immigration accept the marriage license as the only evidence of the last name change. It will save me a lot time before filing the application. :)

Thanks a lot for sharing your experience!
 
Jane Green said:
NBC_June04, Hi!

I wanted to change my last name after I got married, but both places: SS office and DMV asked
for my national passport, or a Green Card,
or any other government issued document that shows my corrected last name.
Apparently, marriage license is not proof enough for an alien :confused:
I filed my I-485 with my new name , copy of my marriage license and all other
documents still showing my “old” last name.
The receipt came back with my “new” married last name and I will change it on my all other
documents after and when I get my GC.
Seems like this is the easiest way, at least for me.
Click to expand...
Obviously this worked too. It might also depends on the state policy. It's not one and the same statewide apparently. All we needed to do for correcting SSCard was
*the marriage licence,
*a certified copy of marriage license application( re-issued by the court),
* my intl passport.
* old SSCard

Appearantly it works different in different states
 
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