Question on Wife's maiden name

G

GCSeekerInd

Registered Users (C)
Hi All,

My wife is the primary applicant for our 485 petition. She continues to have her maiden name. This is there on passport,on H1B visa,Social security no, bank accounts, employer etc. Even the 485 papers have been filed with her maiden name. We do have marriage certificate which was submitted along with the papers.

First is this a problem ?

Secondly when is the best time to change/correct this? During the 485 process? or after 485 approval? or after the stamping?or after the green card is received?
 
Different last names should not be a problem. My friends had the same situation and everything worked out very well for them. So dont worry !

As far as when to get the last name changed is concerned, I guess the best time would be after 485 approval and before getting it stamped. Now everyone may have different opinions about this, but name change while 485 is being processed is very risky ( I would think). Once you get your approval, you could get the name changed on your passport and then take this ammended passport alongwith you marriage certificate along with all other documents for your stamping. Make sure though that you also inform BCIS about this name change.

Again, everyone else here may have a different opinion on this issue.....
 
Originally posted by DelhiCP
Different last names should not be a problem. My friends had the same situation and everything worked out very well for them. So dont worry !

As far as when to get the last name changed is concerned, I guess the best time would be after 485 approval and before getting it stamped. Now everyone may have different opinions about this, but name change while 485 is being processed is very risky ( I would think). Once you get your approval, you could get the name changed on your passport and then take this ammended passport alongwith you marriage certificate along with all other documents for your stamping. Make sure though that you also inform BCIS about this name change.

Again, everyone else here may have a different opinion on this issue.....
Click to expand...

Thanks. Yeah it looks like a good idea. After the approval but before the stamping. This way the card also would be correct.

How do you inform BCIS about the name change?Orally when we go for stamping? or any form/application to be filed up?

Guys, anyother insights/opinions on having different lastnames??
 
I would think that there would be a form. Telling them when you actually get the stamping done should also do it, since they do enter all the information onto the form then !

Please confirm on the "name change form" though !
 
Do we have to change Last Name

Hi ,

I have been married for over an year.

All of Spouse's records Graduate/PG Certificates,Passport,SSN,EAD,AP have last name .

Questions :

--> Is it legally required to change last name ?
--> If it is not legally required Are there any advantages either way ?
--> Also is there any procedure or sequence in which we need to change the names ? Like first on passport then GC etc ?

Thanks
 
Last edited by a moderator:
There is no legal requirement to change wife's last name. It is convenient though as there may be questions asked if the name's are different in today's security sensitive world( like joint bank account or mortgages).

I don't think there is any sequence - but important thing is to keep all the documents consistent. I don't think you need to change the names in degree certificates though. Passport, SSN and driving license should be pretty quick. I agree with DelhiCP that it is probably better to change the last name after 485 is approved.
 
Passport first ?

Does that mean that the name in the passport has to be changed before we go for GC stamping ?

What happen's if the GC is stamped on the passport with old name and then you want to change the name in the passport ? Do we need to get the new passport stamped again ?
 
Pingpong

Any valid VISA stamp on the old passport will be valid even if the passport expires. When you will be issued the new passport they will return your old and new passport together ( at least the Indian embasy will).
 
Docs at the time of stamping

What documents do we need to present at the time GC stamping to get the GC stamped with the new Last Name ?

Is Marriage certificate given by a Registrar in Indian enough ?

My marriage certificate still has the old last name .
 
You will need to have the name changed in your passport before you go for the stamping. The stamp and the passport should always show the same name.

So get your passport changed first...in the case of an Indian passport, the Consulate of India puts a message on one page of your passport saying that due to marriage the last name is changed to xxxxxxxx.

Once your passport has your married name, and if your approval notice has your maiden name, then take your marriage certificate and your ammended passport to the BCIS and have them use the married name on the forms. That should then allow the BCIS to send the GC in the married name.

Hope this helps. Again this is my opinion based on my experiences with the various authorities here (BCIS/ DMV etc.).

To abhi_01201's points, you only need to have the name changed in your passport, SSN card, Green Card and Drivers License. Everything else is fine !
 
You will need your ammended passport and your marriage certificate. Usually the marriage certificate does contain your maiden name only ! If possible you can also carry your wedding invitation card (that is if you have it here). Otherwise just your marriage certificate should be enough.

You can go to the Indian Consulate in US's website and download the form if you want to get your name changed in the passport. You have to mail the passport to them along with some nominal fee and they will return the passport to you within a couple of weeks.
 
My EAD and AP still use the Old Last Name .

Also all through the GC process I have used by old last name.

will it create any problems for stamping with the new Last name ?
 
I think DelhiCP has covered it well. If you do not want to send the passport by mail and live near to your Indian mission - you can go there directly and should get this done in 1 day.
 
My personal experience

I have posted this issue earlier....
My wife has her maiden name in the passport. GC was in her married name.....
During stamping the lady dind't even look at her marriage certificatebut stamped the passport. Only Question she asked was what name she has used in the past.....
My Lawyer did mention that we should travel to India with the marriage certificate...and change it when we come back......

The airline ticket is in her maiden name, as it should match the one on the passport
 
pingpong02,
It should not cause any problems, but then who knows with the BCIS. If you have not got your approval just yet, and you definitely want to change to your married name, then I would suggest that you start by changing the data in your passport. Once that is done then you can go to the BCIS with you approval and have it stamped.

Since you have been using your maiden name all this while, there is no problem with all your documents carrying your maiden name. In any case when the BCIS asks for your EAD and AP then dont even look at it, they just take it away since you dont need it anymore.

You may want to confirm this whole name change business with your lawyer though....just to be on the safe side.
 
In my daughters passport she has only first name, no last name.
I have to renew her passport now. Is this good idea that I should add last name as my last name in her passport when I go to renew it? and after getting approval of GC show that passport for stamping? All her papers fillied with her first name no last name. Can she travel to India with old and new passport on AP without last name?
She don't have SSN no., she has TIN
Any suggestion welcome.
 
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