Spouse Lastname Change

[ShekharS11]

Hi -

I am an US Citizen and have filed for spouse visa for my wife who is in India. We have submitted our I-130 and waiting for the second stage with NVC.

Our lawyer suggested that my wife get a new Indian passport which lists myself as the husband. Is this necessary?

Also, my wife has not changed her lastname. We discussed doing it once she moves to US. Is performing the name change now necessary? Will a name change strengthen our case?

Appreciate the feedback.

Thanks!

Saurabh

 

[Jackolantern]

Changing her last name is not necessary, but if she's going to do that it's better to do it before she gets the green card, otherwise it would be necessary to pay hundreds of dollars to get the name changed on her green card after it's already been issued with her maiden name ... unless she's going to wait until citizenship to change her name in which case the name change with citizenship would be free (but name changes on other documents like driver's license may cost money).

If she is going to get it done before the green card is issued, she should get the passport changed ASAP so it would have her new name in time for the interview and then her immigrant visa and green card would also have her new name.