With GC, just got married, female, will apply us citizenship next year

V

vivavega

New Member
Hi folks,
I hope you can help me as i don't know what to do. I have a green card through work when I was single. I just got married here in US and will change my last name. I will apply for US citizenship early next year. I now have my marriage certificate and will change my SSS, driver's license, passport, credit card, and maybe title to my car. My question is, for my green card, do I have to change the name on the card, or should I just leave as is and always bring my marriage certificate with me? Also, when I apply for citizenship, will I bring both green card and marriage certificate? Thank you so much for your help...
 
Thank you Bobsmyth. For the I-90, there's a question on page2 for port of entry. Do I need to answer this since the last time I went out of US was 2002? Also do you know how long it takes for the replacement gc to be processed? It is because i will go to home country this december, what if i don't have it yet? also, my husband has gc, does he need to change his marital status and file I-90? or will it be just me?
 
Since you only have about a year until you apply for citizenship, you might want to consider delaying your name change until you actually obtain citizenship, and do the name change as part of the naturalization process itself or after naturalization.

If you do the name change before naturalization, you not only have the cost and hassle of replacing your green card (which takes at least 2-3 months, sometimes even 6 months to arrive), but the chances of having your naturalization delayed as a result of the "name check" would increase, because they would run the check on both the old name and new name. In addition, it increases the potential for confusing the bungling USCIS clerks who would see one name in your original green card files and then another name in your most recent paperwork and application. It is quite common for women who get married after obtaining their green card but before becoming a US citizen to delay the name change until citizenship.
 
Thank you Jackolantern. If I delay changing surname until I get citizenship, should I change now my marital status (single to married) for sss, license, passport etc.? Yes, now that I thought about it, I may delay name change as it seems to be quite a hassle with immigration.
 
You don't need to update your marital status for SS. The form doesn't even ask for marital status.

For your license, I don't think you need to update your marital status. But each state is different so check your state's DMV web site or call them. However, you should update your auto insurance company, as many insurers will provide lower premiums to married people (supposedly married people are more "stable" and less likely to take risks when driving). If they won't give you a lower rate, call around to other insurers.

For your passport, it depends on the requirements of your country. Contact your country's consulate to find out if you need to change your passport now because of getting married, or if you can wait until it is up for renewal. Of course, if the passport does not display marital status, it is almost certain there would be no requirement to udpate it as a result of marriage. Same thing for the license.

If you are not a citizen and you change your name, some states require you to show immigration documents (GC, visa, whatever your status is) with the new name before they will give you another license; the marriage certificate is not good enough for them. So if your state is like that and you change your name now, you wouldn't be able to get a new license right now anyway.
 
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Thank you, that helps a lot. How about taxes? Do I change status? Also, if I wait after naturalization so as not to have any hassles, is changing name as simple as showing my marriage certificate to sss,dmv etc. or are there any other additional steps?
 
For taxes, when you file next year's next tax return you'll indicate your new marital status. No need to update the IRS or state tax authorities before that. However, becoming married may change your withholdings, so you should file a new W-4 with your employer for them to alter your tax withholding accordingly.

If you do the name change as part of the naturalization process itself, the certificate will have your new name, and they will give you a court document for the name change, so you would not even have to show your marriage certificate to the SSA or DMV.
 
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