Name on current passport = name on Green Card?
Mar 2nd 2017, 9:28 pm
#1
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Name on current passport = name on Green Card?
Hi all,
Currently going through CR-1 application process.
Somewhere, somehow, I have been led to understand that the name on my current passport will be the name applied to my green card once it's issued. I have searched back through a couple of years in this forum, but can't seem to verify this information. Can anybody please tell me if it's correct?
I would like to be known by my married name once I become a resident of the USA, and would assume, therefore, that having my married name on my green card is important?! My UK passport is the last remaining document currently in my maiden name - I haven't yet changed it as we had some travel plans, but those are now behind us and I am ready to get the change made (if necessary for this). I am slightly hesitant, though, to send my passport away right now due to my mother-in-law's ill health and the possibility that I'll need to fly out at any given moment. I would probably take advantage of the fast-track/one-day service, but it would be an expensive indulgence if this is an unnecessary formality and my green card can be issued in my married name without going through it?
If not, the sooner I change it, the better.
Thank you for any help! Sorry if this has been covered before and I've failed to unearth the answer.
Currently going through CR-1 application process.
Somewhere, somehow, I have been led to understand that the name on my current passport will be the name applied to my green card once it's issued. I have searched back through a couple of years in this forum, but can't seem to verify this information. Can anybody please tell me if it's correct?
I would like to be known by my married name once I become a resident of the USA, and would assume, therefore, that having my married name on my green card is important?! My UK passport is the last remaining document currently in my maiden name - I haven't yet changed it as we had some travel plans, but those are now behind us and I am ready to get the change made (if necessary for this). I am slightly hesitant, though, to send my passport away right now due to my mother-in-law's ill health and the possibility that I'll need to fly out at any given moment. I would probably take advantage of the fast-track/one-day service, but it would be an expensive indulgence if this is an unnecessary formality and my green card can be issued in my married name without going through it?
If not, the sooner I change it, the better.Thank you for any help! Sorry if this has been covered before and I've failed to unearth the answer.
Last edited by KK85; Mar 2nd 2017 at 9:33 pm.
Mar 2nd 2017, 10:29 pm
#2
Deep in the woods of CT
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 7,002
Re: Name on current passport = name on Green Card?
Hi all,
Currently going through CR-1 application process.
Somewhere, somehow, I have been led to understand that the name on my current passport will be the name applied to my green card once it's issued. I have searched back through a couple of years in this forum, but can't seem to verify this information. Can anybody please tell me if it's correct?
I would like to be known by my married name once I become a resident of the USA, and would assume, therefore, that having my married name on my green card is important?! My UK passport is the last remaining document currently in my maiden name - I haven't yet changed it as we had some travel plans, but those are now behind us and I am ready to get the change made (if necessary for this). I am slightly hesitant, though, to send my passport away right now due to my mother-in-law's ill health and the possibility that I'll need to fly out at any given moment. I would probably take advantage of the fast-track/one-day service, but it would be an expensive indulgence if this is an unnecessary formality and my green card can be issued in my married name without going through it? If not, the sooner I change it, the better.
Thank you for any help! Sorry if this has been covered before and I've failed to unearth the answer.
Currently going through CR-1 application process.
Somewhere, somehow, I have been led to understand that the name on my current passport will be the name applied to my green card once it's issued. I have searched back through a couple of years in this forum, but can't seem to verify this information. Can anybody please tell me if it's correct?
I would like to be known by my married name once I become a resident of the USA, and would assume, therefore, that having my married name on my green card is important?! My UK passport is the last remaining document currently in my maiden name - I haven't yet changed it as we had some travel plans, but those are now behind us and I am ready to get the change made (if necessary for this). I am slightly hesitant, though, to send my passport away right now due to my mother-in-law's ill health and the possibility that I'll need to fly out at any given moment. I would probably take advantage of the fast-track/one-day service, but it would be an expensive indulgence if this is an unnecessary formality and my green card can be issued in my married name without going through it?
If not, the sooner I change it, the better.Thank you for any help! Sorry if this has been covered before and I've failed to unearth the answer.
The name on your UK passport is irrelevant. Complete the paperwork with the name you wish to use. My U.K. passport and green card never "matched."
Mar 2nd 2017, 11:55 pm
#3
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Re: Name on current passport = name on Green Card?
... but can't seem to verify this information.
The name you use on the application is the name in which the green card will be issued. If you want to use your married name, put it on the application.Ian
Mar 3rd 2017, 12:01 am
#4
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Re: Name on current passport = name on Green Card?
And there is no need to change the name on your UK passport until it is due to expire. And even then it is your choice to use either surname. Your travel ticket must match the name on your passport and you can carry a copy of your marriage certificate to prove the use of your new surname on your green card.
Mar 3rd 2017, 12:15 pm
#5
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Re: Name on current passport = name on Green Card?
I have had my green card since 1998 (married since '94) and it has never matched my passport until this past week when I just renewed passsport and decided to do the name change from my maiden name.
I also had previously held a green card from my first marriage and it had also never matched the passport.
I also had previously held a green card from my first marriage and it had also never matched the passport.
Mar 3rd 2017, 4:04 pm
#6
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Re: Name on current passport = name on Green Card?
Thank you all so much!
Is there any benefit at all to changing the name on the passport? Does it make future travel any less complicated? If not, I shall leave it as it is until it needs renewing.
Is there any benefit at all to changing the name on the passport? Does it make future travel any less complicated? If not, I shall leave it as it is until it needs renewing.
Mar 3rd 2017, 4:10 pm
#7
Deep in the woods of CT
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Re: Name on current passport = name on Green Card?
None whatsoever. Book airline tickets in the name on your passport, and carry a copy of your marriage certificate with you when traveling, in case anyone queries the discrepancy. I did that for over twenty years, and never once had to produce it.
Mar 3rd 2017, 4:29 pm
#8
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Re: Name on current passport = name on Green Card?
Nov 8th 2017, 1:41 pm
#9
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Re: Name on current passport = name on Green Card?
I just wanted to post a follow-up to this thread, though I appreciate it is a bit old; the information above, however, is not how things worked out for me.
The name that will be on my green card/visa is going to be my maiden name, as this is the name on my passport. I filled out all forms in my married name (edit: to clarify, I am referring to all USCIS forms; my medical was done in my maiden name, as the name on those forms had to match what was on my passport), but when it came to providing identification for my interview at the embassy, I handed over my passport and was questioned as to whether I ever use my married name. I confirmed that yes, I do, but was then advised that the visa will be issued in the name on my passport. I was advised that if I wanted my visa in my married name, I would need to change the name on my passport. Not sure why this was different for me than for everyone above!
It's not the end of the world, of course. I'll change mine eventually, and am hopeful that I can use my marriage certificate to sort out a name-change when it comes to bank accounts etc. But for anyone else wondering or going through the process, please be advised of the above.
The name that will be on my green card/visa is going to be my maiden name, as this is the name on my passport. I filled out all forms in my married name (edit: to clarify, I am referring to all USCIS forms; my medical was done in my maiden name, as the name on those forms had to match what was on my passport), but when it came to providing identification for my interview at the embassy, I handed over my passport and was questioned as to whether I ever use my married name. I confirmed that yes, I do, but was then advised that the visa will be issued in the name on my passport. I was advised that if I wanted my visa in my married name, I would need to change the name on my passport. Not sure why this was different for me than for everyone above!
It's not the end of the world, of course. I'll change mine eventually, and am hopeful that I can use my marriage certificate to sort out a name-change when it comes to bank accounts etc. But for anyone else wondering or going through the process, please be advised of the above.
Last edited by KK85; Nov 8th 2017 at 2:14 pm.
Nov 8th 2017, 2:27 pm
#10
Deep in the woods of CT
Joined: Feb 2010
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Re: Name on current passport = name on Green Card?
I just wanted to post a follow-up to this thread, though I appreciate it is a bit old; the information above, however, is not how things worked out for me.
The name that will be on my green card/visa is going to be my maiden name, as this is the name on my passport. I filled out all forms in my married name (edit: to clarify, I am referring to all USCIS forms; my medical was done in my maiden name, as the name on those forms had to match what was on my passport), but when it came to providing identification for my interview at the embassy, I handed over my passport and was questioned as to whether I ever use my married name. I confirmed that yes, I do, but was then advised that the visa will be issued in the name on my passport. I was advised that if I wanted my visa in my married name, I would need to change the name on my passport. Not sure why this was different for me than for everyone above!
It's not the end of the world, of course. I'll change mine eventually, and am hopeful that I can use my marriage certificate to sort out a name-change when it comes to bank accounts etc. But for anyone else wondering or going through the process, please be advised of the above.
The name that will be on my green card/visa is going to be my maiden name, as this is the name on my passport. I filled out all forms in my married name (edit: to clarify, I am referring to all USCIS forms; my medical was done in my maiden name, as the name on those forms had to match what was on my passport), but when it came to providing identification for my interview at the embassy, I handed over my passport and was questioned as to whether I ever use my married name. I confirmed that yes, I do, but was then advised that the visa will be issued in the name on my passport. I was advised that if I wanted my visa in my married name, I would need to change the name on my passport. Not sure why this was different for me than for everyone above!
It's not the end of the world, of course. I'll change mine eventually, and am hopeful that I can use my marriage certificate to sort out a name-change when it comes to bank accounts etc. But for anyone else wondering or going through the process, please be advised of the above.
Nov 8th 2017, 2:39 pm
#11
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Re: Name on current passport = name on Green Card?
But they're issuing the green card in the name on my passport, which is my maiden name.
Nov 8th 2017, 2:41 pm
#12
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Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 46,383
Re: Name on current passport = name on Green Card?
I just wanted to post a follow-up to this thread, though I appreciate it is a bit old; the information above, however, is not how things worked out for me.
The name that will be on my green card/visa is going to be my maiden name, as this is the name on my passport. I filled out all forms in my married name (edit: to clarify, I am referring to all USCIS forms; my medical was done in my maiden name, as the name on those forms had to match what was on my passport), but when it came to providing identification for my interview at the embassy, I handed over my passport and was questioned as to whether I ever use my married name. I confirmed that yes, I do, but was then advised that the visa will be issued in the name on my passport. I was advised that if I wanted my visa in my married name, I would need to change the name on my passport. Not sure why this was different for me than for everyone above!
It's not the end of the world, of course. I'll change mine eventually, and am hopeful that I can use my marriage certificate to sort out a name-change when it comes to bank accounts etc. But for anyone else wondering or going through the process, please be advised of the above.
The name that will be on my green card/visa is going to be my maiden name, as this is the name on my passport. I filled out all forms in my married name (edit: to clarify, I am referring to all USCIS forms; my medical was done in my maiden name, as the name on those forms had to match what was on my passport), but when it came to providing identification for my interview at the embassy, I handed over my passport and was questioned as to whether I ever use my married name. I confirmed that yes, I do, but was then advised that the visa will be issued in the name on my passport. I was advised that if I wanted my visa in my married name, I would need to change the name on my passport. Not sure why this was different for me than for everyone above!
It's not the end of the world, of course. I'll change mine eventually, and am hopeful that I can use my marriage certificate to sort out a name-change when it comes to bank accounts etc. But for anyone else wondering or going through the process, please be advised of the above.
Why hadn't you changed the name on your passport after your marriage?
Nov 8th 2017, 2:45 pm
#13
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Re: Name on current passport = name on Green Card?
To my recollection, I used my married name on all forms and specified my maiden name whenever prompted under 'other names used', for example. I'm therefore not sure why my married name hasn't been recognised during this process. But not the end of the world.
Nov 8th 2017, 2:47 pm
#14
Deep in the woods of CT
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Re: Name on current passport = name on Green Card?
Sorry, I misunderstood this bit, "The name that will be on my green card/visa is going to be my maiden name, as this is the name on my passport" as meaning that you wanted it that way!
Nov 8th 2017, 2:49 pm
#15
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Re: Name on current passport = name on Green Card?