JAY888

Me and my wife are recently married but she still has everything in her maiden name because of it being so soon. On the I-130 form do we fill it in as if it was her maiden name or my name?

Guindalf

I'm assuming she is the petitioner.

As long as you have legal documentation showing the name change (marriage certificte will do the job), then use yours.

Wintersong

Unless she intends to continue using her own name, of course

Noorah101

After marriage, she can use whichever name she wants. It won't matter.

Rene

ian-mstm

She's not required to have any legal documentation. She is not legally changing her name, she is assuming the name of her husband - and there's a huge difference between the two. Indeed, she can call herself anything she wants so long as her intent is not to commit fraud.

Ian

JAY888

Ok thanks for the reply guys, she'll be changing names so we'll go with our married name. It asks for her maiden name anyway so they have that too.

Guindalf

Good point, Ian. Thanks for correcting me. I always like to err on the side of caution.

ivanidea

My wife is not changing her name until I'm actually in America. It is a lot of work changing name with banks, government agencies and other organisations, and she is concerned it might add a delay to the immigration process.

Noorah101

No, changing her name won't affect your immigration process.

I ended up not changing my name until more than a year ager we married, I was just tired of doing paperwork. LOL

Rene

ian-mstm

It will not. US immigration has no interest in what she chooses to call herself.

Ian