Bex2203

As some of you may know from my previous thread my partner and I are about to get married in NZ and launch my cr1 visa from here.. My question is that due to not being in the UK I will not be able to get an updated passport... And I still have years left on my current one. Does the name on my passport have to match my visa application or Is my old passport and marriage certificate enough? Thanks. Bex2203.

ian-mstm

No.


Yes.

Note that if you purchase plane tickets, the name on the tickets must match the name in the passport. It'll make no difference that your passport and visa/marriage certificate are all different.

Ian

Bex2203

Thank you Ian.

hungryhorace

Whilst I completely agree with this, just wanted to comment that my wife flew with a prior booked ticket in her maiden name soon after our wedding. We brought along a copy of our marriage certificate, they took one look at it and didn't have any issues with her name being different in her passport.

But this isn't something I would advise if the flight is important to you. Get the name changed on the ticket if required.

CAdreaming

My passport is in my maiden name - green card in married name - just book tickets in your maiden name and always take marriage cert when you fly -

hungryhorace

Why is your passport in your maiden name if you don't mind me asking? We sent my wife's one off just within the year of her last passport issue so there was no replacement fee involved.

Nutmegger

Why not? I've tried a few names over the years, but the passport has always remained the beacon of stability and now everything matches that!

hungryhorace

Because your legal name is not your maiden name anymore.

Nutmegger

What is a "legal" name? There is no obligation to change a name just because one is married.

hungryhorace

Of course not, but to have a passport in a maiden name, yet hold other identity documents in your married name seems completely perverse to me.

Noorah101

It's not. There is nothing wrong with keeping a passport in one name, and other ID in another name.

Rene

hungryhorace

It makes life far more complicated for starters.

Noorah101

Evidently not for everyone, as many people handle it this way. It's really just a personal choice. My point is that it's legal, and there's nothing wrong with it, if that's what someone chooses to do.

Rene

Nutmegger

It really doesn't.

ian-mstm

There's absolutely no obligation for anyone to ever change the name in their passport if they don't want to!


This is a common myth. Your legal name is always your birth name regardless of any other name you assume. As long as your intent is not to commit fraud, you can call yourself whatever you want. The only time your legal name would change is if you present yourself in front of a judge and request a formal change. In that case, your legal name will change and you can get a new birth certificate and other forms of ID.

Note, though, that if you legally change your name, you can't go back to using your maiden name if, for example, you get divorced. You must go through another court process in front of a judge to change your name again. If, however, you simply assumed a spouse's surname, then you can go back to a maiden name with no problems whatsoever.

Ian