[email protected]

Hi,

We were married in India before I moved to US an year back, along with
my husband who is on an H1B. At that time, i did change my surname. The
marriage certificate, H4 visa, education certificates, passport and
I-94 are in my maiden name.

Now, I need to change my surname to that of my husband's while we are
both in the US, such that, authorities both in India and in US
recognize the change of my sur-name. Would appreciate if someone who
has already gone through the same process or knows in detail about the
process could give pointers to the procedure/documents to be carried,
agencies to be contacted etc. Since i am on an H4, i do not have any
Social Security Card etc. Specifically, following are my questions:
- What are the steps involved?
- Who/which agency is legally "authorized" (both by india and us) to
"recognize" and issue a certificate for such a name change?
- what final "certificate" would we be getting from such an authority?
- Which documents/forms need to be produced/submitted?
- Is it necessary to give an advertisement for my surname change? If
yes- would that have to be in india or in us?
- if I get my surname changed in the indian passport through indian
embassy, would that be sufficient a proof or would other procedures
also need tobe followed?
- are "affidavits" notarized through indian courts valid as proofs of
name change? If so, what should be value of the stamp paper? Is there a
prescribed form or a format to be used for such affidavits?
- if affidavit is not recognized in US, how do we get a "court order"
recoginizing such a name change?

Although i have jotted down all my (too many) questions, pointers to
any of them would be a great help.

TIA,
Sharon

Kevin Keane

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You say that you already changed your surname after you got married. For the
USA, you simply need whatever certificate was issued for that, and an
English translation.

You can continue to use your visa, passport, I-94 etc. until it is time to
renew any of them. It may be wise to keep a copy of your name change
certificate together with your I-94.

If you extend your stay in the USA: include the information about the name
change with your extension application. The new I-94 should be issued in
the new name.

If you apply at a US consulate for a new H-4 visa: apply for a new (or
amended) passport first, then apply for the new H-4. You will need to show
your husband's petition, as well as your marriage certificate and the
document of the name change (in India, you probably won't need a
translation even if the document is not in English).

[email protected] wrote:

    > Hi,
    >
    > We were married in India before I moved to US an year back, along with
    > my husband who is on an H1B. At that time, i did change my surname. The
    > marriage certificate, H4 visa, education certificates, passport and
    > I-94 are in my maiden name.
    >
    > Now, I need to change my surname to that of my husband's while we are
    > both in the US, such that, authorities both in India and in US
    > recognize the change of my sur-name. Would appreciate if someone who
    > has already gone through the same process or knows in detail about the
    > process could give pointers to the procedure/documents to be carried,
    > agencies to be contacted etc. Since i am on an H4, i do not have any
    > Social Security Card etc. Specifically, following are my questions:
    > - What are the steps involved?
    > - Who/which agency is legally "authorized" (both by india and us) to
    > "recognize" and issue a certificate for such a name change?
    > - what final "certificate" would we be getting from such an authority?
    > - Which documents/forms need to be produced/submitted?
    > - Is it necessary to give an advertisement for my surname change? If
    > yes- would that have to be in india or in us?
    > - if I get my surname changed in the indian passport through indian
    > embassy, would that be sufficient a proof or would other procedures
    > also need tobe followed?
    > - are "affidavits" notarized through indian courts valid as proofs of
    > name change? If so, what should be value of the stamp paper? Is there a
    > prescribed form or a format to be used for such affidavits?
    > - if affidavit is not recognized in US, how do we get a "court order"
    > recoginizing such a name change?
    >
    > Although i have jotted down all my (too many) questions, pointers to
    > any of them would be a great help.
    >
    > TIA,
    > Sharon

- --
Please visit my FAQ at http://www.kkeane.com before asking a question here.
It may answer your question. Remember, I am strictly a layperson without
any legal training. I encourage the reader to seek competent legal counsel
rather than relying on usenet newsgroups.
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Lawrence Rodrigues

<< We were married in India before I moved to US an year back, along
with my husband who is on an H1B. **At that time, i did change my
surname.** >>

How did you change your surname, Sharon?

LR