jazzelle29

Hi there all! Well things are going well here in the States. Married, employed and very happy.

Just had the news from my sister that she got engaged so I'm wondering what my options are re travel docs to go back to the UK for her wedding? I'm asking now even though it's not urgent as I want to be prepared!

My Green card is expected to be processed in a month or so. It's going to show my married name of course. My UK passport is still current-just got it last year-but it's in my maiden name.

So, do I:

Get my UK passport changed to my married name so GC, tickets and passport all match (spendy)!

Travel on UK passport with matching maiden name on tickets?

My concern then is that on arrival back in the U.S. the TSA have a fit as my GC and other docs will not match. I can of course take my marriage certificate along too-I'm just terrified that the buggers would send me back to the UK and I end up in some transatlantic No Mans Land-yikes!!!

Thanks in advance!

PS what to do with my now expired and out of date UK Drivers License too?

Pulaski

While changing your passport to your married name would be ideal it is unnecessary. You will be fine with a ticket booked in the name on your passport, your green card, passport, and your marriage certificate to tie your green card to your passport.

tht

If you are that worried and passing through London you can get a new passport at he Victoria passport office the same day. Done it a couple of times.

Looks like the UK requires you to change it:

"To travel overseas, you must renew your passport and send additional documents with your application if you change:

your name - by marriage, civil partnership, deed poll, go back to your maiden name or add middle names"

https://www.gov.uk/changing-passport...ation/overview

Nutmegger

I never changed the name in my UK passport through two marriages and various names on green cards. OP, do as Pulaski suggests above, and you will be fine.

Pulaski

The point which Tht doesn't appear to have recognized in proffering his advice is that changing your name after a change in marital/domestic circumstances is voluntary, and as long as the ticket for travel is booked using the name on your passport, the UK "requirement" to get a new passport does not apply.

BritInParis

It's a matter of semantics. (My emphasis)

Quote:

To travel overseas, you must renew your passport and send additional documents with your application if you change:

- your name - by marriage, civil partnership, deed poll, go back to your maiden name or add middle names
- gender - even if your name remains the same
- how you spell your name, eg changing from Brian to Bryan

If you have decided to keep your maiden name after you marry then no problem. If you have changed your name however then you should update your passport accordingly. If the OP is intending to be known by her married name then she should make all the relevant changes as soon as possible, i.e. driving licence, bank accounts, etc..

Given that her sister has just announced her engagement I presume that she won't be marrying for a while yet so there should be plenty of time to renew her passport.

Nutmegger

I'm sorry, but this is totally optional. There is just no "should" about it. My first marriage, being young and starry eyed, I did change some things into the married name -- but not everything, including my UK passport. The OP can do whatever is her personal preference.

BritInParis

If the OP wants to keep her maiden name then that's fine. If she is going to take her husband's name then she should act accordingly. Having half your documents in one name and half in the other will only cause you grief especially when it comes to immigration matters.

Nutmegger

No. It will not. I speak from personal experience that, as long as she carries the marriage certificate, she is covered in case anyone asks questions. I entered JFK uncounted times over 25+ years with different names on my passport and green card, and was not once asked for an explanation.

BritInParis

We shall agreed to disagree then.

Nutmegger

Absolutely!

Pulaski

FIFY

Nutmegger

And I will now trip away to cook dinner with an outsize grin on my face!

tht

I belive you have had no issues, but the UK government website says you "must".

tht

Agreed, changing your name at the time you get married is optional, but the OP inferred they had done that by stating the GC would be in their new married surname.

Now the one issue with my suggestion of doing it same day when in the UK is that if she had brought a return ticket her passport would not match on the way back.

MY USC wife traveled in her maiden name on our honeymoon, because the tickets had been booked way in advance in our pre martial surnames with no issue, but we got it changed ASAP when we had a gap in travel.