What is my wife's legal name?

[Davidvcp]

The name on her green card, SS card, and driver's license are not the same as the name on her birth certificate. So, what's her legal name. I'm preparing the N-400 form, and part 1, section A asks for her legal name.

[Davidvcp]

The name on her green card, SS card, and driver's license are not the same as the name on her birth certificate. So, what's her legal name. I'm preparing the N-400 form, and part 1, section A asks for her legal name.

[Mrs. Mani]

put the name that is on her green card, passport, etc.

[Sprint_girl07]

David, as we said earlier in your other posts, I really think it is best to get all her documents in order, especially prior to filing. It can cause confusion later.

She can change her name when she Naturalizes, but it is best to at least get SS and GC etc the same.

Just my opinion.

[Davidvcp]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by davdah:
Servant. To her, yours is master. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

hmm, thanks for showing me the way to be a Power Member here.

[Davidvcp]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Sprint_girl07:
David, as we said earlier in your other posts, I really think it is best to get all her documents in order, especially prior to filing. It can cause confusion later.

She can change her name when she Naturalizes, but it is best to at least get SS and GC etc the same.

Just my opinion. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

You are misunderstanding. At this point, her name for the SS agency and her GC are the same. Do you have experience filling out the N-400? That is what I need help on. I am unsure of her legal name. The name on her SS card, driver's license, and green card are the same. But that is different from the name on her birth certificate. I am unsure if marriage changed her 'legal' name.

[Davidvcp]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Mrs. Mani:
put the name that is on her green card, passport, etc. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

The name on her green card is different from the name that is on her Russian passport.

[Davidvcp]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by davdah:
That may create a problem. Question is, how did the name get hosed to begin with? Unless you correct it on the green card to match the passport, assuming it is correct, you should stick with what documentation she has with USCIS. If she naturalizes she'll get a new blue passport and the russian won't matter anymore. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

I'm not sure how or why USCIS decided to use her married name on the green card. I would have to guess it was because we submitted documents saying to do that, and they just did it.

So, if the USCIS already knows her by her married name (on the green card) does that mean her married name is her legal name? If yes, then on the N-400 form, do I put her maiden name in Part 1.C (other names used)?

[Sprint_girl07]

Her legal name is what USCIS has her as.

USCIS info is what you go by, not passport.

All your other documentation should be as what USCIS has her under. Not having all these documents in same name is going to cause problems and delays.

A red flag might come up because it may seem that she is trying to have alias's.

Since 9/11 they are being stricter.

Best to get it all in order before filing. If she wants to go back to her maiden name, then she can do that when she Naturalizes. That is the only time she can do that. She had the opportunity when she got her Green card, she chose your married name on the form, so that is what they go by.

[Sprint_girl07]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by davdah:
You got it. Once a women is married, assuming she isn't a feminazi, and assumes her husband's last name, it becomes her legal name. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Actually you are wrong Davdah. They go by what you write on the form. They put my Green Card in the name I wrote on the form and what was on my passport at the time. I had a chance to change it upon my Green Card issue, but I chose not to at first. But after finding out problems I went to USCIS office and gave them a letter asking them to change my name to married name. Then GC went into my married name.

So confusing, hence best to get it dealt with prior to filing.

[federale86]

Put the one she has on her green card as her real name, provided she actually uses it as her legal name. Provide the other names she uses on the question that asks for other names she uses.

[Davidvcp]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Sprint_girl07:
Her legal name is what USCIS has her as.

USCIS info is what you go by, not passport.

All your other documentation should be as what USCIS has her under. Not having all these documents in same name is going to cause problems and delays.

A red flag might come up because it may seem that she is trying to have alias's.

Since 9/11 they are being stricter.

Best to get it all in order before filing. If she wants to go back to her maiden name, then she can do that when she Naturalizes. That is the only time she can do that. She had the opportunity when she got her Green card, she chose your married name on the form, so that is what they go by. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>


OK, if I understand correctly, the name on her green card is her legal name. That seems reasonable. As I mentioned, all her US documents now use her married name (SS card and driver's license -- are there others I need to know about?) The only documents that uses her maiden name are her Russian international passport and internal identification, which I don't think I need to worry about when dealing with USCIS.

She does not want to go back to using her maiden name.

[Kollerkrot]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Davidvcp:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Sprint_girl07:
David, as we said earlier in your other posts, I really think it is best to get all her documents in order, especially prior to filing. It can cause confusion later.

She can change her name when she Naturalizes, but it is best to at least get SS and GC etc the same.

Just my opinion. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

You are misunderstanding. At this point, her name for the SS agency and her GC are the same. Do you have experience filling out the N-400? That is what I need help on. I am unsure of her legal name. The name on her SS card, driver's license, and green card are the same. But that is different from the name on her birth certificate. I am unsure if marriage changed her 'legal' name. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Of course marriage changes a woman's legal name. Has done so for centuries. Women have something called "Maiden Name" which changes when they get married. The married name is then the "Legal Name". If her passport was issued before she got married, it naturally would list her maiden name unless she was married before.

If you have no problem, you can always create one.

[Davidvcp]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Kollerkrot:
Of course marriage changes a woman's legal name. Has done so for centuries.

[snip]

If you have no problem, you can always create one. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

I have so little experience in these areas

Thanks for the info

[Sprint_girl07]

Ah, sorry. Glad you managed to get them all in same name now.

As far as I can see, you are good to file now