Question:
Now that I have my green card I want to change my name to my husband's
surname, but I can't find either the form or the instructions to do this
on the CIS webpage.
1. Can anyone help me with this and Form number if ther is one?
2. I am sure there is a fee?
3. What are the steps I need to perform first prior to applying for the
name chage? Documents? Procedural?
Answer:
Believe you would have to apply for a new green card and it would be
form I-90 and requires a fee.
Why didn't you change it at your AOS interview?
Given the problems some people here have had trying to get their GCs
changed due to errors, I am not sure it makes sense to want to change
your GC unless their is a pressing need.
I wonder what Steffi's PVW would be? ;)
That is what we tried, Rete. Hopefully the card will arrive soon and we
will see if it happened.
We simply asked the officer if there was a way to change the name. He
said yes, crossed out my wife's last name and wrote mine.
Because of other problems that I have mentioned here I don't have any
idea if it worked. I'll try to post what happened as soon as the card
arrives.
I guess it depends on whether there are any other documents you want
your name changed on. For the I-90, I believe it's just a matter of
filling out the form and sending it in with the payment. You'll have to
read the instructions to see what backup info they require. Be prepared
to wait a year or more for the new card.
http://www.uscis.gov/graphics/formsfee/forms/i-90.htm
It's a complicated situation I don't wish to discuss in open forum. It
involves my home country passport name, a very bad marriage and I485
with that x-spouse that ended in divorce and now a really great marriage
with a person with whom I filed an I485 and it was granted. Our attorney
recommended not doing the name change until after the GC was approved do
to complications I do not wish to explain here.
But now I will check-out the I90. By the way, if some are wondering why
I didn't just contact my attorney, I just want to say that we are glad
this legal relationship has ended. I am sure many of you like me have
spent a lot of money for poor advice and relative little action. It
seems we end up doing the work anyway.
Personal explanations to us are not required. You may have received
your LPR status based on something other than marriage to a USC, i.e.
employment, asylum, lottery, etc.
The card arrived just now!!! We were approved (sort of, but that's
another story) on the 10th of April and it is the 21st today. It is a 10
year card.
Now for the subject of this message and a follow up. The card did NOT
have the name change on it. As I said above I saw the officer cross out
my wife's last name and write mine on the form, but the card has her
"old" name on it.
Oh well. Now it is another battle to see what can be done about that. I
should have known I was not finished with BCIS for 10 years or less. :)
Personally, I'd leave it as is until you have to remove conditions, and
then apply for that using your new name. Saves a lot of hassle, money,
paperwork, and wait time. :)
But I still have some research to do because I went to the
USCIS web page for forms and pulled-up the I-90 form. Following is one
of the instructions listed for filing:
"If you became a conditional resident through a marriage to a U.S.
Citizen or permanent resident, submit Form I-751, Petition to Remove
Conditions on Residence; or "
I am conditional for 2 years. So,it would seem that I have to file the
I-751...but when....2 years from now to change my name?
If I find out exactly what I have to do, please be assured that I will
let all concerned know what I found.
