Changing last name in England

My fiance and I are getting married soon in America and then a week after the wedding we're going back to England to live. We're scheduling an appointment to get the Spousal Visa since we wouldn't have time to do it by mail so that should all be okay.

But when/how do I change my name? I didn't want to do it while I'm here in America because then my real name wouldn't match the name on my passport and I know how long it can take to get a new passport and I don't want to have to deal with getting all that done plus the wedding, etc and I didn't know how it would interfere with getting the Spousal Visa timing wise. So my dad suggested that I just wait and hopefully get my name changed as well as my passport while I'm over in England, is this possible? Can I do it through the embassy or something? I can only imagine it would be possible since surely Americans living in the UK get married IN the UK versus coming back to America like we're doing. But I just want to be sure, can someone point me in the right direction of a government website with info about this?

I did a search on here and found some people saying you don't have to change the name on your passport, they just make a notation in it that your name has been changed? But that just doesn't sound right, I don't want to have problems at Immigration if my passport has one name but my visa has another or something like that. I'd rather just go over there strictly as my original name and then change everything while I'm over there, if I can. But then, will that effect my Spousal Visa?

Your maiden name is still your legal name, even if you assume your husband's name.  As long as you don't change your birth certificate (i.e. legal name change where you pay the money etc..) then it should be ok.  Just carry your marriage certificate with you.

In English law, the marriage certificate will be a change of name certificate if you so want it to be.  That means they can both be your legal name.  You don't need to go through the hassle of changing it by deed poll.

Your visa will always be issued in the name on your passport.  If you get a new passport with a new name, then just carry the old passport (with the visa) and your marriage certificate with you, as Mrs P says.

Vicky

As Vicky said, since your visa will be in the name in your passport, and you won't have time to get your passport changed before you get the visa, then you've got the visa in maiden name no matter what.  So even if you get your name changed in your passport in England, your visa will still be in the old name.  You won't have problems at Immigration - they are used to this sort of thing.  My work permit is in my maiden name and my passport is in my married.  I always carry my marriage certificate but they have never asked to see it.

As long as you don't change your birth certificate (i.e. legal name change where you pay the money etc..) then it should be ok.

Is this a Canadian thing?  Because I'm pretty sure you can't change the name on your birth certificate (ie, get a new birth certificate with the new name, not just change your legal name) in the US... Or am I misunderstanding you?

I just got married this summer, and my joint account with dh is in my married name, but we are doing some traveling this fall and I won't be able to do anything with my passport until after Christmas.  I just use my marriage certificate to prove my new last name whenever I need to do anything with paperwork and it has all been fine so far. 

Ok thanks guy, I'm still a bit confused but I feel better about any traveling with different names on different stuff. But I'm still going to wait to do any name changing when I'm in England and do it through the embassy, I just don't want to deal with it until after the wedding lol.

Just to let you know that right after we got married on a Saturday in the states, we received our wedding cerficate on Monday (we handed it in person) and I immediately mailed off my form for a name change in my passport the same day. I paid the $100 to have it expediated and I received it the next week.  Didn't know if that was an option for you or not? Otherwise you can do what everyone else suggests. 

Is this a Canadian thing?  Because I'm pretty sure you can't change the name on your birth certificate (ie, get a new birth certificate with the new name, not just change your legal name) in the US... Or am I misunderstanding you?

The only way you can legally change your name in Canada is to pay a hefty fee and do it through legal channels - like a deed poll only more complicated.  When you get married, you only assume your husband's last name and legally, you are allowed to do that - except in Quebec where women are not allowed to assume a husband's last name.