Better to hold off on a name change?

i changed my name immediately on my passport and then applied for visa once i had the new one in the mail.  i also changed my name on my social security card and drivers license before i moved.  i'm glad i did!

From what I have learned since being here over a year most of my identification is derived from my passport. When I had my old passport everything was in my maiden name I had to provide my new passport to have my name changed to my married name. So if you want to go by your married name you'll have to change your passport which means changing your driver license and your social security card in order to change your name on your passport.

I've found that it doesn't really matter. My passport is still in my maiden name but everything else in the UK is in my married name. I have on credit card in my maiden name but it's a US one, and I never use it anyway.

I've found that whenever I need my passport as ID I just have to show my marriage certificate to prove the change in name. No big deal. My SSC, and Florida DL are in my married name, as are my National Insurance number/card and my UK provisional DL. I've shown my passport as ID to obtain both of those without hassle.

For what it's worth, I've decided to just change my name in the US before I go.   A little research shows that I will probably have to change my DL first, then my SS card (should be able to do both in a single day) and then use those to apply for a new US passport.

Then use that for the visa.


I'm still waiting for my official marriage cert to show up, so this is all on hold until then.  HURRY UP, GOVERNMENTS.