Name Change

First of all, thanks for all the advice about the fiance visa; it was approved and my fiancee moves over in a few weeks! 

One question though, when we get married (in the UK) my fiancee wants to change her name to take my surname.  I assume that's something she has to do with the US authorities, but can she do it from the UK? 

Thanks!

If she wants to change her name on her passport she can do it from the UK through the Embassy nearest you: http://www.usembassy.org.uk/cons_new/acs/passports/amendindex.html

If she need to change her social security card she can also do this through the Embassy in London: http://www.usembassy.org.uk/cons_new/faqs/faq_fbu_ssn.html.

Also, when she files her next tax return with the IRS, she can just fill in her new details - she'll still be using the same Social Security number, and the IRS will be very good (they have been for me anyway!) at sending her a tax packet every year after that...

Also she should change her US Passport before applying for FLR(M) because FLR(M) will be issued in whatever name the passport is in. 

It's a personal decision, but I was happy to have the limited leave visa in my old name because the passport had a bit of time to run on it yet - I did however still renew it early so that when I applied for ILR, it would be issued in my married name.

Again, it's a personal choice, but I had no problem with my passport in the old name and having everything else in my new name...I just bought any airline tickets using the name in the passport...

Thanks a lot!  That's a great help.  We're keen to get her a visa allowing her to work as soon as possible, that being so can't you get the visa on the old passport, and then have the visa updated she changes her name? 

I need to do both so what should i do first Social Security or the passport.

I need to do both so what should i do first Social Security or the passport.

It doesn't matter you can do both at the same time. You'll just need 2 copies of your marriage certificate.

Thanks a lot!  That's a great help.  We're keen to get her a visa allowing her to work as soon as possible, that being so can't you get the visa on the old passport, and then have the visa updated she changes her name? 

The short answer is yes, but it's hassle.  (See my thread http://talk.uk-yankee.com/index.php?topic=53319.msg763502#msg763502 asking about this same thing).  Here's Vicky's response to me:
"If you are getting a whole new passport you can, but not if the name on the passport is just being amended.  I would, however, wait.  Yes you will be able to work straight away but you will then have to give up your passport for another 14 weeks.
Vicky"

I looked into all of this because I wanted to start work ASAP and I also wanted to change my name on everything.  I was worried that if I had everything but my passport and visa in my married name that I would forget and book a plane ticket in my married name, but have my passport in my maiden name and that would be such a pain!  It only took three weeks to get my new passport and then we had our FLR(M) appointment the next working day. 

Thanks Leisa!  That's a great help. 

Silly question, but for an American to change their surname is it really just as simply as applying for a new passport and asking them to make it out in a new name?  It's no more complicated than that? 

As far as I can tell, it's no more complicated than that as long as it is a name change by marriage and you have a marriage certificate.  You have to send in your old passport and your marriage certificate in order for them to make it out in a new name, but I had no problem with it.  I was worried because I just wanted to add my married name and keep my maiden name as another middle name and had read somewhere that you needed a court order to do that, but I didn't.  The marriage certificate is all I have needed to change banks, credit cards, social security, voter registration, and in the UK national insurance and council tax, etc.  The only thing I haven't been able to change yet is my US bank account and my US driving license because they said I need to go in person with my marriage certificate, so I'll do that on my next visit home.