Changing to married name

Thanks everyone!!  So if you get your BRP in your married name (after getting passport in married name) your ILR is automatically in your married name??  That is GREAT!!  I will definitely do this after the FLR-M

You ladies are great with the info!!

Kat

Also, when renewing your passport in your married name, do you keep your old passport?  Do you send both when getting your BRP changed?

Kat

Also, when renewing your passport in your married name, do you keep your old passport?  Do you send both when getting your BRP changed?

I think you always have to send in your old passport when renewing it (unless you've lost it).  They punch a hole in it so it's not valid, but you do get it back. 

Thanks everyone!!  So if you get your BRP in your married name (after getting passport in married name) your ILR is automatically in your married name??  That is GREAT!!  I will definitely do this after the FLR-M

It sounds like visas are always given in the name on the passport.  So, if you're changing your name in your passport now, it will be that way for your ILR. 

Hi there,

I've just read through this thread because I'm in a similar situation, and wondering what to do.

I got married in May and applied for my FLR immediately to beat the law changes that came in early July. Unfortunately, I didn't have time to change my passport to my married name between getting married and applying, because I only heard about the law changes about 2 weeks beforehand.

My FLR came in October with my BRP card. I know some people are still waiting, people who applied for their FLR before I did in late June.

Now I've got my BRP card in my maiden name, because my American passport is still in my maiden name. I went through a rough time being unable to travel home during those 4 months with ill family back home and missing the second half of my honeymoon because I couldn't travel. I really don't want to repeat that. I understand I can apply for a new passport through the U.S. embassy and have it in a few weeks. But if I then send my BRP in to match, it will be put in the same waiting pile as all the visa apps... meaning I might end up waiting another 6 months or more.

I already have both business and personal trips booked and paid for, in April, June and August. In no way do I want to give up my travel docs and risk missing these.

Is it possible to get a new American passport with my married name while my BRP card is in my maiden name, and still be able to travel? If I brought my marriage certificate along, would the Border Agency let me go through? At least then I'd have half of it taken care of.

The other issue is the UKBA says you have to tell them within 3 months of a name change. Well, the whole REASON I got the BRP card in the first place was *because* of a name change - I was required to give them my marriage certificate and put my married name on the application form so they KNOW I have a new name. They threaten by saying if you don't let them know within 3 months of changing your name, they can fine you and shorten the length of your stay.

However, it seems completely unjust that they also can take months or years to process these (as proven by yesterday's inspection discoveries by John Vine), and since they were informed of my name change on my FLR application, I'm not sure whether this *counts*. Anyone else in this predicament? 

It can take a while to get your name changed on your BRP and your BRP does have to match your passport, but there's nothing to say that you need to change your name on your passport.  Many here (myself included) use their married name for day-to-day things in the UK whilst keeping their passport and BRP in their maiden name.  I've had no problems so far.  Eventually, you could change it down the road if you want (or within 3 month of applying for ILR or for Citizenship if you're going for that).  There's nothing to say you need to do it now. 

Just keep the US passport in your maiden name.  Book all of your travel in that name.

Hi Claire2012,

I'm currently waiting for my BRP to be updated with my married name.  It's not put in the same pile as the FLR(M) requests but it is not quick.

My timeline is:
Mailed BRP(RC) - 26.11.2012
Acknowledgment letter - 28.11.2012
Biometrics invitation - 03.01.2013
Received invitation - 07.01.2013
Registered biometrics - 08.01.2013

It did take 6 weeks to get the biometric letter, which does not bode well for my wait time.  I met with my MP last Friday and from what I've read on other boards, having your MP request information on your request can truly speed up the process.  I will post an update on how long it takes from start to finish when all is complete.

I was told it would take a month to get my new BRP (from the UKBA) so I changed my name on my passport without questioning it.  I really want to have my husband's name in all aspects of my life.  And my work will not change my name until my BRP is updated.  I appear to be the only person in the UK who's employer is requiring my information at work to match my BRP!  

From what I've seen, it seems to average about 14 weeks for the name change.  People who have had their MP involved seem to get their documents back within about 2-4 weeks of the MP involvement.  

The morale of the story is don't change the name on your passport until you are ready to change your name on your BRP and can endure an unknown wait time.