Better to hold off on a name change?

(I am sure this has been discussed to death here so I am sorry.  I searched old posts but they were all by people currently in the UK, which I am not.)


I just got married on the 12th, in Chicago where I currently live.  (w00t)  I want to take my husband's surname.   I don't know if I should hurry up and do all this before starting my spousal settlement visa app, or if that could complicate that process somehow and is better left until I've been in the UK for a year or two.

Any advice is appreciated.  Thank you!

I did my name change before my application. I had to renew my passport anyway because it was set to expire in less than 6 months (the requirement for a visa) and to do the name change on my passport I had to change my name with Department of Motor Vehicles then Social Security.

I got my new Drivers License & Social Security Card in 7 days and my new passport in 10 days. Then my Visa application only took 6 days. This also allowed me to change my name on my bank accounts etc so it's easier to collect my documents for my ILR application. And, on the passport I did not file for the Expedited service. I just mailed it out overnight to Baltimore I think. Its been about 6 months ago now. Total time waiting for everything was about 28 days including weekends. I was back in the UK in 6 weeks from the day we got married.

Needless to say I am glad that I did it all at once.

It'll be easier to change your US stuff while you're still in the US, so if you have the time, I would get everything changed now.  It's not a huge deal if you have to change once you're in the UK, but doing it now will probably be easier in the long run.

Thanks, you guys.  I am understandably anxious to get it over with and GET THERE ALREADY, but not at the price of making it harder to get my residency later on.

On the plus side, I basically have no accounts left in the US to change, save my checking.  What else?  DL, State ID, Passport, and SSC?  Am I forgetting anything major that I will need for my application?

Changing your name or not won't have any effect on getting your visa- it's purely down to personal choice and convenience.  The things that will be easier to change while you are in the US are your bank account and driver's license/state ID.  The passport and social security card are just as easily changed in the UK...but if you change your passport after you arrive in the UK, you'll have to carry around 2 passports since your visa will be in your maiden name.

Hmmmm...

...well, what if you don't change anything in the US, but want to use your married name in the UK?  That can work as well, right?

I'm just wondering because I want to take my fiance's name after we're married (although he said I don't "have to"...silly man).  I want to apply for the visa right away or as soon as I can, rather.  Buuuttt....still wondering if I should change anything to my married name in the US before I leave for the UK....

*ponders*

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.

...well, what if you don't change anything in the US, but want to use your married name in the UK?  That can work as well, right?

This is what I have done. I married in the UK, and couldn't be arsed to change things back in the US. My US passport and UK visa stamps in the passport are all in my maiden name, but all my other UK stuff - bank accounts, taxes, etc., are in my married name.

In the UK,  you are entitled to use either your married or maiden name as you wish.* Your marriage certificate is proof that you are who you say you are.

Works fine for me.

I have never had a problem with showing my passport (with maiden name) + marriage certificate to identify myself under my married name.

*As long as you are honest and don't try to be deceptive. For example, the IRS and US Treasury know me under my maiden name. I have UK bank accounts in my married name, and I report them to the US Treasury every year as required (I suppose I could possibly get away with hiding them from the US by claiming that I was a different person, but that would be wrong and illegal.)

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. .

I don't know what you mean by having your name changed. If I wanted someone (bank, credit card company, utility company, NHS, HMRC etc.) to start calling me by my married name I just sent them my marriage certificate and they changed my name on their computers.  Easy peasy.

The things that will be easier to change while you are in the US are your bank account and driver's license/state ID.  The passport and social security card are just as easily changed in the UK...but if you change your passport after you arrive in the UK, you'll have to carry around 2 passports since your visa will be in your maiden name.

Just wanted to add one thing to keep in mind, which is that some states require you to change your name with Social Security before you can change your license. Check with your state to see what the rules are, but this was the case for me.

Personally, I changed my name with SS, my banks and the DMV before I moved over to the UK. I had to leave my passport in my maiden name because I didn't have enough time to change this, as I moved over 3 weeks after our wedding. I still haven't changed it, and am now waiting for it to expire before doing so, as I will have a British passport by then (as long as the rules don't change too dramatically!  ). I've never had a problem having my passport in my maiden name. I have had to show my marriage certificate along with my passport for things like opening a bank account or getting my provisional license, but haven't yet had to show it while travelling (although I do keep a copy tucked in my passport just in case). You just need to make sure you book all tickets in the name in your passport.

I would definitely try to change as much as you can before coming over. I just did it all in one day. Sat in the SS office, then the DMV and then headed to my bank.

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. .

I don't know what you mean by having your name changed. If I wanted someone (bank, credit card company, utility company, NHS, HMRC etc.) to start calling me by my married name I just sent them my marriage certificate and they changed my name on their computers.  Easy peasy.

If I didn't want to change my name, I didn't do anything.

As I said, in the UK you are entitled to use either your maiden or married name, as ane when you wish, as long as you aren't trying to deceive anyone.

I don't know what you mean by having your name changed. If I wanted someone (bank, credit card company, utility company, NHS, HMRC etc.) to start calling me by my married name I just sent them my marriage certificate and they changed my name on their computers.  Easy peasy.

That's what I thought I would have to do but in each case they've asked me for a copy of my passport photo page, just relaying my experience thats all.

Well, I would NEVER want to deceive anyone, and I know after I move I'll still have to file wtih the IRS here....that's not a problem to me.

Sooo...maybe I'll have everything BUT my passport changed over before I leave.  Hmm...because from what I've read it seems pretty easy to just carry a copy of my marriage certificate in my passport while I travel and whatnot. 

How much does it usually cost for a new SS card? 

And thanks, ladies, for ALL your help.  Even though I have about 6 months before I get married, I still like to know things in advance.

No cost for a new SS card.

How much does it usually cost for a new SS card? 

I could be wrong, but I don't remember paying anything.

Also, just to address the tax issue. I think there may be a form to change your name with the IRS. But I simply just filled in my new surname when I first filed after we got married (with advice from the tax board of this forum) and that seems to have done the job. Of course I had already changed my name with the SS office, so it all linked up.

cross posted with WebyJ

Really?

Hmmm...that's nice news to read. lol

Since everything else will cost an arm, a leg, a foot, and a spleen..... :p