i might be making this too complicated

Hello everybody,

I'm probably making this way too complicated but...

My husband and I are changing our surnames, not to his or mine but to a new one. He is a UK citizen and can do this by deed poll no problem. But I'm a US citizen and so its a bit more complicated? Adding to this complication I want to change my first name as well (just dropping one letter off but I really really want to do this because I hate my name so much!) I really want to get this change at least started by the new year as its been bugging me for a while.

Anyway my questions. Can I do this via deed poll or do I need something called a statutory declaration, or both? and how do I go about getting that? I have an FLR(m) and can apply for my ILR september 2013. I have the residency card which is in my full maiden name. Will I need to have this replaced now or can it wait until I get my ILR? Can it just be changed to a new name or do I have to reapply entirely? Will the US Embassy accept this to change my passport and then my stuff in the US? Do I need to notify the UKBA if I change it? Everyone I know who has used this has only changed their surname and usually to make it hyphenated.

I really want to do this before I get the ILR so it says my preferred name and its been bugging me that we've been married for just over a year now and still aren't using the same name. And friends of our who just got married both changed theirs by deed poll and its done for them already. But they are both UK citizens.

So how exactly do I do this? Has anyone ever done it before? Is it really difficult or really easy or somewhere in between?

Hello everybody,

I'm probably making this way too complicated but...

My husband and I are changing our surnames, not to his or mine but to a new one. He is a UK citizen and can do this by deed poll no problem. But I'm a US citizen and so its a bit more complicated? Adding to this complication I want to change my first name as well (just dropping one letter off but I really really want to do this because I hate my name so much!) I really want to get this change at least started by the new year as its been bugging me for a while.

Anyway my questions. Can I do this via deed poll or do I need something called a statutory declaration, or both? and how do I go about getting that? I have an FLR(m) and can apply for my ILR september 2013. I have the residency card which is in my full maiden name. Will I need to have this replaced now or can it wait until I get my ILR? Can it just be changed to a new name or do I have to reapply entirely? Will the US Embassy accept this to change my passport and then my stuff in the US? Do I need to notify the UKBA if I change it? Everyone I know who has used this has only changed their surname and usually to make it hyphenated.

I really want to do this before I get the ILR so it says my preferred name and its been bugging me that we've been married for just over a year now and still aren't using the same name. And friends of our who just got married both changed theirs by deed poll and its done for them already. But they are both UK citizens.

So how exactly do I do this? Has anyone ever done it before? Is it really difficult or really easy or somewhere in between?

What do you intend to do about your legal name in the US?  That is relevant to the US passport which you hold.  Into which you now wish the Home Office to place a document which would not match your prior UK paper trail or your official US name.

I don't think you are making a mountain from a molehill.  I do think you are creating yourself quite a bit of bother.

oh I am going to make the legal name the same in the US. Meaning I want not only my UK stuff to update to my preferred name but I am going to update everything in the US as well. drivers license, ssn, national insurance, nhs, banks, everything for both countries.

I know its a bit of hassle but my husband and I want to start our own family name (as both of our surnames are from people we haven't seen or heard from it years), and it seems like it shouldn't be that hard to take one letter off my first name too, if I have to redo everything anyway. Though my marriage license/certificate does list it as a nickname.

oh I am going to make the legal name the same in the US. Meaning I want not only my UK stuff to update to my preferred name but I am going to update everything in the US as well. drivers license, ssn, national insurance, nhs, banks, everything for both countries.

I know its a bit of hassle but my husband and I want to start our own family name (as both of our surnames are from people we haven't seen or heard from it years), and it seems like it shouldn't be that hard to take one letter off my first name too, if I have to redo everything anyway. Though my marriage license/certificate does list it as a nickname.

Then I imagine you need to find out which should come first.  US or UK changes.

Ask an immigration solicitor your questions regarding a change of name on documents with the Home Office.  Get an attorney in the US to tell you the procedure for legal name change at home.  Find out if you have to be present in the US to file. 

Did you husband make his deed poll change before or after your marriage?  I'm guessing things might be slightly easier for you if his surname on the marriage certificate matches what he is using now.  If not, oh well....it just all got even more complicated to explain to US courts.

I hope you are changing your name to Moon Noodles.

I hope you are changing your name to Moon Noodles.

 

Well I half am actually. 

I found out from the Us embassy i can get my passport changed with a statutory declaration and 3 forms of id like bank, national insurance, etc. Showing the new name.

To be honest I don't care about most of it being updated. I really just want my UK stuff and my ilr to reflect my preferred name. I found out how to change bank etc. The only thing left to figure out is where to get the statutory declaration done and if I need to get my FLR (m) updated?

And oh to answer your question no. He wasn't using the new name when we got married. That would have made it so much easier.

UK visas are issued in the name on the passport, so you'll first need to change that to the name you want on your ILR.

http://travel.state.gov/passport/correcting/ChangeName/ChangeName_851.html

It looks like to change you name on your passport, it has to be through marriage, court order (I imagine US court order.... but maybe they would accept something from the UK?) or at least 3 public records showing your date and place of birth that show exclusive use of your assumed name for at least 5 years.

I think the last box in that link applies to you unless you're changing it by court order.  But you'd need to have the name you want to use for at least 5 years.