Spousal Visa and name change

My fiancé and I will be marrying in Texas November 25th of this year and we then we will start the paperwork for me to head back there with him as his wife.

Lately we have been talking about changing my maiden name to his- however- we plan on starting the spousal visa paperwork ASAP! Would it even be worth trying to change my name before that process? It seems like the best option is to wait until we are settled in England and then try to change my name- maybe once I'm a citizen? On the other hand, does not taking his last name hurt our chances in anyway? We are just anxious to live together in person rather than on Skype.

Thanks for your time. (:

You can use your new name in the UK without changing it on your passport - you just start using it.

However, your visa can ONLY be issued in the name on your passport, which means you can also only travel in the name on your passport/visa.

The name you use for the visa is irrelevant and many people end up just keeping their maiden name on their passport and all their visas.

It is a massive hassle (and expensive) to change your name on your passport and visa once you are in the UK (unless you wait until just before a new visa application). And, if you wait until citizenship, you have to get your citizenship in your maiden name, apply for a UK passport in your maiden name, then change your name on your US passport, and then change your name on your UK passport... which again is a hassle.

So, if there's any chance you might wish to change your name on your passport in the next few years, I would advise changing it in the US BEFORE applying for your spousal visa.

If you do that, your visa will be issued in your new name and you won't have to worry about changing it in the future.

It only takes a few weeks for a passport name change in the US (or I believe you can expedite it), so I would take the time to do it before applying for the visa, so save you time, hassle and expense later on.

It only took me a week to get my new passport in my new name after I was married. It may take up to 3 weeks to get your new passport back.

If I were you, I would do it before you apply for your spouse visa.

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Definitely change your name before applying. 

November/December are bad months to apply as there is a big rush of applications then.  So an extra week or two wait for the new passport won't be a big deal (last year's late November applications weren't processed until well after the new year and processing times are longer this year already).

I changed my name immediately after getting married. You have to start with the social security office. You just bring your marriage certificate. Once you get that, usually takes a week then apply for a new passport. Like some have said it takes about 3 weeks...you can also pay extra to get it expedited (not sure how much that is). I was told it's just easier to get your name changed in the US...that way in the future there's also no discrepancy in the future with paper work etc in the U.K.


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I changed my name immediately after getting married. You have to start with the social security office. You just bring your marriage certificate. Once you get that, usually takes a week then apply for a new passport. Like some have said it takes about 3 weeks...you can also pay extra to get it expedited (not sure how much that is). I was told it's just easier to get your name changed in the US...that way in the future there's also no discrepancy in the future with paper work etc in the U.K.


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The good news is that you do NOT need to change your name with social security before your passport.  So long as you have your marriage certificate, you can change the passport before anything else.

https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/passports/services/correction.html

You only need to change your social security number before you file your taxes. Very easy to do from the UK. 

Kfdancer thank you for the edit! Sorry for the misinformation...so yes it's even easier than you think to change the name on your passport


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What Is the exact process to do it here. We decided to wait till after our family ceremony so I didn't list a change on our marriage license. Do I start with a deed pole or passport change? I was thinking I'll do my new passport the month before I apply for FLR and avoid sending in passport and paying the fee? I'll be doing an in person appointment. Thoughts?

 In NY, I only needed my marriage cert with my married last name to change my  name onmy passport, but I've not changed my name on anything in the US. since they go based on the name of your passport in the UK, it's important to change the passport name. For me, it took 2.5 weeks to get my passport back and $145(I paid cash so that made it about $20 more expensive) .

On the other hand, does not taking his last name hurt our chances in anyway? We are just anxious to live together in person rather than on Skype.

If you do decide not to change your name or that you would prefer to do it later, that's perfectly fine. It will not hurt your chances in any way. 

Sorry, I meant that if you choose to change it, then do change it on pssport before applying to make things easier and maybe a bit less stressful in the long run? If you don't want to, that's your choice

What Is the exact process to do it here. We decided to wait till after our family ceremony so I didn't list a change on our marriage license. Do I start with a deed pole or passport change? I was thinking I'll do my new passport the month before I apply for FLR and avoid sending in passport and paying the fee? I'll be doing an in person appointment. Thoughts?

Apply for the passport with your married name no more than 90 days before your FLR(M) application.  Don't travel after you get the new passport until you get your new visa/BRP.  A LOT less money and big time saver too (takes six months to process).

Decide about in person much later.  It'll cost an additional £1,000 in 2019.  If processing times are only 7-8 weeks still, it's sooooooo not worth it (assuming you don't have eminent travel plans).

Yeah I'm so torn on he in person. I don't have any travel plans around that time. In face if things go to plan I'll be pregnant. But I do have a grandmother I'm very very close to in the states and just worried if anything happens I couldn't get to her.

Wish honestly we had done it before but I wasn't ready to not be a Frazier yet anyway lol

If you're going to change it eventually, it is easier to do it before starting the process.

However, I didn't change my name on my passport and had no problems. I went by my married name for most day-to-day things but was still under my maiden name for everything related to visas and passports. I had absolutely no problems and it was never an issue for FLR, ILR, UK citizenship or UK passport.

It is more of a hassle to change it once you've started the visa process, but it won't look weird for your visa applications and it won't hurt your application one bit. Having the same name isn't a requirement for any UK visa. You just need to prove you're married, plan or getting married or meet the unmarried partner criteria.

If you're going to change it eventually, it is easier to do it before starting the process.

However, I didn't change my name on my passport and had no problems. I went by my married name for most day-to-day things but was still under my maiden name for everything related to visas and passports. I had absolutely no problems and it was never an issue for FLR, ILR, UK citizenship or UK passport.

It is more of a hassle to change it once you've started the visa process, but it won't look weird for your visa applications and it won't hurt your application one bit. Having the same name isn't a requirement for any UK visa. You just need to prove you're married, plan or getting married or meet the unmarried partner criteria.

I'll second everything but the changing my name already part. I'm doing that in 2019 when I apply for ILR.