Change name on passport before applying for spousal visa?

As long as you change your name on your passport within the 3 months before applying for ILR, it will only cost $110 (price of a US passport), and you won't need to do anything with your BRP. This is because you have 3 months to change the BRP after changing the passport, but if you will be applying for ILR within those 3 months, you'll just get your ILR issued in your married name and your old BRP will be cancelled anyway.

For example:
- not more than 3 months before applying for ILR, you change your name on your passport ($110)
-  your ILR is issued in your married name (cost of ILR)
- you apply for your UK citizenship and passport in your married name (cost of citizenship and passport)
And that's it.

Wow...so it doesn't matter if the name on my BRP doesn't match my passport when I apply for ILR? It won't confuse them? That's kind of hard to wrap my mind around, sounds too good to be true! (And I couldn't find anybody else talking about having done this.)

I may just try to get an appointment at the embassy in London for a passport renewal and then as soon as I get my passport back apply for ILR with the super priority service.

Wow...so it doesn't matter if the name on my BRP doesn't match my passport when I apply for ILR? It won't confuse them? That's kind of hard to wrap my mind around, sounds too good to be true! (And I couldn't find anybody else talking about having done this.)

Nope, it's fine...as long as the new passport was issued less than 3 months before the ILR application date, it's not an issue... because essentially, you are applying to change your name on the BRP,  you're just doing it at the same time as applying for a new visa.

You can just write a cover letter to explain the name change (or if you apply for ILR in person, you can explain at the appointment).

This is actually what we recommend you do if you want to change your name after getting the initial spousal visa and many people have done it this way (either before applying for FLR(M) or before ILR).

Nope, it's fine...as long as the new passport was issued less than 3 months before the ILR application date, it's not an issue... because essentially, you are applying to change your name on the BRP,  you're just doing it at the same time as applying for a new visa.

You can just write a cover letter to explain the name change (or if you apply for ILR in person, you can explain at the appointment).

This is actually what we recommend you do if you want to change your name after getting the initial spousal visa and many people have done it this way (either before applying for FLR(M) or before ILR).

This is perfect! I had been considering changing my passport name right before I apply for ILR, but wasn't sure how the name change would affect it. Thanks for this info!! This now makes my decision

Nope, it's fine...as long as the new passport was issued less than 3 months before the ILR application date, it's not an issue... because essentially, you are applying to change your name on the BRP,  you're just doing it at the same time as applying for a new visa.

You can just write a cover letter to explain the name change (or if you apply for ILR in person, you can explain at the appointment).

This is actually what we recommend you do if you want to change your name after getting the initial spousal visa and many people have done it this way (either before applying for FLR(M) or before ILR).

That's great; very helpful!! I wish I had known earlier.

Now another question. Can I apply for ILR on a limited-vaility US passport?

Processing time for full-vailidty at the US embassy in London is 3 weeks average, no matter if you apply by appointment or post. (But I'm going to ask again to see if there are any other options.) Only limited-validity/emergency passports are issuable right away. I arrive back in the UK on the 26th Nov and my travel plans are to leave again 27th December (though I won't go unless my ILR is settled!). It's just not enough time to wait 3 weeks for a new passport, then submit ILR application online, get a appointment (with one of the new value-added services), submit docs/enroll biometrics, and get a decision the next day (hopefully, with super priority). Even if I got a same-day decision for ILR, there's the wait for BRP to arrive.

And yet another question - Is it possible to travel on a passport recently changed to married name with BRP still in maiden (as long as it's before the 3 months are up)? If you carried old and new passports, brp, and marriage certificate or something like that. It doesn't apply to me now, but wondering if it could have worked.

As I am working to get all my ducks in a row (way ahead of time... I'm a over-preparer  ), I wondered if I will need to change my maiden name to my married name on my passport before sending it in for the visa application process?

If not, which did you guys find easiest to do? I'll have the time while waiting to hear a decision to change SS card, driver's license, etc, but was unsure what to do about my passport.

TIA!

Hi...just an update on my passport name change.. I mailed my name change on my passport on Nov 1st, next day and paid a bit extra for priority and priority mail back to me ... I just got an email saying my passport has been mailed priority and will be here on the 10th..Not bad when i was expecting 2-3 week turn around.. maybe this is a slow time of year for passports...hope hope hope the application would go thru that fast 
Good thoughts for you which ever way you decide 

That's great; very helpful!! I wish I had known earlier.

Now another question. Can I apply for ILR on a limited-vaility US passport?

Processing time for full-vailidty at the US embassy in London is 3 weeks average, no matter if you apply by appointment or post. (But I'm going to ask again to see if there are any other options.) Only limited-validity/emergency passports are issuable right away. I arrive back in the UK on the 26th Nov and my travel plans are to leave again 27th December (though I won't go unless my ILR is settled!). It's just not enough time to wait 3 weeks for a new passport, then submit ILR application online, get a appointment (with one of the new value-added services), submit docs/enroll biometrics, and get a decision the next day (hopefully, with super priority). Even if I got a same-day decision for ILR, there's the wait for BRP to arrive.

And yet another question - Is it possible to travel on a passport recently changed to married name with BRP still in maiden (as long as it's before the 3 months are up)? If you carried old and new passports, brp, and marriage certificate or something like that. It doesn't apply to me now, but wondering if it could have worked.

Yes, you can use a limited validity passport for your application.

I wouldn't risk traveling with a passport and BRP without the names matching.  Though if completely and totally unavoidable and within the 90 day period, you *should* be okay.