British Expatriate Network

I am just wondering if any women who married their American husband are haiving to use their maiden and married name combined? For example the ins have me listed as my madien and married surnames and therefore today whilst applying for an ss number I have to use both. Has anyone or is anyone having to do the same thing?

Thanks for any input.

Zed

Well, I know this is going to be a short and sweet answer, but.....

No.

wink

It is my husband that calls me by my maiden and married names combined. I purposely did not combine them, being as I was at that time a traditionalist Brit, so I made sure all my paperwork was written with my married name only.

Short answer No, not me either.

Zed - the only problem I ran into was many years ago, on all my papers, I use my given names and married name. But, when I got my drivers license they made me use my maiden name for my middle name. So I now have two names I go by.
I tried to change it but they won't allow me to change it. The only time I've had to state I use two names is when we signed legal papers on a property, I had to state I had an alias! and give that name too.
Otherwise its given me no problems.

I've always used only my married name. Where were you married? Did you come over here under your maiden name? We were married at home and then I filed for my visa at the US consulate in London in my married name.
Joan

From my experience no. I did not run into that problem with the INS.
You need to ask yourself how you filled in your original INS application. Did you combine your maiden and married names together? What it really sounds like to me is a duplication/clerical error on the INS part. Have they given you 2 separate Alien numbers? and if so have they linked them together so that they know that you are the same person?

Thanks everyone. Initially the paper work was in my madien name as I cam over on a fiance visa (sp). Then the only time I used my madien name was when I was requested to do so. I checked over my INS papers as we photocopied everything.

The papers for our initial interview were under my married name only. Last year we returned to the UK for a holiday using an advanced parole and they had my married name and maiden name in brackets on that.

Oh well I shall just leave it as it is even though it feels weird. I'm sure I'll be use to it soon.

The lady at the ss office said that I have to use my combined name on everything as it could cause problems with tax returns etc.

Thanks again smile

I'm wondering about that too. My marriage certificate states that I have taken my husband's name. However, my visa applications all state my maiden name since it was filled out before we were married. Then when I had to sign my EAD, they suggested I sign using both names. I have yet to get my drivers license but am hoping that with my marriage certificate they'll let me use my married name - otherwise I have no current ID with my correct name - which makes things very complicated when having to return gifts at Bloomies! God forbid you don't drive in this country - you couldn't even rent a video! Can you buy airline tickets with your married name on your credit card but with your maiden name on your passport? Any advice on getting passports changed?

You can pay for airline tickets with any name on any credit card the airline accepts. The only problem you'll have is if you pay for it on line and get an "e-ticket" which you have to pick up at the airport. The airport staff will require that you have the credit card used to purchase the ticket with you and that it should match the ticket holder name. This is of course to primarily to prevent fraud.

The US British Embassy website should be able to help you with your passport name change concerns.

They used to have an office in downtown NYC but they're now in Washington, DC.

Here's the link to their website: -

http://www.britainusa.com/consular/other...her_ID=205


UKM :smile:

Hi there,

When I had to change my British passport to my USA married name in the USA, I sent it off to the Washington office and they scribble through your maiden name and handwrite your married name then staple the receipt for the change in the back of the passport and it is returned in approximately 3-4 weeks ( but this was 3 yrs ago!)

I was really worried about sending off my passport, it was all I had as an "escape clause" but it all went smoothly and has never been questioned by any immigration/passport control.

<!-- BBCode Start --><font color=#0000ff></font><!-- BBCode End -->I have kept my maiden name upon marriage and had very few problems. My biggest problem was with the military (Veterans Affairs) when my husband was killed. So, just like the military, they put my maiden name and my wonder be married names together, kept them all happy. So with the military I have a double surname and with civilians my maiden name.