Maiden Name or Married Name on I-130 Marriage Documents?

I am getting married to my Colombian Fiance in Barranquilla in 10 days. It seems like there are a lot of you guys on this board who know a lot about the Marriage Visa (CR1) and Fiance Visas (K1). I thought I would reach out and see if any of you can help with the one thing that I am a little confused about.

Immediately after we marry we will receive a marriage certificate. That certificate will have my name and her original name (that was the same as my previous marriage in the U.S.). Apparently, in Colombia the woman does not normally take the last name of the spouse. And, if she decides to take the last name of the spouse it is listed as Maria Sanchez Milena de Anderson, for example. The "de" would be kind of problematic for documents and other things in the U.S. The I-130 has a space for maiden name and her current married name. Since she will be using my last name here in the U.S. I think it is best if we use that name on the I-130 also.

I am curious about you guys have done about this name thing when you got married in Colombia:

1. Does she need to go to the civil registry and officially change her name and change her cedula?

2. Instead of going through the hassle of officially changing her name can she just show her marriage certificate when she goes to get her passport and then receive the passport showing my last name (without the "de")?

3. Does U.S. Immigration and the U.S. Embassy normally expect the woman to be using the man's last name prior to arriving in the U.S. or do they expect her to make that change after she arrives? or do they care?

I think it is best to use her name that she will be using in the U.S. on everything, but I have heard conflicting opinions. Any input from anybody who has gone through this process after marrying a Colombian bride would be much appreciated. Thanks!

Mark

By tropicphoto on Aug 7, 2006, 08:26 in Visa & paperwork.

utopiacowboy says on Aug 7, 2006, 09:02:

I thought the safest and most hassle-free thing to do was to leave her name alone. Both the embassy and the USCIS here in San Antonio appended "de Smith" to her name (assuming my name is Smith). Opinions differ on what's easiest but that's what worked for us.

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

famsearch says on Aug 7, 2006, 14:20:

trop, what we did, when we filled out the 130 paperwork, is to follow the colombian custom, and leave her name as is. what it will be after she gets here, will be decided then.
dan

dan

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Fionalatina says on Aug 7, 2006, 16:48:

No choice I was married to an American three years ago. Once you submit your paperwork at the embassy you will get the paperwork with your husband's last name. So they don't give you any choice.

You don't need to change any document in Colombia. In the States I have one last name in Colombia and my passport shows my maiden name, I haven't had any problem.

Now I am divorce and back to my maiden name... it is a karma!!!

Fiona

Fiona

0 funny, 0 helpful.

tropicphoto says on Aug 10, 2006, 12:25:

Thanks! Follow up Questions Thanks for all of your responses. I guess I will just complete the I-130 and G325A with her original name. It sounds like she would get her passort with her original name also, is that correct? All documents for USCIS, Visa Agency, and Embassy with her original name - - - and then get her Social Security Card, driver's license, joint bank accounts her in the U.S. under her married name by showing the Colombian marriage certificate? Does any of the agencies here in the U.S. balk at using a Colombian marriage certificate? Thanks Again!

0 funny, 0 helpful.