Ding Babb｜Should a Foreign Spouse Change Their Last Name for a Marriage-Based Green Card?

关键词: marriage-based green card; marriage green card; change last name after marriage; take spouse’s last name; USCIS marriage green card

In American culture, it has traditionally been common for a wife to take her husband’s last name, though today many couples make different choices based on personal, professional, or cultural reasons. For foreign nationals applying for a marriage-based green card, this often raises the question: should the foreign spouse adopt their U.S. citizen or permanent resident spouse’s last name?

The answer is that it is entirely optional. Keeping your original surname will not affect your green card application, and taking your spouse’s last name is purely a personal choice. USCIS evaluates the authenticity of the marriage, not whether spouses share the same surname.

🌍Does USCIS Expect Spouses to Share the Same Last Name?🌍

No. U.S. immigration law does not require married couples to share the same last name. USCIS recognizes that naming practices vary widely across cultures and that many individuals choose to retain their original surname after marriage for professional, personal, or cultural reasons.

When reviewing marriage-based green card applications, immigration officers focus on whether the marriage is genuine and whether the couple has built a real shared life. This includes reviewing joint financial records, shared housing, insurance policies, tax filings, travel history, and other documentation that demonstrates long-term commitment. A matching last name is not considered determining evidence of a bona fide marriage.

🌍Why Many Foreign Applicants Choose Not to Change Their Last Name🌍

In practice, many foreign applicants decide not to change their last name for practical and long-term reasons. For professionals, their legal name is often tied to academic records, professional licenses, publications, business profiles, and online presence. Changing a name may create unnecessary complications when verifying credentials or maintaining career continuity.

Additionally, a legal name change requires updating multiple systems, including immigration records, Social Security, driver’s license or state ID, bank accounts, insurance policies, and passports. This process can take months and may involve different procedures across agencies.

For individuals who maintain assets or legal records outside the United States — such as property ownership, bank accounts, or educational diplomas — keeping the original name often avoids cross-border administrative issues and reduces the risk of identity inconsistencies.

🌍If You Want to Change Your Last Name, When Is the Best Time?🌍

If the foreign spouse wishes to take their partner’s last name for personal or cultural reasons, there is no single correct time to do so. However, some timing options are more efficient than others from an immigration perspective.

Some applicants change their name during the adjustment of status process by listing the new name on Form I-485. Others wait until filing Form I-751 to remove conditions on a two-year green card. From a long-term identity management standpoint, the most streamlined option is often during the naturalization process. Through Form N-400, applicants may request a legal name change and have it finalized at the oath ceremony, avoiding repeated updates to immigration and government records.

🌍What to Consider If You Change Your Name During the Green Card Process🌍

If a name change is made during the green card process, the marriage certificate typically serves as the legal basis for the new name. Immigration forms should clearly reflect both the current legal name and any prior names used to maintain consistent identity history.

After receiving the green card, applicants should update their Social Security record first, followed by their driver’s license or state ID, financial institutions, and passport. Keeping records synchronized helps prevent delays or complications in future immigration or travel matters.

🌍Attorney Insight: Your Green Card Depends on Your Marriage, Not Your Name🌍

From an immigration attorney’s perspective, whether or not a foreign spouse changes their last name is never a deciding factor in a marriage-based green card case. USCIS is concerned with the substance of the relationship, not symbolic details.

Changing your last name is a personal choice, not an immigration requirement. As long as the marriage is real, well-documented, and supported by credible evidence of a shared life, the outcome of a marriage-based green card application will depend on the relationship itself — not on whether the spouses’ names match.