Change name on passport before application?

[Franzi]

Hello Forum,

I am a German citizen and I am in Canada on a Working Holiday Visa which expires in early April 2012. I am getting married to my Canadian fiance on March 24, and once we get the marriage certificate, we will apply for family class sponsorship. Before my current visa expires, I will change my status into "visitor" so that I can stay in Canada with my husband-to-be. We will do the outland application through Berlin, because thanks to this great forum I learned that this will be a much faster process.

Now my question is, do I have to change the name on my German passport before we submit the application? Since it takes 10-12 weeks to get a new passport, it would take a lot longer to submit the application. What happens if I don't change my name on my German passport, would that be a problem if the PR card is issued with my maiden name, but I will be using my fiance's name in Canada? Can the name on the PR card be changed after I get it? And will they attach anything to my current passport (like my Working Holiday Visa) so I would lose that when I change my passport?

Sorry if that sounds confusing, I just want to prepare everything in advance and make sure I'm doing everything right.

Thank you for your help!

Franzi

[CharlieD10]

You may submit the application with a copy of your current passport in your maiden name, then once the application has been dispatched (it will take about 54 days, or almost 8 weeks to be dealt with in Mississauga), you can apply to change the name in your passport, and submit a copy of the new passport to Berlin once you receive it.  They will issue the COPR in the name to match your new passport.