Name change question

[midwifemia]

Hello,

Firstly, thanks to everyone for making this rather overwhelming experience much more manageable with all your support and advice. I'm sure I'll have many more questions before this is done!

Secondly, I will be applying for PR as a common-law. I was married previously, got divorced in 2005 (have the Decree Absolute to prove it) but have continued to use my married name since then. At first, it was because I wasn't bothered about changing back, but for the past couple of years it's really been for practical reasons, since I've been away from the UK travelling, both in Canada (where I met my partner) and now in New Zealand, so haven't been back home long enough to tackle the time-consuming process of getting a new passport, driving licence etc etc. I will be submitting my application as soon as we arrive back in Canada but ideally want to revert to  my maiden name. However, we will only be back in the UK for 4 weeks before arriving in Canada (with me on a 6 month visitor's visa) and so I still won't really have time to change all my various bits and pieces into my maiden name.

Is it worth me trying to apply in my maiden name, with an accompanying explanation that my paperwork is still in my old married name (since I'll be including my divorce cert anyway), or should I apply in my married name and try to go about changing it once everything is all sorted?

Once again, thanks in advance for any advice...

Mia

[midwifemia]

Actually, strike that, on closer inspection I've spotted a couple of lines which ask for my name 'as it appears on my passport', so that answers that one!

[kelseyA]

I  didn't change my name after divorce, that  wasn't a problem for me immigrating to canada and aslo sponsoring my present husband. I am a US Citizen and didn't want to go about changing names since there would be a whole lot of document to change. I can take my time now and change it when ever i want.