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Assumed name - do I need to renew my PR card?

H

hvylyna

Newbie
Jan 4, 2023
3
0
I am a PR since 2020. I am a Ukrainian citizen, I got married in Ukraine in 2012. British Columbia gives the option to assume the name of my husband. I presented our marriage certificate to ICBC office and already obtained new driving license and health card with my husbands last name on it.

But all my Ukrainian documents are issued in my maiden name and I am not planning to change it, so I will still have my Ukrainian passport issued in my maiden name.

Do I need to change my name on my PR card to match my new driver licence/health card?

I've read instructions on the immigration website but it is unclear to me. Since I won't be legally changing my name in BC (as that is a different process from assuming my husband's name) and I will continue to travel using my Ukrainian passport with my maiden name, can I assume that I can use my PR card with my maiden name?

And finally - which last name should I use when applying for Canadian citizenship? During the citizenship ceremony I will need to destroy my PR card - but will there be any concerns if it has a different (maiden) name on it?
 
hvylyna said:
I am a PR since 2020. I am a Ukrainian citizen, I got married in Ukraine in 2012. British Columbia gives the option to assume the name of my husband. I presented our marriage certificate to ICBC office and already obtained new driving license and health card with my husbands last name on it.

But all my Ukrainian documents are issued in my maiden name and I am not planning to change it, so I will still have my Ukrainian passport issued in my maiden name.

Do I need to change my name on my PR card to match my new driver licence/health card?

I've read instructions on the immigration website but it is unclear to me. Since I won't be legally changing my name in BC (as that is a different process from assuming my husband's name) and I will continue to travel using my Ukrainian passport with my maiden name, can I assume that I can use my PR card with my maiden name?

And finally - which last name should I use when applying for Canadian citizenship? During the citizenship ceremony I will need to destroy my PR card - but will there be any concerns if it has a different (maiden) name on it?
Click to expand...

In my opinion, creates an unholy mess to have different names in different jurisdictions. At some point you'll run into issues from having different ones, as someone will ask for some document in new name and you don't have it. (And most foreign embassies will accept what is a legal change of name - including presentation of marriage certificate and documents in new name as evidence of that change of name.) For PR card, the main reason to have it same as in (Ukrainian) passport is to avoid situation eg travelling where they wish to confirm that the Ukr passport holder named so-and-so has the right to return to Canada and is the same person as the PR holder named notso-and-notso. Airport staff are not always so understanding.

In most provinces/common law, assuming a spouse's name is a type of legal name change (just a different process) and it should be used consistently. I see BC does not consider this to be a legal change of name (but I imagine lawyers would argue about what exactly it is, if not a change of name).

Anyway, up to you - personally I'd suggest picking a lane/name and sticking to it. If you prefer to keep your maiden name, I see that BC will let you change them back without much of a procedure.

Note, there is no requirement to change name legally on docs if you just want to be known socially (or in many cases professionally) by married name and just keep your legal name for legal contexts (like bank accounts).
 
My wife assumed my lastname 5 years ago. Her PR card and passport still have her maiden name. No issues
 
hvylyna said:
did she apply for Canadian citizenship? Any issues with submitting PR card there with her maiden name?
Click to expand...


no she hasn't applied yet. Have you heard of this causing issues?
 
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