changing name during the PR process?

[CutiePie92]

hello,

when i got married, i kept my maiden name.. getting a new passport & ID card in married name would've taken an eternity thanks to bureaucracy, we wanted to send the app to CIC asap. we're going to live in Quebec, where changing names is very difficult, so i've heard. i would like to take my husband's name eventually though.

i wonder if i can do this during the process? (after getting the 2 AOR's).. would this make a mess? i would need to get a new ID card & passport and notify CIC, but i assume that i also need to send new updated forms in my new name? does anyone have any experience with this? i don't want to create unneccessary chaos (them issuing my COPR in my old name or prolonging the process even more etc.) .. any advice is appreciated, thank you!

 

[Trav0370]

Thats an interesting one,... lots of pages to update if they want new papers!...

 

[CutiePie92]

yeah, i bet it would be a hassle... so, anyone that actually did this can share their experience?

 

[rhcohen2014]

from what i've read about this, if your name changes, all you have to do is send them a copy of your updated passport. You don't have to re do all the forms. I've read it's better to do it sooner than later in the process, because if it is close to COPR it will cause a delay in getting that issued. If they issue the COPR in your maiden name, then they will need to fix it. A poster recently wrote about this and was able to get her COPR re-issued in her married name because the VO didn't get her updated information in time. I think it may have been katester?

The moral of the story is, if you plan to change your name do it ASAP and send the VO a copy of your new passport. This seems to be common and doesn't seem to be that big of a deal. I mistakenly thought it was better to wait until AFTER everything, so now i'm deciding if it's even worth doing.

 

[CutiePie92]

ah this is interesting. so i guess if i change my name, ID card & passport, let's say.. 1-2 months after my VO receives my app, i guess it's fine ( for a 14 months VO that may finish processing in like 9-10 months).

thanks rhcohen2014 for your response. much appreciated.

 

[rhcohen2014]

ah this is interesting. so i guess if i change my name, ID card & passport, let's say.. 1-2 months after my VO receives my app, i guess it's fine ( for a 14 months VO that may finish processing in like 9-10 months).

thanks rhcohen2014 for your response. much appreciated.

yes, exactly. i'd do it as soon as possible. current US applicants are getting processed in 8-10 months, and a lucky few are getting processed in 6!

 

[keesio]

I think you are not allowed to change your last name to your husband's in Quebec. You use your maiden name.

Someone familiar with Quebec can clarify but I have read this more than once here.

 

[CutiePie92]

I think you are not allowed to change your last name to your husband's in Quebec. You use your maiden name.

Someone familiar with Quebec can clarify but I have read this more than once here.

yeah, i read something similar as well - that's why i want to do it before landing.

 

[keesio]

yeah, i read something similar as well - that's why i want to do it before landing.

I'm not sure you can do it once the process has started if you are going to settle in Quebec. But I'm hardly an expert on this.

If you do, then you want to submit the change fairly early in the process - after sponsor approval and file transfer but definitely before PPR. My wife submitted her name change to CIC and it was no problem. Did not cause any delay.

 

[Edgehead78]

yeah, i read something similar as well - that's why i want to do it before landing.

Yes its a hassle.
You can have some information on the process in english here: http://www.etatcivil.gouv.qc.ca/en/change-name.html

 

[CutiePie92]

Yes its a hassle.
You can have some information on the process in english here: http://www.etatcivil.gouv.qc.ca/en/change-name.html

thanks Edgehead i knew it's a pain in the ass, that's why i wanna do it before i hardly believe they'll accept my "reasons" of wanting to change my name in Quebec ..

 

[blueangel371115]

thanks Edgehead i knew it's a pain in the ass, that's why i wanna do it before i hardly believe they'll accept my "reasons" of wanting to change my name in Quebec ..

Yeah it's SOOO stupid, especially their reasoning behind the situation. I'm going to try to change mine before. I'm so tempted to start a petition to change the rules as I feel it's discriminatory and violates the Canadian charter. As it is it's so confusing since in the US for the majority of the documents I use, I've already changed it, just not my passport. So when I'm here I have to keep reminding myself. But that's just my opinion. For me it's enough reason for me not to want to move to the province but my husband doesn't want to leave. No offense to anyone. It just makes me mad.

 

[CutiePie92]

i hear you. what's their problem if i wanna take my husband's name after the marriage? jeez.

 

[keesio]

i hear you. what's their problem if i wanna take my husband's name after the marriage? jeez.

Quebec takes after France on this and the French law stems from mostly the feminist movement that considers it degrading for a woman to "lose her identity" and take her husband's name.

 

[blueangel371115]

Yeah it's SOOO stupid, especially their reasoning behind the situation. I'm going to try to change mine before. I'm so tempted to start a petition to change the rules as I feel it's discriminatory and violates the Canadian charter. As it is it's so confusing since in the US for the majority of the documents I use, I've already changed it, just not my passport. So when I'm here I have to keep reminding myself. But that's just my opinion. For me it's enough reason for me not to want to move to the province but my husband doesn't want to leave. No offense to anyone. It just makes me mad.

Start one, I'll sign. It's so stupid. From what I read ( not sure where, I'll see if I can find it again)that federal trumps provincial so all your federal related documents are issued in your name as shown on the passport/COPR however, your healthcare card is issued in your maiden name.