Married Name vs Passport Name

[MrsMal]

My husband is sponsoring me for Permanent Residency in Canada. We married in the United States and I took his last name, which is on my marriage certificate, driver's license, social security card, bank accounts etc. I never changed my Passport, since I had to renew it just before we got married to go on our honeymoon. I listed my maiden name when it asks for Passport name, but all other times when it asks for name I list my married name, since it is my legal name. I have not submitted my application yet, will this be a problem?

Also, my husband is a naturalized Canadian, it asks for the date he became a citizen, but he was a child and has no idea. Can we guesstimate?

 

[keesio]

The name in your passport is the name you should use for your application. In your case, you should use your maiden name and put your married last name in the field where it asks for any aliases. My wife was in the same situation. When she applied, she hadn't yet updated her passport. So she used her maiden name in the application and listed her married name as an alias. Her medicals and FBI check was all done with her maiden name with the married name as an alias. After we sent in the application, she updated her passport. Once it was updated, we e-mailed CIC informing them and attached a scan of her new passport. There were no delays (as far as we can tell) in her application.

 

[OhCanadiana]

My husband is sponsoring me for Permanent Residency in Canada. We married in the United States and I took his last name, which is on my marriage certificate, driver's license, social security card, bank accounts etc. I never changed my Passport, since I had to renew it just before we got married to go on our honeymoon. I listed my maiden name when it asks for Passport name, but all other times when it asks for name I list my married name, since it is my legal name. I have not submitted my application yet, will this be a problem?

It would be best if you get a new passport before applying (you can get a passport in one day if you go to a passport office - look up the State Department's passport in a hurry info). If you can't, make sure you submit a copy of the updated passport before they complete processing as the name on your CoPR and PR card will match the name on your passport.

Also, my husband is a naturalized Canadian, it asks for the date he became a citizen, but he was a child and has no idea. Can we guesstimate?

If he is in Canada, if he calls the call centre they can help him get the information as long as he has enough information to identify himself. Otherwise, use *'s for the dates you aren't sure of and include an explanation.

 

[MrsMal]

Thanks, now I have to redo the applications since I put my married name on everything. This is so confusing, since my maiden name is not me legal name anymore. I renewed my passport to go on my honeymoon when we got married in 2011,, so it has 8 more years to go. I had no plans on paying the fees to change it, but I had hoped this would be in married name since my passport is currently the only thing with my maiden name on it. This means in the United States I have one name and in Canada I will have another, unless I change my passport.

 

[keesio]

It is confusing. But in form IMM00008, when it asks you for your name, it does say "exactly as shown on your passport or travel document". So they want the name on your passport, that is the name they will go with, regardless of if your name has changed or not.

Note that after you land in Canada, you can officially change your name to your married name in Canada.

 

[OhCanadiana]

Thanks, now I have to redo the applications since I put my married name on everything.

Or just get a new passport in your married name. Then you're all set. You can get it the same day if you are near any of the travel agencies (http://travel.state.gov/passport/npic/agencies/agencies_913.html)

This is so confusing, since my maiden name is not me legal name anymore. I renewed my passport to go on my honeymoon when we got married in 2011,, so it has 8 more years to go. I had no plans on paying the fees to change it, but I had hoped this would be in married name since my passport is currently the only thing with my maiden name on it. This means in the United States I have one name and in Canada I will have another, unless I change my passport.

Everything really should be in your legal name (including your passport). Unfortunately, since it's been over a year since you got your passport, the US will charge you "renewal fees" plus $60 if you want to expedite it. They only waive them the first year after you get your passport (http://travel.state.gov/passport/correcting/ChangeName/ChangeName_851.html).

Note that after you land in Canada, you can officially change your name to your married name in Canada.

Not necessarily. The ability or prohibition to do so is determined at the provincial level.

Also, should the OP decide to naturalize, unless she can produce a provincial name change document showing she legally changed her name *after* arriving in Canada, the name on her passport at the time her CoPR is issued will be the name on her immigration documents (CoPR and PR card) and therefore on her Canadian citizenship certificate, passport, etc. (http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/guides/CIT0002ETOC.asp)

 

[MrsMal]

I am doing an inland application, so of course my concern is whether I will be able to leave and reenter during the process. Plus with all of the fees, to have to pay more money to do this considering how many years I still haven on my passport, I guess I will just wait.