Name change w/ active pending Inland Spousal Sponsorship

[rikoa]

Here's the skinny. My husband who is a Canadian citizen will be applying for sponsorship for me through the inland program. (We already know this is the choice for us and we know how long it will take but with the pilot program offering the open work permit we couldn't refuse it!) I have not changed my name on any of my US documents yet but I DO want to use my married name.

We're thinking it will just be easier to submit the sponsorship application with my maiden name and change it after everything is approved. Meaning once I have the PR card in hand I would then apply to change it in Canada but get it all changed in the US while waiting for the sponsorship application to go through.

How hard is it to get it changed on the PR card after? The problem is that changing it on a US passport can take some time and we want to get the application in right away. Also I need to travel and can't without my passport and in order to change it they take the old one back. (We know that once the sponsorship application is in, that I cannot leave the country which is fine, we aren't submitting it till I'm there for good in May but I'm going there for the month of April and then we are coming back here together in May to attend a friends wedding and to pick up my car and then we are driving to Canada so I NEED my passport until then so there seems to be no time to get it changed)

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Apply outland now and you will most likely be a PR around the same time as you would be getting the OWP for inland.

Once you change your name in your passport, just send a copy to CIC to update your name. Your PR card will be issued in your new name.