Important Lesson Learned Re: Name Change and Passports

kevinandmonica2011

FYI- You have one year from the DATE OF ISSUE of the passport to change it without a fee... NOT from the date of name change/marriage.

Also, when applying for a new passport, you will need to turn in your old passport.  Meaning.... no trips to Niagara Falls for a few weeks.

Soooo.... if you don't have a passport yet, but need to get one for your honeymoon.... wait until about 6 months out from the date you need it.  Then you will have 6 months after to change your name.

Happily9

Good to know

sbolger17

I had to get mine renewed last December and I was upset because it was a waste of money until I learned just what you wrote above!!  This time I'll be in a little bit of a time crunch, but hopefully all will be well.

emierose

Monica - I have a question - and you may not have any idea.. but thought i'd ask.. I went to do our online check in for our cruise (our honeymoon), and it asked us first, our last names, so clearly I was going to put Emily K....since it should reflect what my passport says NOT our married name.
However, it then asked me each of our marital status. Should I go ahead and put married, as we will be married by the time we walk on the cruise ship? or put single, since we are single right now, at the time I am checking in? ughhhh.. I have no idea! both are required fields since we are going out of the country.

kevinandmonica2011

Hmm... tough one.  I would guess that you would put "Married" because, even though you are checking in now, you will be married for your trip, which is the important part.  It would probably be a good idea to call the cruise line and verify.  HTH!

DondadaTimes2

Ooo good thinkin! Unfortunately Ive had mine since 2005. That also means Ive got to renew mine and I dont wanna!

Think it would be too sneaky of my to use my old license with my passport for Niagara Falls? Josh and I planned on going there in the new 2-3 months! I dont have any other reason to renew it

lornarose07

Emie: I would suggest putting down whatever names your official documents that you will be carrying on you during the cruise reflect (whether they have your maiden or married name on them), and put "married." It's not a law that married people have the same name, but I think it IS important to be representing your married status, IMHO

DondadaTimes2

Yeah I would put 'married' but absolutely use your maiden name. Unless you were waiting a few months to honeymoon , you wont have your name changed yet

kkozlo2

There is something called a passport card you can get that is much cheaper. If you are planning to travel to other countries by land or boat in the western hemisphere it is valid. This would work for Canada and Mexico as long as you aren't flying. It is only $30 instead of the $110. I just sent mine in to renew and asked a lot of questions. I changed my license before thinking and we are going to the Bahamas in September and Jamaica in October. SO I needed to expedite it on top of that.... It was almost $200!!!! UGH so another tip. Think about future trips before you go officially change your name. It will save you money!

kevinandmonica2011

Good point about the card, but on the same note... (I asked a bazillion questions too).... if you ever decide to travel elsewhere, there is no way to "upgrade" to a full passport.  So you end up paying the $30 THEN the $110 (or whatever they raise it to by then)... for me, I never know where I might end up traveling to, so I just went all out the first time.  Didn't want to mess with doing it again if I ever get to fly somewhere awesome!

lornarose07

BTW, thank you Monica for this VERY important information. FI was born in Ghana and has yet to get his Certificate of Citizenship (he's been a since he was 18 by way of his naturalized father, which he never knew until I did some reach and found out March of this year!), and what makes matters worse, he does not have his birth certificate-- USCIS has the only copy. We really need him to get his Certificate of Citizenship, so he can then get his passport, and be legally able to get married to me!!

Anyway, this information is so important to us because he's hyphenating with me, so he WILL have to change his name. I shared this info with him today and he agreed that we'd wait until a few months out from the wedding to apply for his passport, so he'll have time after the honeymoon to do the name-change. Thanks again!!!