Passport- now or later

anna20420

Hi everyone!

This is going to be my first time getting a passport and I need a little advice. Our wedding is in early September, but we aren't going on our honeymoon until January. Do I wait until after the wedding and all of the other documents have my new name to start the passport process? Or do I need to start it now? I don't want to wait to long and miss my own honeymoon. Help!!

amymaysa

I don't know how long the general turn around time is b/c it's been a while since I renewed, but I do know that you can get a new one issued in your new name if you get it within a year of receiving one.

So if you get one now, you can get one in September with your new name for no cost. Tha way you are covered.

I think you would be fine time wise, but I have no idea.

Just remember that whatever name you book the trip in, needs to match your passport.

smilesavy

Are you changing your name immediately?  Changing your name is a process so if you have time to spend after you wedding to change it then you will have enough time but going to the SS office and the DMV are time intensive.

egm900

I got my passport a year ago, and it took about 4-6 weeks, without paying for expedited processing.  I think the website says how long it's taking them to process applications, but you should have plenty of time after the wedding to get your passport. If for some reason you haven't received the passport or applied and it's too late to send it off, they will let you make an appointment at an issuing agency to get one within 2 weeks.

hz80408

I agree with Amy.  If I were you, I'd apply for a maiden name passport now. Assuming you're changing your name immediately after your wedding, you can get a new passport in your married name for free, within one year of your original passports issuance (so if you applied and got your passport in July '12; you'd have until June '13 to apply to get a new passport at no cost).

However, when will you be booking your HM?  The name you book under will have to match the name on your passport. 

I sent in my paperwork to get a new passport in my married name in January (I already had a valid maiden name passport) and it took just 10 business days to get my new passport back.

jemmini6

It's possible to just wait until you get married and apply for a passport, but it could potentially be stressful and cost you more money (expiditing fees).  After you are married, you'll need a certified copy of your marriage license to be able to change anything, which can take up to a month to just get that.  Then you'll need to change your name with SS, then with the DMV, and THEN you can change it with your passport, which will take at least 3 weeks.  So as you see, you'd be cutting it pretty close.

If I were you, I'd apply for a passport in your maiden name in a month or two and book your HM tickets in your maiden name.  You can still change your name with SS and the DMV and anywhere else you need in the time between your wedding and HM, and then send your passport in for a name change as soon as you get back (you'll have a year from your original issue date to change it for free).

carlynkevin

So, I just looked in to all this....................

I got my passport two years ago and it cost $140 (first time).  It's in my maiden name.  I am getting married in Decemenber and leaving the next day for our honeymoon, so we booked our travel in my maiden name as I will not have time to order any documents.

I have heard it's a total pain to fill out all the paper work required to get  your name changed and I don't trust government offices to run smoothly or timely.  It sounds like you have three months betweene your wedding and honeymoon, which would seem like enough time - but if you're booking your trip before you have your documents finished I would think it be kind of risky.

If I were you I would not change my legal name untiil after my trip.  It's just too risky that there will a mistake along the way that could ruin your trip. 

If you get you passport now you have a year to have the name changed on it to your married name.  Once that year is over it cost the same as if you were renewing a passport  -$100.