Passport / Name Change Help

erkzawa · September 2010

My fiancé and I are booked for a cruise to the Caribbean the day after our wedding. When making the reservation, we wrote down my name with his last name assuming that my new name would be in effect by then. What we didn't consider is that my passport and driver's license will still have my last name.

What do people usually do in this situation? I would really like to be referred to as Mr. and Mrs. [his last name] on the cruise, but am I going to have trouble boarding? I'm wondering if there is any way to begin the name change process before the wedding. Can you change your name with just a marriage license or do you need the actual certificate? We have even considered getting married at a court house ahead of time...change my name...and then go ahead with the ceremony we have planned.

Someone please help. I am totally clueless in this situation. Thanks!

kathrynhabibti · September 2010

Wow. I am stumped.

Before you go with the whole name change before the ceremony thing (because I just don't know how that could even be required - people have gone on honeymoon cruises before, you know?), I would just call the cruise line and see what they say. Provided other Knotties don't come by with better advice first. Good luck!

elizabethewald · September 2010

I was wondering the same exact thing! I hope we can get an answer on this soon!

packlite · September 2010

I would recommend contacting the cruise line to see if you can change to your maiden name just in case. I have not take a cruise before but imagine you will need to go through the same customs/re-entry as you would on a flight. Also if you are having to fly anywhere prior to the cruise/port make sure the name you used on your reservation matches what's on your passport.

I have heard that most women wait to change their name legally until after the honeymoon for this reason, unless you have time to also change your legal and travel documents before you leave on honeymoon.

Oaklay18 · September 2010

Try to change your name on your reservations if possible. If not you will probably want to get married at the court house and rush a passport etc. I was at the airport going to the Bahamas and a woman (who was far ahead of me) had her id and her marriage license and the man stood there almost as if he couldn't understand her. We got up there and even passed her and idk what she had to do to get thru b/c we left.

I don't mean this to freak you out but you don't want to be bothered with some airport security person who is easily confused causing any problems.

http://gopackandtravel.blogspot.com/

[Deleted User] · September 2010

Call the cruise line and see if they can change the name back to your maiden name. Yes, you will have problems as the cruise lines run the same as airlines.
No, you can not legally change your name with out the actual marriage license (at least not in PA).

MissyCee · September 2010

You have to book your travel arrangements in your married name. They will not let you on if you passport doesn't match the reservation. Do this right away as they often will charge fees to change the name. Maybe if you explain the situation they'll do it for free for you.

Sue-n-Kevin · September 2010

This question comes up a lot. Here's my answer (although I don't work for the State Dept)

Your name has to agree with your documents, pure and simple. Although the government is far reaching, they don't know you got married the day before, and are boarding under your maiden name. You have to supply your documents to board, and you have to have a marriage license to change your name. Your "name" is Mary Jones(Maiden name) until YOU change it legally, with a marriage license. You can call yourself whatever what you want once on board or at a hotel (ie people use fictitious names all the time), but your legal name is your married name until you change it.

You can't change your passport or driver's license in a day. Book everything under your maiden name, and change your documents (including your social security card) when you get back.

megandjay · September 2010

You need to change it so that you are booked under your maiden name, there is no way you will be able to change your documents in one day.

I booked the honeymoon under my maiden name and everyone called use Mr & Mrs X. Just let them know you are on your honeymoon!

If your name does not match your documents, you will likely not be allowed to board. Call the cruise line asap and change it.

PS- the name change process is that first you have to change your social security card- which takes weeks at best. Then you can change your drivers license and passport. Then you can change other things like your name at work, credit cards, banks, etc.

knj92107 · September 2010

You need to try to switch your reservations to your maiden name. As pp's have said, you won't be able to change your documents in time. Changing your name before getting married would be a totally different type of process - it would be a legal name change for which you need a court order. I've done it before and it's a big pain and takes a while.

smooth84 · September 2010

You will need to change it back to your maiden name. Even though I traveled under my maiden name when we got to the resort they referred to me as Mrs. M since they knew we were on our honeymoon.

There is no way to start the name change process prior because you need your marriage certificate and first you have to go to Social Security, wait 2 weeks for that card and then you can change your ID/passport....so maiden name is the way to go!

redheadfsu · September 2010

ditto pps.

You have to change the reservation back to your maiden name. Your name must match all documents or you are going to have a huge headache and may not be able to board. You have to have either a marriage license or a court document to change your name, so you can't do it b/f you get married.

alithebride · September 2010

"PS- the name change process is that first you have to change your social security card- which takes weeks at best. Then you can change your drivers license and passport. Then you can change other things like your name at work, credit cards, banks, etc. "
not true. nothing is linked. you can change them in any order you want. all you need is your marriage license. you go to the social security office and change it, they will make a copy, then go to your bank, they will change the names, then alert credit cards etc.. they gnerally dont need a copy (but some do). your drivers license is not linked to the SS office or passport office etc.. so it matters not which goes first after the social security card.

and yes-callthe cruise line, tell them you made a mistake and the name you need to use is your maiden.

smooth84 · September 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_honeymoon_passport-name-change-1?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:11Discussion:35ea11c1-daf7-4653-aec6-f986cf4e1c3dPost:6dfc717c-f9ab-403c-ab73-46ebb909cf5d">Re: Passport / Name Change Help</a>:
[QUOTE]"PS- the name change process is that first you have to change your social security card- which takes weeks at best. Then you can change your drivers license and passport. Then you can change other things like your name at work, credit cards, banks, etc. " not true. nothing is linked. you can change them in any order you want. all you need is your marriage license. you go to the social security office and change it, they will make a copy, then go to your bank, they will change the names, then alert credit cards etc.. they gnerally dont need a copy (but some do). your drivers license is not linked to the SS office or passport office etc.. so it matters not which goes first after the social security card. and yes-callthe cruise line, tell them you made a mistake and the name you need to use is your maiden.
Posted by alithebride[/QUOTE]

Well I don't know about that...to get your new license you have to have the new social security card. They won't do it with just the letter (or at least in NY). Of course you could change your bank account and other cards but it wouldn't make much sense if you don't have the ID to match. Same goes for your passport

megandjay · September 2010

I had the information a little wrong, you don't need the SS card for your passport, but might for your DMV depending on the state.

http://www.us-passport-service-guide.com/passport-name-change.html
For the passport you need to send in the old passport, 2 pictures, a form, $ and a certified copy of your marriage license.

In NY to get your Drivers license changed it looks like you need your new SS card (since they wouldn't already have it on file).
http://www.nydmv.state.ny.us/forms/id44.pdf

I am sure this varies from state to state.

Either way the OP should book her honeymoon in her maiden name, because her marriage ceritificate will not likely be ready the day after her wedding. The clerk's office I went to took one week to process it.

alithebride · September 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_honeymoon_passport-name-change-1?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:11Discussion:35ea11c1-daf7-4653-aec6-f986cf4e1c3dPost:ca4a391c-2c7d-4da6-93f8-5a1e71b824f1">Re: Passport / Name Change Help</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Passport / Name Change Help : Well I don't know about that...to get your new license you have to have the new social security card. They won't do it with just the letter (or at least in NY). Of course you could change your bank account and other cards but it wouldn't make much sense if you don't have the ID to match. Same goes for your passport
Posted by smooth84[/QUOTE]
yes-thats why i wrote to change SS first and then do all others-but SS dosen't keep your marriage cert (i'm in ny too) so you can change everything else in whatever order you please.

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