ADViSE PLS - Passport Expired, Spouse Citizenship

[feb22011]

Hi Everyone!

 

I have looked through many threads and I can't seem to find what I am looking for - so I apologize ahead of time if in case this has been brought up before.

 

 

So here's the situation -

 

Prob #1  My Passport has expired.  Of course, for me to get married in Feb 2011 (Cancun), I have to renew it.  Well, if I do this, it will be under my maiden name.  Since I am changing my last name after marriage, would I need to change my passport again for another fee??

 

Prob #2  My hubby-to-be is Mexican and is a citizen through his parents BUT he hasn't applied for the citizenship paperwork himself.  On top of that, he doesn't have a passport.  From now (Sept 2010) to end of January (travel date Jan 30 2011), planning to get legally married in US on Jan 27, 28 or 29 2011- will there be enough time to get this legal paperwork done?  OR should I just get a Mexican Passport for now??   He falls under the Child Citizenship Act of 2000.

 

 

Any help will be appreciated!! Thanks!

 

 

[Tropical Imaging]

I would check with your passport office (or local post office) for the information on yours, but I think you'll have to pay twice unless you want to travel out of the country on your maiden name with a copy of the marriage certificate (which was allowed 8-10 years ago when I got married but I would see if that has changed.)

 

For your Fiance, I would pay for the advice of a lawyer who specializes in those matters vs asking on a forum.  I wouldn't want to risk him not being able to return to the country because of wrong advice and with immigration such a hot topic these days, It only takes the wrong person at immigration who "thinks" they know what they are talking about to really mess up things.  I am an American married to a British Citizen and live in a Caribbean country and we have been married 15 years with 2 kids who are American Citizens. We come to the states for a holiday every year and about every 3 years or so, someone gets a bit suspicious or paranoid in immigration and pulls him into an office thinking we're trying to sneak in the country to live LOL...We're always fine but it makes for delayed flights etc.  I wouldn't want someone to decide that he wouldn't be allowed in because they interpreted the law differently.  I would either get his passport or get a legal document or legal advice as what to do. 

 

Hope it all goes smoothly!

 

Krys

[Lua]

Well I know here in Canada, I had to renew under my maiden name to go get married in april.... and then will have to pay and renew again once we are married.

[taylorwd]

I can help you out with problem #1 as I've just done a ton of research for my own situation.  The short of it is, yes, you'll have to do the passport thing twice and pay twice.  Since your name won't be legally changed until you 1) have your marriage license in hand and then 2) go to Social Security to change your name, you'll have to get a new passport now under your maiden name and then get a new after you're married.  Sucks, I know.

 

The only way around this is if you're planning on going to a JP and are having a symbolic DW.  If you were to do that, you could go to a JP now and start the name change process.  It varies by state, but you'd probably have your marriage license in hand within 30 days, leaving you enough time to get a new passport.  I could see how that would take away from the wedding experience come February, but it's the only way to avoid paying twice.

[CHAKLIT]

I can send you info on a non-profit org who specializes in immigration...PM me if you're interested.

 

Originally Posted by feb22011 

Hi Everyone!

 

I have looked through many threads and I can't seem to find what I am looking for - so I apologize ahead of time if in case this has been brought up before.

 

 

So here's the situation -

 

Prob #1  My Passport has expired.  Of course, for me to get married in Feb 2011 (Cancun), I have to renew it.  Well, if I do this, it will be under my maiden name.  Since I am changing my last name after marriage, would I need to change my passport again for another fee??

 

Prob #2  My hubby-to-be is Mexican and is a citizen through his parents BUT he hasn't applied for the citizenship paperwork himself.  On top of that, he doesn't have a passport.  From now (Sept 2010) to end of January (travel date Jan 30 2011), planning to get legally married in US on Jan 27, 28 or 29 2011- will there be enough time to get this legal paperwork done?  OR should I just get a Mexican Passport for now??   He falls under the Child Citizenship Act of 2000.

 

 

Any help will be appreciated!! Thanks!

 

 

[feb22011]

Thanks so much for the advice!

 

[Taylorwd] - I am definitely going to take your advice regarding my passport situation.  I want to save myself some money so we will be getting married a month or 2 earlier than the actual ceremony so I can get my new passport under my soon to be last name.

 

[TropicalImaging] - Yea, We are going to meet with an immigration lawyer this weekend to get some assistance.  I have been researching and found so many different responses.. I dont want to mess this type of thing up LOL

 

 

Thanks again for the help!  and i just realized I misspelled my thread subject LOL