Passport in Maiden Name + Marriage Certificate
Oct 20th, 2011, 12:13 PM
#1
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Passport in Maiden Name + Marriage Certificate
Good afternoon,
I was curious to see if anyone has recently traveled abroad with AirFrance and or Alitalia with a passport in their maiden name along with a marriage certificate without a problem?
I am planning on traveling to Rome and Paris in December and have a passport in my maiden name. I have obtained a certified copy of my marriage certificate because I was planning on getting a new passport to reflect my married name but before doing that I called U.S. Customs and spoke with a representative who said it would be ok to use a certified copy of my marriage certificate along with my passport in entering the U.S. So now I have to double check with AirFrance and Alitalia. If I can avoid getting a new one that'd be great but If I have to that's perfectly fine.
Thank you in advance!!
I was curious to see if anyone has recently traveled abroad with AirFrance and or Alitalia with a passport in their maiden name along with a marriage certificate without a problem?
I am planning on traveling to Rome and Paris in December and have a passport in my maiden name. I have obtained a certified copy of my marriage certificate because I was planning on getting a new passport to reflect my married name but before doing that I called U.S. Customs and spoke with a representative who said it would be ok to use a certified copy of my marriage certificate along with my passport in entering the U.S. So now I have to double check with AirFrance and Alitalia. If I can avoid getting a new one that'd be great but If I have to that's perfectly fine.
Thank you in advance!!
Oct 20th, 2011, 12:26 PM
#3
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The fact that you are married does not change the validity of your passport under your maiden name. In fact, in France, the spouse is always listed with the maiden name on official documents. A woman does not always carry her current husband's name--e.g. Senator Dianne Feinstein is married to Richard Blum.
Oct 20th, 2011, 12:35 PM
#4
Agigi,
at one time it was possible to book a ticket in your married name and use a passport in your maiden name. I know, I did it for several years.
Those days are long gone. It is essential that your ticket name and passport name match exactly. Immigration/passport control don't care whether you are married, and will not be in the least bit interested in your marriage certificate. what they care about it that the names match.
unless you are certain that you have time to get a new passport in your married name, travel under your maiden name.
at one time it was possible to book a ticket in your married name and use a passport in your maiden name. I know, I did it for several years.
Those days are long gone. It is essential that your ticket name and passport name match exactly. Immigration/passport control don't care whether you are married, and will not be in the least bit interested in your marriage certificate. what they care about it that the names match.
unless you are certain that you have time to get a new passport in your married name, travel under your maiden name.
Oct 20th, 2011, 12:36 PM
#5
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It's never crossed Mrs F's mind for a nanosecond to use any surname other than the one God gave her at birth.
As for carrying a marriage certificate when she crosses borders... Haven't you got anything serious to worry about?
I can see how, if you've booked your plane ticket using your husband's surname this might worry you. But why on earth would you do something so profoundly pointless? EVERY woman I know travels under her own surname.
If you have got yourself into this pickle, and don't want to pay for a ticket name change, you DO need to talk to ALL the airlines involved, because you can't assume people will accept a marriage certificate (written in a foreign language and issued by some US state the check in people may never have heard of) as proof you're not someone else. Do you seriously expect South Western Airlines would pay any attention to a document in Italian issued by the City of Bologna?
The real moral of this tale is that the 60s feminists were absolutely right. You were born - let's say - Cholmondely-Warner. Accepting the long-discredited Anglo-Saxon convention (which the Spanish, for example, just can't get their heads round) that women change their name on marriage is just asking for unnecessary bureaucratic hassle.
Rename yourself Cholmondely-Warner (or whatever) immediately.
As for carrying a marriage certificate when she crosses borders... Haven't you got anything serious to worry about?
I can see how, if you've booked your plane ticket using your husband's surname this might worry you. But why on earth would you do something so profoundly pointless? EVERY woman I know travels under her own surname.
If you have got yourself into this pickle, and don't want to pay for a ticket name change, you DO need to talk to ALL the airlines involved, because you can't assume people will accept a marriage certificate (written in a foreign language and issued by some US state the check in people may never have heard of) as proof you're not someone else. Do you seriously expect South Western Airlines would pay any attention to a document in Italian issued by the City of Bologna?
The real moral of this tale is that the 60s feminists were absolutely right. You were born - let's say - Cholmondely-Warner. Accepting the long-discredited Anglo-Saxon convention (which the Spanish, for example, just can't get their heads round) that women change their name on marriage is just asking for unnecessary bureaucratic hassle.
Rename yourself Cholmondely-Warner (or whatever) immediately.
Oct 20th, 2011, 12:37 PM
#6
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Weekender - I forgot to mention that I purchased my ticket in my married name if not that would have been the best thing to do! Too bad I rememberd this detail after the fact.
Michael - Very true. Thank you!
Michael - Very true. Thank you!
Oct 20th, 2011, 12:38 PM
#7
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I agree - as long as your ticket and your passport are under the same name, no one cares if you are married or not. I have always used my maiden name, with a passport of course in that name
Years ago I had a travel agent assume that my ticket should be under my husband's name, which I have never used. We had a rather heated discussion about who was going to pay to re-issue the tickets, since I didn't have a single piece of ID in the name he had decided to put on the ticket (and which I had never used when communicating with them.) He didn't win.
Years ago I had a travel agent assume that my ticket should be under my husband's name, which I have never used. We had a rather heated discussion about who was going to pay to re-issue the tickets, since I didn't have a single piece of ID in the name he had decided to put on the ticket (and which I had never used when communicating with them.) He didn't win.
Oct 20th, 2011, 12:42 PM
#8
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I went to the passport office and they stamped something into my passport. Had to take my marriage certificate in with me. Have never had a problem travelling with this passport in the last five years.
Oct 20th, 2011, 12:44 PM
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Flanneruk - I definitely see your point and as stated I have no problem in obtaining a new one and will probably end up doing so. I just wanted to reach out to the Fodors community for some friendly advice. Thank you!
Oct 20th, 2011, 12:59 PM
#10
Flanneruk - I definitely see your point and as stated I have no problem in obtaining a new one and will probably end up doing so. >>
Agigi - please don't wait if you are going to apply for a new passport. i know that December is more than a month away, but if US passport authority is anything like the UK one, you can't guarantee a fast turn-round. we ended up having to drive to the Passport office to get DS's renewed in the summer.
Agigi - please don't wait if you are going to apply for a new passport. i know that December is more than a month away, but if US passport authority is anything like the UK one, you can't guarantee a fast turn-round. we ended up having to drive to the Passport office to get DS's renewed in the summer.
Oct 20th, 2011, 01:02 PM
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I think the point is that whether you change your name or not at marriage is your choice, but your name is one thing or another legally in the US based on what you choose. And your passport should have your legal name, that's all. Your name is not automatically changed in the US just because you are married, you have to decide to change it and go about changing official documents because you want to (eg, Social Security card first).
Oct 20th, 2011, 01:23 PM
#12
Do you have to use only one name in the US? is there a law to that effect?
Like many of my professional women friends in the UK, I use two, one at work and one at home. I started off using my maiden name only [and would have preferred to carry on like that] but once kids arrived i gave into force majeur, and changed things like my passport into my married name.
After over 30 years of marriage, I still have some bank accounts in my maiden name, and work under that name too. The inland Revenue have no problems with this; they still manage to tax me!
point is - i use two names. This is perfectly legal in the UK, so long as it is not done with intent to defraud, or in some way dishonestly.
Like many of my professional women friends in the UK, I use two, one at work and one at home. I started off using my maiden name only [and would have preferred to carry on like that] but once kids arrived i gave into force majeur, and changed things like my passport into my married name.
After over 30 years of marriage, I still have some bank accounts in my maiden name, and work under that name too. The inland Revenue have no problems with this; they still manage to tax me!
point is - i use two names. This is perfectly legal in the UK, so long as it is not done with intent to defraud, or in some way dishonestly.
Oct 20th, 2011, 02:09 PM
#13
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In the US, you have 1 legal name. You can unofficially call yourself Tater Salad if you want, but all your legal documentation (social security information, drivers license, etc.) is supposed to be in your legal name. There isn't any organization that oversees this, but if things don't match up, it can be a real hassle at some point.
Oct 20th, 2011, 07:28 PM
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Yes, but your legal name can be whatever you want - you're married name, your maiden name, some combination of the above - or something completely different.
The key is that they all match. (And the IRS and SSA would be very upset to find out that you are using different names and numbers for different types of income - since it would reduce your tax rate.)
The key is that they all match. (And the IRS and SSA would be very upset to find out that you are using different names and numbers for different types of income - since it would reduce your tax rate.)
Oct 20th, 2011, 08:03 PM
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Agigi27,
Too bad you didnt get your ticket with your maiden name, but that's water under the bridge. Please, save yourself a LOT of potential aggravation and get a new passport with your married name to reflect the name in your ticket. I know what the US customs person told you, but you may get a different reaction from the airline personnel at check-in.
Too bad you didnt get your ticket with your maiden name, but that's water under the bridge. Please, save yourself a LOT of potential aggravation and get a new passport with your married name to reflect the name in your ticket. I know what the US customs person told you, but you may get a different reaction from the airline personnel at check-in.
Oct 21st, 2011, 02:03 AM
#16
(And the IRS and SSA would be very upset to find out that you are using different names and numbers for different types of income - since it would reduce your tax rate.)>>
don't worry - they get to see all my income, under whatever name. I still pay the same tax I'd pay with just one name, worst luck!
don't worry - they get to see all my income, under whatever name. I still pay the same tax I'd pay with just one name, worst luck!
Oct 21st, 2011, 02:19 AM
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Hi Agigi,
Speaking from bitter experience (and answering the actual question you asked) you'll be fine to travel with a certified marriage certificate and a passport in your maiden name.
Long story short, when my wife and I got married, we booked a trip to Japan in our married names to travel as husband and wife for the first time. On arrival at the airport (Heathrow) we only then remembered that my wife's passport was in her maiden name. Despite the check-in staff saying we could change the name on the ticket for a fee, the woman (I refuse to use the word 'lady' in her case) at the ticket desk flat out refused to let us travel without a copy of the marriage certificate.
As it was ridiculous o'clock in the morning we couldn't organise a copy in time and weren't allowed to fly. If we'd have had a copy of the certificate it wouldn't have been a problem.
Even though you can travel with your documents as they are, I'd recommend changing your passport to your married name. It'll be a hell of a lot easier in the future.
(Still haven't managed to get to Japan. Five years and counting...).
Speaking from bitter experience (and answering the actual question you asked) you'll be fine to travel with a certified marriage certificate and a passport in your maiden name.
Long story short, when my wife and I got married, we booked a trip to Japan in our married names to travel as husband and wife for the first time. On arrival at the airport (Heathrow) we only then remembered that my wife's passport was in her maiden name. Despite the check-in staff saying we could change the name on the ticket for a fee, the woman (I refuse to use the word 'lady' in her case) at the ticket desk flat out refused to let us travel without a copy of the marriage certificate.
As it was ridiculous o'clock in the morning we couldn't organise a copy in time and weren't allowed to fly. If we'd have had a copy of the certificate it wouldn't have been a problem.
Even though you can travel with your documents as they are, I'd recommend changing your passport to your married name. It'll be a hell of a lot easier in the future.
(Still haven't managed to get to Japan. Five years and counting...).
Oct 21st, 2011, 02:41 AM
#18
Flanner, you are showing your age, and Mrs F's (interesting that you call her that, by the way, since she didn't take the F name at marriage).
At least in the US, you can isolate those of us who kept our name upon our marriage by age and probably geographical location and a bunch of other sociological factors. If the 60s feminists (who are now in their 60s) were absolutely right, you would never know it by looking at today's naming customs. We are a pretty narrow segment of society. My own daughter took her husband's last name when she got married last year and all of her peers are doing the same. (They also call themselves girls, but I'm not going there.)
At least in the US, you can isolate those of us who kept our name upon our marriage by age and probably geographical location and a bunch of other sociological factors. If the 60s feminists (who are now in their 60s) were absolutely right, you would never know it by looking at today's naming customs. We are a pretty narrow segment of society. My own daughter took her husband's last name when she got married last year and all of her peers are doing the same. (They also call themselves girls, but I'm not going there.)
Oct 21st, 2011, 02:59 AM
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In Canada your passport has to match the ticket, a certified marriage certificate was not accepted when I went on my honeymoon so we booked my ticket in my maiden name.
But you dont have to get a new passport if it isnt at expiry. You can send your passport and marraige certificate to the passport authorities and they put a stamp in it certifying your married name. Then on renewal you get it in your married name if you so choose. Maybe you could check into whether this is possible?
You dont have to legally (meaning go through the paperwork) change your name when you get married, you are entitled to choose either your married or your maiden or a combo and just change all your ID's with your marriage certificate with the authorities involved. So its not considered a 'legal' name change. I can go back to my maiden name at any time, work in my maiden name and have my personal life in my married name etc. But the passport has to match the name on the ticket!
Not sure if its the same in the US, likely not, but just think its interesting how different it is!
But you dont have to get a new passport if it isnt at expiry. You can send your passport and marraige certificate to the passport authorities and they put a stamp in it certifying your married name. Then on renewal you get it in your married name if you so choose. Maybe you could check into whether this is possible?
You dont have to legally (meaning go through the paperwork) change your name when you get married, you are entitled to choose either your married or your maiden or a combo and just change all your ID's with your marriage certificate with the authorities involved. So its not considered a 'legal' name change. I can go back to my maiden name at any time, work in my maiden name and have my personal life in my married name etc. But the passport has to match the name on the ticket!
Not sure if its the same in the US, likely not, but just think its interesting how different it is!
