Passport Name Change if Recently Divorced and Changed Name Back to Maiden Name

by Stephanie
(Portland, OR, USA)

Question: I still have my old drivers license and old bank debit card with my married name and my new license and bank debit card with changed name. My checkbook still has my married name on it. The bank said that doesn't matter since they go by bank account number, not name.

I'm wondering if the same goes for my passport.
My passport has my married name on it. It doesn't expire until 2017 so I'd rather not get a new one if possible. I also want to keep the stamps from past trips.

My friend and I want to take a weekend trip to Vancouver, BC, Canada (we live in the Pacific Northwest) and I'm wondering if I can provide my birth certificate and divorce papers along with my old/new licenses and passport and still be able to cross the border there and back?
Or is it necessary that I get a new passport?
What should I do?

I thank you ahead of time for your advice.

Answer:

You must travel with your passport in your current legal name. If your name has been legally changed due to divorce, then you should apply for a passport name change before you travel.

Since the passport was issued more than one year ago, you need to apply for a passport renewal using form DS-82 and include evidence of the name change such as the official divorce decree.

You also need to submit two recent passport photos and your current passport. The passport will be returned to you along with the new one.

The application process takes 4-6 weeks for routine service. You can request that it be expedited and receive the passport in 2-3 weeks. If you need to have the name changed more quickly, then you can either visit the Seattle Passport Agency or employ the services of a professional passport expediter.