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Names on passport and driver's license do not match name on SS card

by Mayelin
(FL)

Question: I changed my maiden name to my married name on my social security card. My license and my passport still have my maiden name & I will be purchasing my travel tickets with my maiden name (the same as my license & passport) I will be traveling from the US to Mexico & then back to the US. Will this be a problem? Should I take my marriage certificate with me?

Answer: According to the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs, "all citizens need to travel in their current, legal names."

You are encouraged to request a passport name change. If it has been less than a year, there is no fee. If more than a year has passed since your passport was issued, you need to apply for a renewal.

The passport renewal application is Form DS-82. You submit the completed form along with your current passport, one photo and proof of the legal name change to the address on the application.

Routine service takes 4-6 weeks. Expedited services takes 2-3 weeks. Same day passport name changes can be obtained at a regional agency or through a professional expediter.

Click the links below for further information.

Passport Name Change Information

Miami Passport Agency

Apply for Expedited Name Change

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RUM
by: Anonymous

Question: My passport and driver's license have my first and middle name the same as it is on my birth certificate, but my social security name is reversed, middle name first. Can I leave it, or do I need to change my social security name. All my other documents, SSN, CC, work history, pension, etc. are under middle name then first name which differs from my birth certificate.

Answer: While not required, it is ideal that all your documents match. If it's just the placement of names, there is usually no issue. Just make sure to book tickets in the name that appears in your passport to avoid issues when you travel.

Middle name change
by: Anonymous

Question: The social security office allowed me to add my maiden name to my middle name and I now have it on my new social security card. Does that mean I have officially changed my middle name or do I have to do a court order change? Will I be able to get a passport with my maiden name as part of my middle name too or will there be an issue? I’m not sure why they allowed me to add my maiden name to my social if it’s not a "legal" name change.

Can I just leave my social security alone and apply for my passport WITHOUT a middle name since it’s not required? And if so, how will that affect legal documents with my name? Does my name on my passport, ID, and social security card have to match?

Answer: While it is ideal, it is not mandatory to have all your IDs match. You may apply for your passport without your middle name if you have a government-issued photo ID (driver's license) that also does not have your middle name.

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About the Author: For over 20 years, the U.S. Passport Service Guide team has helped hundreds of thousands of travelers with their travel document questions and shared advice about how to make traveling abroad simpler, safer, and more enjoyable.

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