Maiden to married name when applying for AOS?

[kitasc]

Hey everyone, I'm new here so hopefully I'm in the right spot. I'm an Indian citizen currently on a F-1 visa working on OPT STEM, which is valid until next year. I just got married to my American husband and we are applying for an AOS, and I would really like to take his last name. The question is whether I should 1) request a green card in my married name, or 2) use my maiden name now and change my last name when I become an American citizen.

I know I'll need to apply for a new Indian passport, probably change my name everywhere in America (SSA, drivers license, banks, etc.) but I'm also concerned that my F-1/OPT will be affected if I choose to change my name now. Does anyone have experience with this, and what did you decide to do?

[Enub4]

I think a name change after marriage is common in the USA, I don't see any problem changing the name.

Does India allow changing the name on the passport? Mexico doesn't allow that so people traveling with a GC on married name also bring a copy of the marriage certificate. The new Mexican passports have a section that says, spouse surname to show the extra information and why the person may have another document without their surname and with the spouse.

I don't think the OPT will be affected because it is given to a person and not to a name. You will need to prove you are the same person if needed, but that is easy. Good luck.