Getting OCI after surname change

[smariner]

My wife currently is an Indian citizen (with her maiden surname on her Indian passport). She plans to become a US citizen over the next few months using her married surname.

Will this cause any issues later with her OCI application? Is it recommended that she get a new Indian passport with the married surname, before applying for the US Citizenship? We do have the official marriage certificate from India.

NOTE: Since changing surnames to reflect marriage isn't technically a name change -- she will not be getting the name change decree from the court during US-naturalization.

[starwars]

It will not cause any problems in getting the OCI. However as the name in the US passport will be different from the Indian Passport, you will have to take care of a few things as part of the process.

Steps you need to follow if the name in the US passport does not match the name in the Indian passport - and you wish to apply for an OCI.

DISCLAIMERS :

a.) This process worked for me and my spouse as of Q2-2009. In the future, the Consulate General's office may change their requirements
b.) Our applications were made to the SFO Consulate General's Office.(As part of the process, I contacted the NY office - and found to my surprise - that the process was not consistent.)

STEPS:

a.) After your legal name change - via a court order or part of the naturalization process, place a newspaper announcement of the name change in a local US newspaper (where you live today) as well as a newspaper in India (preferably in the city where your Indian passport shows you were domiciled)

b.) I used the following template "Vide certificate <Certificate #> issued by the <County-Name> County District Court in <City> <State>, I hereby announce that I have changed my name from <Old Name> to <New Name> on MMM, DD YYYY."

c.) Submit your application / passports / applicable fees, the two newspaper (one US and 1 from India) pages alongwith the notorized "Change in Name" Affidavit (link found on SFO/CGI website under OCI / The Process)


NOTES :

1.) The first time I sent in the application, I did not place the ads but sent in the certified copy of the name change document (County Court Order). While this may be (cant say for sure) acceptable to the NY CGI, the folks in SFO sent my application back requesting I place newspaper ads.

2.) The next time around, I placed the ads and the local newspaper gave me a notorized "Affidavit of Publication". I included that as part of my application, but that did not meet the requirements either. They wanted the physical copy of the newspaper - with the announcements marked. So the second application was returned as well.

3.) The third time was lucky (or they got tired), when I included the newspaper announcements.

4.) When placing the ad in the US, the local newspaper placed it based on my email to them with no requirement of any supporting document. However when placing the announcement in India, Indian Express/TOI agreed to place the announcement only after a copy of the court order document was shown to the agent. So to avoid any hassle - you may want to simply scan and send a copy of the name change court order to the folks in India placing the ad for you.

5.) This process works even if you entirely changed your name i.e. <First Name> and <Last Name>

Good Luck !

[mngmr]

Regarding name change experience and tips

Starwars, I found your reply to smariner regarding name change very helpful. I am an indian citizen living in the US wanting to change a single letter in my name.
I have two questions based on your experience since your situation was similar to mine.
1) How much did it cost to advertise in a us newspaper and which newspaper did you advertise? What is the process for advertising in a us newspaper- can you do it online? Also how much did it cost for an indian newspaper advertisement?
2) If you are living the US, what court order did you obtain- indian or us? What is the process?
Please advise. Thank you in advance.

[yprasannas]

Getting OCI after surname change

Thanks for the info!

Some thoughts on how to do this without news paper ads..
1. Apply US citizenship for wife with new surname.
2. Before getting the US citizen ship apply for a new Indian passport with new surname.

Will 2 create an issue if GC has old surname?
My marriage certificate has my wife surname changed to mine. Not sure if this the way it was supposed to?? Should I be getting a new one with her family name instead of mine?