Passport ID Woes
April 7, 2017 8:47 AM Subscribe
I am married and recently applied for a U.S. Passport in my maiden name because that's the name under which my SSN remains and they ask for the SSN on the application. Last week, I received a letter stating that my app is in "Routine Suspense" pending receipt of "A clear photocopy of at least one valid document issued in your maiden name." I sent my expired passport and birth certificate, both in my maiden name, with my application. Both of those items are listed as the "Primary ID" examples on their webpage. What else should I send them?
I applied as my maiden name ("Jane Doe"). The following question is on the app:
"List all other names you have used. (Examples: Birth Name, Maiden, Previous Marriage, Legal Name Change." Under this question, I listed two versions of my married name ("Jane Smith" and "Jane Doe-Smith").
The examples provided in the letter of "at least one valid document issued in your maiden name" were: Driver's license; State identification card; Military identification; Student identification; or Federal/state/municipal employment identification card." Based on the examples in the letter, it looks like they are demanding additional Primary ID, and the only Primary ID I have issued in my maiden name, I've already sent them. I have some items under the "Secondary ID" examples I could send them, such as SS card and health insurance card.
I do not understand why they are asking for other ID in addition to the Primary ID I have already submitted. Is it possible they are confusing my married name listed on the "other names" question with my maiden name? Honestly, I really wouldn't mind if they issue it in my married name; I applied in my maiden name because I thought it would be easier, but would actually prefer it if they issued it in my married name. My main concern is that I don't want to have the application rejected and have to pay a new fee to resubmit it if they do reject it.
So should I send them Secondary ID in my maiden name or Primary ID in my married name, or both?
I applied as my maiden name ("Jane Doe"). The following question is on the app:
"List all other names you have used. (Examples: Birth Name, Maiden, Previous Marriage, Legal Name Change." Under this question, I listed two versions of my married name ("Jane Smith" and "Jane Doe-Smith").
The examples provided in the letter of "at least one valid document issued in your maiden name" were: Driver's license; State identification card; Military identification; Student identification; or Federal/state/municipal employment identification card." Based on the examples in the letter, it looks like they are demanding additional Primary ID, and the only Primary ID I have issued in my maiden name, I've already sent them. I have some items under the "Secondary ID" examples I could send them, such as SS card and health insurance card.
I do not understand why they are asking for other ID in addition to the Primary ID I have already submitted. Is it possible they are confusing my married name listed on the "other names" question with my maiden name? Honestly, I really wouldn't mind if they issue it in my married name; I applied in my maiden name because I thought it would be easier, but would actually prefer it if they issued it in my married name. My main concern is that I don't want to have the application rejected and have to pay a new fee to resubmit it if they do reject it.
So should I send them Secondary ID in my maiden name or Primary ID in my married name, or both?
The one possibility I can think of is that they've determined that your expired passport is damaged (beyond normal "wear and tear") and therefore unacceptable as primary photo ID. But I agree that you need to ask them.
posted by AndrewInDC at 9:11 AM on April 7, 2017
posted by AndrewInDC at 9:11 AM on April 7, 2017
Best answer: Perhaps they want a link between your maiden name and your married name? Do you have a copy of your marriage certificate handy?
posted by JoeZydeco at 9:22 AM on April 7, 2017
posted by JoeZydeco at 9:22 AM on April 7, 2017
Best answer: I'm confused, are you changing your last name? You need to first change it at SSA. They'll issue a new SSN card with your new name. Then you can use that doc to apply for a new passport, where on the form you check off that your name is changed due to marriage. You would be applying under your new last name, and in other names you would provide your maiden. I used my marriage certificate as proof of this.
They could be confused because did you have proof of your 'other' name? Which in your case is your married name, but usually its the maiden name.
I'd call and see what you should do now given what you've already applied for.
posted by inevitability at 9:38 AM on April 7, 2017 [2 favorites]
They could be confused because did you have proof of your 'other' name? Which in your case is your married name, but usually its the maiden name.
I'd call and see what you should do now given what you've already applied for.
posted by inevitability at 9:38 AM on April 7, 2017 [2 favorites]
Best answer: It sounds like your legal name is your married name now. If it's legally now either hyphenated or you took your spouse's last name, the fact that you haven't yet updated your SS card to reflect that doesn't mean your new name isn't your legal name. Many states allow you to officially change your name by listing your new name on your marriage certificate, which you then use to change your ID(s), bank accounts, etc. For a Passport, you'll have to go with your current legal name. The listing of past/other names on the application is mainly to connect your identity to all those names in their records (in your case, you would have listed your maiden name there and applied under your new, legal, married name). If you've changed your driver's license to your current legal (married) name, I don't think they'll allow you to get your Passport issued in another name that's not the current legal one. Call them, but I think you're going to have to get it issued in your new name. I'd send them copies of your current IDs and your marriage certificate. They may be able to correct your application with the new info instead of making you reapply and pay again.
posted by quince at 9:40 AM on April 7, 2017
posted by quince at 9:40 AM on April 7, 2017
Best answer: Agreed that you should call and ask, but "one valid document issued in your maiden name" is not just asking for another primary ID -- some of the examples they listed, like student ID or employment ID, are not primary IDs, but are secondary IDs. They are even letting you send a photocopy, so it's really not about identifying who you are. I think they are trying to figure out whether you are still legally and currently using your maiden name, since you seemed to indicate on your form that you are using or have used your married name. Some people don't legally change their names at marriage, some do, and right now they are confused about which category you are in. A birth certificate and expired passport don't confirm which name is your current legal name. Obviously, they don't want to issue you a passport under anything other than your legal name.
FYI, if you want to change your passport to be issued in your married name, I think you have to change your name with Social Security first, and I know you will have to send them a certified copy of your marriage certificate in addition to whatever other documentation they are asking for. Photocopies aren't acceptable.
My sympathies to you for this headache! I got married almost a year ago and changed my name a few months later, and still haven't sorted out all the associated hassles.
posted by alligatorpear at 9:49 AM on April 7, 2017
FYI, if you want to change your passport to be issued in your married name, I think you have to change your name with Social Security first, and I know you will have to send them a certified copy of your marriage certificate in addition to whatever other documentation they are asking for. Photocopies aren't acceptable.
My sympathies to you for this headache! I got married almost a year ago and changed my name a few months later, and still haven't sorted out all the associated hassles.
posted by alligatorpear at 9:49 AM on April 7, 2017
Best answer: I wouldn't be surprised at all if they thought that Smith was your maiden name and Doe was your married name, instead of the opposite. Whatever the problem is, this is something you'll have to solve with a phone call directly to them. Make sure to write down as much detail as you can. That includes the name of the person you speak to, the name of their office, and their telephone extension if possible.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 10:44 AM on April 7, 2017
posted by The Underpants Monster at 10:44 AM on April 7, 2017
I tried calling the number on the letter and she said she could not provide me with any information "outside of the letter" and it will take about 14 days for someone who could answer the question to get back to me.
posted by Dr. Zira at 11:31 AM on April 7, 2017
posted by Dr. Zira at 11:31 AM on April 7, 2017
Response by poster: I'm confused, are you changing your last name?
Nope! This is why I am confused as well.
They could be confused because did you have proof of your 'other' name? Which in your case is your married name, but usually its the maiden name.
After rereading the question, this is what I suspect. The only ID I submitted was for my maiden name. As quince noted above, listing my other names may have been what confused them since the feds would not have any records for me other than what is in my maiden name.
I tried calling the number on the letter and she said she could not provide me with any information "outside of the letter" and it will take about 14 days for someone who could answer the question to get back to me.
Tried the number on my letter which was the same as the number clone boulevard posted above; the person with whom I spoke was unhelpful, and could basically only give me info on app status.
I'll try sending them copies of my marriage license, my SSN card, my health insurance ID card, and a couple of years' worth of W2s.
posted by Kwisock Haderach at 12:22 PM on April 7, 2017
Nope! This is why I am confused as well.
They could be confused because did you have proof of your 'other' name? Which in your case is your married name, but usually its the maiden name.
After rereading the question, this is what I suspect. The only ID I submitted was for my maiden name. As quince noted above, listing my other names may have been what confused them since the feds would not have any records for me other than what is in my maiden name.
I tried calling the number on the letter and she said she could not provide me with any information "outside of the letter" and it will take about 14 days for someone who could answer the question to get back to me.
Tried the number on my letter which was the same as the number clone boulevard posted above; the person with whom I spoke was unhelpful, and could basically only give me info on app status.
I'll try sending them copies of my marriage license, my SSN card, my health insurance ID card, and a couple of years' worth of W2s.
posted by Kwisock Haderach at 12:22 PM on April 7, 2017
I think the confusion is coming from this:
Honestly, I really wouldn't mind if they issue it in my married name; I applied in my maiden name because I thought it would be easier, but would actually prefer it if they issued it in my married name.
You want to pick one legal name, and then get all of your documentation issued in this. It can be your maiden name, your new husband's name, or a hyphenated name, but at least for legal documents you want to be consistent with whatever you pick. You can still go by a different one socially or even professionally, but life is much easier if at a minimum you have your SS card, driver's licence or state ID, passport, tax forms, and bank accounts in one consistent name. Then whatever that name is is what you're going to want to book all of your plane flights in, so that your ID and ticket match when going through TSA and customs.
Unfortunately the rules for doing this differ by state. I went through the process in Massachusetts which was a giant pain in the butt (I actually had to do a legal name change at the tune of almost $200 in order to put my maiden name as my middle name, but most states are not this obnoxious). So, you need to look up what the specific process is for your state and then go through those steps to get everything in order. A friend got us a subscription to MissnowMrs which maybe would be worth it for you -- it doesn't do anything you can't do on your own, but it does cut down on the legwork which is nice.
posted by rainbowbrite at 3:37 PM on April 7, 2017 [1 favorite]
Honestly, I really wouldn't mind if they issue it in my married name; I applied in my maiden name because I thought it would be easier, but would actually prefer it if they issued it in my married name.
You want to pick one legal name, and then get all of your documentation issued in this. It can be your maiden name, your new husband's name, or a hyphenated name, but at least for legal documents you want to be consistent with whatever you pick. You can still go by a different one socially or even professionally, but life is much easier if at a minimum you have your SS card, driver's licence or state ID, passport, tax forms, and bank accounts in one consistent name. Then whatever that name is is what you're going to want to book all of your plane flights in, so that your ID and ticket match when going through TSA and customs.
Unfortunately the rules for doing this differ by state. I went through the process in Massachusetts which was a giant pain in the butt (I actually had to do a legal name change at the tune of almost $200 in order to put my maiden name as my middle name, but most states are not this obnoxious). So, you need to look up what the specific process is for your state and then go through those steps to get everything in order. A friend got us a subscription to MissnowMrs which maybe would be worth it for you -- it doesn't do anything you can't do on your own, but it does cut down on the legwork which is nice.
posted by rainbowbrite at 3:37 PM on April 7, 2017 [1 favorite]
Did you send copies of your expired passport and birth certificate or the originals? If they were copies, perhaps they are saying that the copies were not clear enough.
posted by SyraCarol at 5:41 PM on April 7, 2017
posted by SyraCarol at 5:41 PM on April 7, 2017
This site is directed at trans people but the name change process is the same for people changing only their last name. Just pick your state and it will have instructions and forms all in one place.
posted by AFABulous at 6:48 AM on April 10, 2017
posted by AFABulous at 6:48 AM on April 10, 2017
This thread is closed to new comments.
From the US Passport site:
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From the U.S. 1-877-487-2778
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posted by clone boulevard at 9:03 AM on April 7, 2017 [3 favorites]