Did anyone change to their married name After Landing??

[Mariac819]

My COPR was issued in my maiden name (long story). Now I want to change everything to my married name.

Did anyone do this process after landing?

Did you have to get your SIN, health insurance and PR in your maiden name and then change it to married name?

Anyone that has done this process after landing could you share your story please.

Thank you

 

[OhCanadiana]

My COPR was issued in my maiden name (long story). Now I want to change everything to my married name.

Did anyone do this process after landing?

Did you have to get your SIN, health insurance and PR in your maiden name and then change it to married name?

Anyone that has done this process after landing could you share your story please.

Thank you

It depends on the province. In at least one province (Quebec) it's not possible to do after landing.

BTW, what name is your passport in (if married and it was a mistake, you could ask for an updated CoPR or even ask the officers to change it on your CoPR at landing)?

 

[flittering]

This was actually one of the questions I asked the immigration lawyer when we spoke to him. Although it was more in the context of "should I wait until I'm there to change my name, because I don't want to delay the paperwork?" He told me that it was actually it was a sticky thing and would take years. I don't know how accurate that was, because he also told me to do inland and made no mention of the border subterfuge that would entail.

I'm changing it next week and contacting the CIC to update them.

 

[Mariac819]

It depends on the province. In at least one province (Quebec) it's not possible to do after landing.

BTW, what name is your passport in (if married and it was a mistake, you could ask for an updated CoPR or even ask the officers to change it on your CoPR at landing)?

Everything is still in my maiden name. The long story is that I didn't want to delay the application but either way it took forever lol..

The COPR is correct.

Moving to ON

 

[Mariac819]

This was actually one of the questions I asked the immigration lawyer when we spoke to him. Although it was more in the context of "should I wait until I'm there to change my name, because I don't want to delay the paperwork?" He told me that it was actually it was a sticky thing and would take years. I don't know how accurate that was, because he also told me to do inland and made no mention of the border subterfuge that would entail.

I'm changing it next week and contacting the CIC to update them.

All the name changes seem to be pretty straight forward. Show your marriage certificate and they change your name. I was just curious if anyone had done this and if they could share their story. I highly doubt it takes years since I am going to go do it in the USA now and they just ask for the same thing, marriage certificate and payment in some cases.

Yeah filing inland seems like bad advice. But I guess it all depends on when it was since I believe inland wasn't so bad a few years back?

 

[Caribou]

Everything is still in my maiden name. The long story is that I didn't want to delay the application but either way it took forever lol..

The COPR is correct.

Moving to ON

I didn't change my last name, but I changed my first name with change of name certificate.
I live in BC, so vital statistic has a process on how to change your name. (I changed it in Canada not in US. The process is much simplier in Canada.)

I already had sin card and everything with my previous name, so after I got my name change certificate, it was matter of faxing and notifying everyone including service canada, health care card and ICBC insurance. No hassle. I think the whole process took about couple of weeks at the most for most important stuff, then little stuff like utility, phones, etc.
I know unless you have hyphenated last name, marriage license would be sufficient to change your name in most provinces.
I suggest landing with current COPR, however, since it takes a long long time to receive a new copy.
If you never applied for SIN card, just land first, then bring marriage certificate along with landing paper when you apply for SIn card, and let the clerk know. (cuz it's just technicality right? you don't even get a plastic card anymore, so I'm sure they can issue one with married last name. Otherwise, just have clerk issue as maiden name then re-issue a new one right after!)
When you send in copy of your landing paper for citizenship or pr card, just attach marriage certificate along with that.
One withdraw for me was that it took me almost 6 months to get a new PR card.
Since I started changing my name even before I got PR card, I had to wait until I got PR card, then apply for a new PR card with name change $50.
I was able to use old PR card with old name at the border as long as I had name change certificate--marriage certificate for you in this case.

I think most expensive expense with name change was getting a new passport.

Unlike US, it's more common for a married woman to keep their last name, so I'm not changing my name in document AGAIN.

My spouse also changed her name in US, and it seems like they always go by passport name as "the official" name.

p.s. I didn't change any of my documents in US, so all my bank accounts and school record is under old name. But as long as you have either marriage certificate or copy of name change, I never had problem either at the border or with any government entities so far.

 

[Mariac819]

I didn't change my last name, but I changed my first name with change of name certificate.
I live in BC, so vital statistic has a process on how to change your name. (I changed it in Canada not in US. The process is much simplier in Canada.)

I already had sin card and everything with my previous name, so after I got my name change certificate, it was matter of faxing and notifying everyone including service canada, health care card and ICBC insurance. No hassle. I think the whole process took about couple of weeks at the most for most important stuff, then little stuff like utility, phones, etc.
I know unless you have hyphenated last name, marriage license would be sufficient to change your name in most provinces.
I suggest landing with current COPR, however, since it takes a long long time to receive a new copy.
If you never applied for SIN card, just land first, then bring marriage certificate along with landing paper when you apply for SIn card, and let the clerk know. (cuz it's just technicality right? you don't even get a plastic card anymore, so I'm sure they can issue one with married last name. Otherwise, just have clerk issue as maiden name then re-issue a new one right after!)
When you send in copy of your landing paper for citizenship or pr card, just attach marriage certificate along with that.
One withdraw for me was that it took me almost 6 months to get a new PR card.
Since I started changing my name even before I got PR card, I had to wait until I got PR card, then apply for a new PR card with name change $50.
I was able to use old PR card with old name at the border as long as I had name change certificate--marriage certificate for you in this case.

I think most expensive expense with name change was getting a new passport.

Unlike US, it's more common for a married woman to keep their last name, so I'm not changing my name in document AGAIN.

My spouse also changed her name in US, and it seems like they always go by passport name as "the official" name.

p.s. I didn't change any of my documents in US, so all my bank accounts and school record is under old name. But as long as you have either marriage certificate or copy of name change, I never had problem either at the border or with any government entities so far.

This is all great advice, thank you so much for taking the time to type that out.

I think what confuses me is I don't know how the new PR card is issued. Does the office at the border submit the COPR papers for me after landing?

You mentioned to attach a copy of my marriage certificate, I was considering that already. I was going to bring it with me when I landed to ask the officer how I could have my PR card issued in my married name.

Do we have to mail out the COPR after its signed by the officer?

 

[Caribou]

This is all great advice, thank you so much for taking the time to type that out.

I think what confuses me is I don't know how the new PR card is issued. Does the office at the border submit the COPR papers for me after landing?

You mentioned to attach a copy of my marriage certificate, I was considering that already. I was going to bring it with me when I landed to ask the officer how I could have my PR card issued in my married name.

Do we have to mail out the COPR after its signed by the officer?

I think it's good idea to bring marriage certificate since your FIRST PR card will be mailed off/processed by landing officer, not you.
Also double check the address with officer for PR card.
If you want replacement card with new name, you have to mail if off yourself with $50.
However, if the officer says you need a new copy of COPR with new name TO LAND, don't go that route. Getting a new COPR takes way too long.

If officer is not flexible enough to apply your PR card with new name, just don't bother. Land with old name, spend $50 and apply for new card yourself with copy of COPR that officer will give you back and copy of marriage certificate.

Make few certified copies and bring to the border as well in case they want to apply your PR card with new name(certified copy was what I mailed off to PR replacement card) since officer cannot just make a copy and send it with pr card application. ;D

officer will sign COPR, take 1 copy, and attach 1 copy on your passport. and you Must keep that piece of paper until you collect your old age pension. yes. no kidding.

Some officer will not be flexible at all, so be prepared to land with your old name.
Also, be proactive in giving options such as "Can I land with my old name but apply PR card with new last name with my certified copy of marriage certificate? I want to save 6 months processing time for replacement card", etc. But, if they say no, don't challenge them. Just apply for replacement card as soon as you land with landing paper.

'hope it helps.

 

[keesio]

This is all great advice, thank you so much for taking the time to type that out.

I think what confuses me is I don't know how the new PR card is issued. Does the office at the border submit the COPR papers for me after landing?

You mentioned to attach a copy of my marriage certificate, I was considering that already. I was going to bring it with me when I landed to ask the officer how I could have my PR card issued in my married name.

Do we have to mail out the COPR after its signed by the officer?

When you do you official landing, the officer will ask for both copies of COPR. My wife's officer put the two together with some carbon paper in between. He/she will ask you a few questions, have you initial in a few places and then he will ask for your address in Canada. This is the address that CIC will mail your PR card to. He wrote the address on the COPR. Then you both sign in it, he keeps the main copy and you get the other one. That is basically it. Someone later will enter your address into the system and PR will automatically be created and mailed to that address.

Your PR card will have the name that is on your passport and COPR. I'm 99.9% sure you cannot simply request your PR card be issued under a different name.

 

[Mariac819]

I think it's good idea to bring marriage certificate since your FIRST PR card will be mailed off/processed by landing officer, not you.
Also double check the address with officer for PR card.
If you want replacement card with new name, you have to mail if off yourself with $50.
However, if the officer says you need a new copy of COPR with new name TO LAND, don't go that route. Getting a new COPR takes way too long.

If officer is not flexible enough to apply your PR card with new name, just don't bother. Land with old name, spend $50 and apply for new card yourself with copy of COPR that officer will give you back and copy of marriage certificate.

Make few certified copies and bring to the border as well in case they want to apply your PR card with new name(certified copy was what I mailed off to PR replacement card) since officer cannot just make a copy and send it with pr card application. ;D

officer will sign COPR, take 1 copy, and attach 1 copy on your passport. and you Must keep that piece of paper until you collect your old age pension. yes. no kidding.

Some officer will not be flexible at all, so be prepared to land with your old name.
Also, be proactive in giving options such as "Can I land with my old name but apply PR card with new last name with my certified copy of marriage certificate? I want to save 6 months processing time for replacement card", etc. But, if they say no, don't challenge them. Just apply for replacement card as soon as you land with landing paper.

'hope it helps.

Absolutely!... I don't plan on challenging anyone LOL!!...

I will give it a try, like you said its worth a try. If they say no then I ditch out the $50 and change the name after.

What I wanted to avoid was waiting for the PR card and then getting the name change. Or can I submit the name change right away?

 

[mercyofGod]

My COPR was issued in my maiden name (long story). Now I want to change everything to my married name.

Did anyone do this process after landing?

Did you have to get your SIN, health insurance and PR in your maiden name and then change it to married name?

Anyone that has done this process after landing could you share your story please.

Thank you

I believe it depend on province really in Quebec it is difficult to do that, yet there is still chance for you if your marriage were conducted outside Canada, mine was conducted outside Canada and my wife was able to change her name to my surname by adding my surname to her names and everything is okay.

 

[PTJ]

So does anyone has any experience of changing the surname due to marriage in Ontario? And if you have a new passport with your new surname, will the officer be willing to update this new name at landing to reflect the new surname?

 

[keesio]

So does anyone has any experience of changing the surname due to marriage in Ontario? And if you have a new passport with your new surname, will the officer be willing to update this new name at landing to reflect the new surname?

The passport used at landing has to match the passport number on your COPR. If you update CIC with your new passport prior to them sending out COPR, they can change the name on your COPR and you can then land with your new passport.

 

[PTJ]

The passport used at landing has to match the passport number on your COPR. If you update CIC with your new passport prior to them sending out COPR, they can change the name on your COPR and you can then land with your new passport.

I am asking this because a friend is in the situation. Her passport which is still with CIC from her home country has expired but she's gotten Canada Travel Document now on her new surname (married name). She sent copy of the Travel document and copy of marriage certificate with the FBI report to let CIC know about the new passport requesting that her name be updated. But what I am not sure is if that is enough as a proof of surname change due to marriage and if COPR could be issued on the new name?

 

[keesio]

I am asking this because a friend is in the situation. Her passport which is still with CIC from her home country has expired but she's gotten Canada Travel Document now on her new surname (married name). She sent copy of the Travel document and copy of marriage certificate with the FBI report to let CIC know about the new passport requesting that her name be updated. But what I am not sure is if that is enough as a proof of surname change due to marriage and if COPR could be issued on the new name?

I think she needs to provide CIC a copy of her new passport (which has her new name). The passport is key because the COPR will have the name on the passport copy she provided to CIC and the passport number. Hopefully someone else can confirm.