Family name if new named "assumed'

[karabas]

Hi guys,

I've tried looking up this issue, but I haven't found a situation that is identical, so please forgive me if this has been answered before.

My wife who is Canadian "assumed" my family name after we got married. She now has my name on her social insurance card and her health card, etc. However, her passport still has her maiden name.

IMM 1344 has a space for other name (which includes married name), so I used her maiden as her "official" name since it's on her passport, and then put my family name in the additional names section. However, in other forms, there's no such separation and it doesn't indicate which name to use. Should we keep consistent and just use her maiden name, or should we use my name in the other forms?

Thanks!

--- Karabas

 

[keesio]

As far as I know, the name CIC most cares about is the one on her passport. You can put the other name under aliases or "Additional Names". And be consistent.

 

[OhCanadiana]

As far as I know, the name CIC most cares about is the one on her passport. You can put the other name under aliases or "Additional Names". And be consistent.

Indeed. The name on her passport will be her 'official' name for CIC purposes. Note that this will be the name on her CoPR and her PR Card and eventually her Citizenship Certificate (if she chooses to naturalize). The only way to get a different name on her Citizenship Certificate would be to go through an official name change procedure in Canada which is NOT possible in all provinces. Therefore, if she wants to keep using her 'assumed' married name, it's probably a good idea to change her name on her passport before you apply (or while you apply but before the CoPR is issued).