Need advice on converting docs to married name prior to Nat

Hi guys, can anyone offer me advice on the following?

My wife is looking to apply for UK citizenship (March 2016) as she has passed the 3 year residency mark. She currently has an Indian passport in her maiden name and matching BRP with ILR also in her maiden name. We have a UK marriage certificate and I am a UK citizen. We do not want to get caught in the trap witnessed by other people here

british-citizenship/passport-refused-uncancelled-passport-in-maiden-name-t183170-160.html#p1196883

I can only see two approaches.

1) Do everything in maiden name (including applying for British passport).

2) Convert documents to married name before starting the application process and do everything in married name.

Number two is better and we are considering updating her Indian passport prior to starting the citizenship request in her married name. The cost of that seems to be around £50. (plus another £50 for travel, time off etc).

However, I cannot find any concrete information on whether we also need to update her BRP to her married name prior to applying for citizenship. The guidance notes for AN state:

"The name that you give in sections 1.5 and 1.6 should be the same name that is on
your current passport, travel document or Biometric Residence Permit. We will not
normally issue a certificate of registration or naturalisation in the name that is
different from a person’s official documents. Names that do not match your current
passport and /or other identity documents, may also cause problems when applying
for a British passport.

If you have married or entered a civil partnership and changed your name, and you
wish to be registered in that name, you should change your name on your other
passport, travel documents and national identity card, to reflect that name, before
sending us your application. This is to avoid a person having official documents in
more than one identity."

The second paragraph does not specifically mention BRP unless it is assuming this is covered by the words "travel documents".

Therefore I have a two part question.

1) Do we need to update her BRP?

2) If we do, is it via form BRP(RC) or form NTL?

The submission fee for BRP(RC) is £45 but it states this form is for people: "applying for a replacement Biometric Residence permit (BRP(RC)) because the Biometric Residence Permit or Immigration Status Document has been lost, stolen, damaged, or expired after receiving indefinite leave to remain." It does not list 'change of name' as a reason for submission under section 3C1. I don't believe this is the right form although I have seen other people mention this in the forum.

The form NTL, does specifically have section 1.19 to cover change of name through marriage and it states "Application for No Time Limit – NTL by someone who already has indefinite leave to enter or remain in the UK and wishes to change their personal details", which we do.

However, the cost of submission for NTL is £260:evil: plus whatever the post office charges to re-enroll your details. This seems a stupid amount of money to pay for a new BRP that would only exist for a few weeks until citizenship is granted.

Hence, is it possible to apply for naturalisation using her married name, with an Indian passport in her married name, but the BRP in her maiden name?

I don't want to un-necessarily spend £260+ on a new BRP and presumably goes through the process of being re-finger printed, photographed etc if it is not needed.

Can anyone who has converted their documents to married name prior to naturalisation confirm if they also converted their BRP and how did you do it?

Thanks

Hi Shazell,

I understand your concern about the married name and maiden name . I am in similar boat like you . But the the issues is with my name ( My Name is slightly longer - 43 Characters ) . I tried to change it in my indian passport but , due to the complexity involved in dealing with Indian Embassy . I applied for naturalisation with my original name . I will change my name in my British passport ( Once i get it ).

" Personally I would suggest the first one . It is easy to get the name changed on the British passport than in Indian passport. The process is same for both i.e, through deed poll . But the process is bit simple and straightforward for British Passport "

Hence, is it possible to apply for naturalisation using her married name, with an Indian passport in her married name, but the BRP in her maiden name? NO - HO will object as all the IDs must be under the same name .

Hope this helps
Narsii

Hi Narsii,

Thanks for your reply. Can I just ask, was naturalisation with your original name granted smoothly or were there any problems?

Also, when/if you applied for your first adult British passport, did the PP office ask for any documentation (bank statements/bills etc) to prove what name you were using?

Thanks

I am waiting for my AN approval . Not heard from HO yet

Regards ,
Narsii