When should I change my name to my married name?

[Ness]

Hiya all,

I have a passport, and a WHV, in my maiden name in my Australian passport.

I want to change my passport to my married name, but I also need to apply for FLR(M).

Should I change the passport first, or get the spouse visa first?

I am thinking it would be better to get the spouse visa in the maiden name passport first, then apply to change passport to married name, and then get spouse visa re-written in the married name and re-stuck into my married name passport?

Does that sound right?

Thanks in advance for any/all replies!

Ness

[ppron747]

I don't know how much time you've got, but I think the way you propose to go about it is the expensive way!

As I understand it, it costs exactly the same to get the visa transferred to a new passport as it does to get the visa in the first place, so it looks to me that you're paying twice for something you only need once...

Would it not be possible to get the new passport in youir married name now, and then submit the FLR(M) form, together with your old and new passports, and the marriage certificate to link them together?

Or, simply leave your passport as it is (carrying a copy of your marriage certificate with you) then get the new passport shortly before you're due to apply for ILR?

Either of these options would avoid having to pay just to get the endorsement transferred...

[Ness]

What????????

It COSTS to get the visa stamp put in your passport again, even once you have applied for it and received it??

So you're telling me if I am mugged in the street and they steal my passport then it will cost me another 300GBP or whatever just to get a sticker (which I already paid for) put back in my passport???????????

Are you sure?
I had no idea they would charge for that!
That is ludicrous!

*sigh*

[ppron747]

Actually it's not exactly the same fee - it's £160 for a postal application, £500 for a "premium" application.
So avoid it.