Summer has arrived, and everyone’s getting ready for vacation! If you’re a newlywed, you may be wondering how to change the name on your passport after marriage. It’s important to understand the name change process and how it might affect your travel plans. A name change expert from MissNowMrs.com shares her top 5 tips to make sure your name change and travel plans remain uncomplicated this summer.
Top 5 married name change travel tips
Tip #1: Book your honeymoon in your maiden name
Unless you are waiting to honeymoon well after your wedding, it’s important to make honeymoon reservations in your maiden name. A certified marriage certificate is required to file for your name change on your identification documents. Marriage certificates in all 50 states aren’t typically issued until 2 weeks after “I do’s” are said.
Tip #2: Prior planning prevents airport drama
If you’re flying, be sure to book your tickets in the name on your current driver’s license and passport. If your flights have been booked in your married name, TSA will not accept your marriage certificate as a legal identification document. Also, most airlines will not allow you to change the name on your ticket without a transfer fee or requiring you to completely re-purchase your flights.
Tip #3: Understand passport timelines
The State Department takes approximately 5-6 weeks to issue a new passport in your new married name. Make sure to keep that timeline in mind when you are booking international travel. It’s much less stressful to wait to file for your name change until after your trip than to hope your passport is issued in time for your flights.
Tip #4: There are passport “loopholes”
If you’ve already booked international travel, you can pay an additional $60 fee to have your passport expedited. This ensures that you will receive it within 2-3 weeks of filing. If you realize that you have less than 2 weeks before your trip, you have the option to call and make an appointment at a Passport Agency. They can issue passports within days as long as you bring proof of your travel dates, like your flight itinerary.
Tip #5: The state department has a wedding gift for you
If you filed for a passport in your maiden name to go on your honeymoon, you can file for a new passport in your new married name for free! Simply submit the DS-11 form within 12 months of the issue date of your current passport. You will receive your new U.S. passport in your new married name at no cost.
Newlywed name change savings
If you’re planning on changing your name and would love to streamline the process to 30 minutes (instead of 13 hours,) check out the MissNowMrs easy online name change service. They’re giving each reader $5 off their time-saving service!
Are you traveling this summer? Have you made all of the necessary name changes yet?