Maiden name on Spouse Visa application

[ofayub]

Can i first say that i have found this website very useful and is very good the work that is placed into helping people.

I would be grateful if you could help with an enquiry. My wife would like to make an application for settlement in UK. My wife (Pakistani Citizen) would like to keep her maiden name. Does my wife need to change her name to my name (husband) on her Pakistani travelling documents in order to submit a visa application? We have been informed that we need to change her name on her Pakistani ID card and Passport when enquirying regarding making a passport by Pakistani passport place. They informed us that they the UK Visa office will not accept the application since the changes have been made in September. Can you please advise.

thank you

[ikp]

no,
she can keep her maiden name, i rang HO and they confirmed, you can ring and double check 0870 6067766.

[John]

Does my wife need to change her name to my name

There is no compulsion under UK law for a woman to change her surname on marriage. It is merely a convention that most choose to follow.

[jazbaati99]

Hello

As already stated, your wife can keep her maiden name; there should be no issues with that with the UK authorities. My wife still uses her maiden name however you do need to change her Pakistani computerized ID card. She can still use her maiden name but her father's name will be replaced by her husband's name. Her new passport (whenever the old one expires) will have her husband’s name instead of her father's name. If you don't do this (like we did) then it is almost impossible to get the birth registration form (form B) issued by Pakistani authorities and you may have trouble getting a Pakistani passport from your child(ren). So it may be worth while to get her computerized ID card changed.

Rgds