Help (Passport Information)

[jlags90]

Hello Everyone..

This is not my problem but of a friend which I happened to meet when I took my IELTS exam in Davao City. She is married to Ben Coltman (an englishman) but when she filed for her IELTS exam, she still used her maiden name (Michelle Alpis) for the IELTS test. Her passport still bears her maiden name and she is JUST waiting for the exam result and she will lodge her application. My questions:

1. Is it necessary to have her passport name changed (from Michelle Alpis to Michelle Coltman before she lodge her application? or is it just ok to use her maiden name in applying and she will just present the marriage certificate?

2. If she need to change it, how long will it take for her to have her status/ name changed at DFA?

3. Will she need to take another IELTS exam again? Or just need to provide an evidence that michelle alpis and michelle coltman is one entity?

Thank you for reading.. Michelle would be glad if you could help...

More power!

[lastlid]

Basically you have a choice of either going the name change route or sticking with the maiden name route. Many people choose to stick with the maiden name. But in doing this all must be in the maiden name so that the maiden name is on both the test certificate and in the passport. Many say it is easier just to leave the maiden name unchanged and that is what we have done. Ultimately, we will then change my wife's name in her passport when it expires here in the UK in 2013.

Personally I felt it was simpler to leave everything in her maiden name and my wife agreed.

Yes. If she decides to leave her name unchanged then the marriage certificate is the document that the UKBA refer to to tie everything together.

[lastlid]

I seem to recall that Hopkins explicitly pointed out that the name she gave for her english test would be the one that would appear on her test certificate and thus be the one that the UKBA would see and expect to tally with the name in her passport.

For the Spouse Visa the UKBA expect to see the same name on the certificate as in the passport. My understanding is that they wont accept the certificate otherwise.

[juvyjones28]

2. If she need to change it, how long will it take for her to have her status/ name changed at DFA?

She will need to attend CFO seminar first coz its one of the requirements for her status to be changed. But when I applied to change status on my passport, the officer didn't ask for my CFO certificate. I just submitted our NSO marriage certificate(original) and my previous passport, I opted the 10 days priority service for Php1,200. I received my new passport with my husband's surname on it after 7 days so I was pleased with it.

3. Will she need to take another IELTS exam again? Or just need to provide an evidence that michelle alpis and michelle coltman is one entity?

I don't think she will need to take another test, she can present marriage certificate as proof of her identity.

If she still have sometime before she submit visa application, I suggest she should change her status on passport now, she will need to change it when she's in UK anyway so better to do it now. The DFA priority service takes 10 days or less.

[lastlid]

Heres an interesting thread on this very topic from a month or two back. Note that Andy's wife at that point had not done the English test.

http://filipinaroses.com/showthread....hlight=andy222

[sars_notd_virus]

Hello Everyone..

This is not my problem but of a friend which I happened to meet when I took my IELTS exam in Davao City. She is married to Ben Coltman (an englishman) but when she filed for her IELTS exam, she still used her maiden name (Michelle Alpis) for the IELTS test. Her passport still bears her maiden name and she is JUST waiting for the exam result and she will lodge her application.

it will be easier and not time consuming for your friend to just use her maiden name!!


in my case, after i got married i change all my id's and passport even if they are not due to expire, so i wont be carrying my marriage certificate all the time..easy life!!

[sheriel]

Hello anyone in the Philippines,my sister-in-law has just bought a new Laptop,she has bought i think a computer card to be Connected to internet,but now has problem to use internet,she say she can buy new card,but more expensive for Laptop to work,which card does she need to buy in Leyte,any help please,we are here in England,thanks.

[jlags90]

Thanks everyone for the help..

[sars_notd_virus]

Hello anyone in the Philippines,my sister-in-law has just bought a new Laptop,she has bought i think a computer card to be Connected to internet,but now has problem to use internet,she say she can buy new card,but more expensive for Laptop to work,which card does she need to buy in Leyte,any help please,we are here in England,thanks.

HI Sheriel!! ..I hope you can move your thread on ''Computer help and Advice'' Section in this forum...what computer card did she get??

[sars_notd_virus]

Thanks everyone for the help..

How did it go jlags?