Help / Advice required please - Marriage and US Honeymoon

carcuscrae

Please note, I have posted this in the travel section as well as i'm not sure which is the best forum for this question. Thanks

Hi

Ok here is the scenario. My partner and i are planning on getting married next year and then heading off to the US the next day for a honeymoon. I understand that the holiday booking needs to be made in the names of the travellers passports but i've just read that the ESTA's need to be also in these names but you can't apply for one until the passport is valid.

My partner has been married before and currently her passport is still in her previous married name. She is about to change this to her maiden name and then the plan was to apply for a post-dated passport in her new married name 3 months before the big day, so it was all valid for travel. However doing this means the ESTA cannot be applied for until the day before we go, which a/ outside the 72 hour window & b/ risks the small chance its denied!

So what can we do? Is she able to use her existing passport to travel or once we are married does she have to use her new married name and therefore a new passport?

I'm sure others have been in this situation before so if there is anyone out there with some advice/guidance we'd really appreciate it.

Many Thanks

lika_86

She can use her old passport and name. Getting married doesn't automatically change your name and many women choose not to change their name after marriage. Why is she bothering to go back to her maiden name before the wedding? Sounds expensive and a lot of bother for nothing if she is planning on changing her name again after you get married.

Pollycat

Duplicate posting also here on Overseas Holidays board:
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5675293

Natasha.rb

Hi,

I went to America for my honeymoon and applied for my ESTA in my maiden name, passport was in maiden name, didn't change it till i came back. No problems.

Primrose

Lots of women retain their maiden name for professional reasons so there shouldn,t be any problem. She should just apply for everything in that name and change her documentation records after she returns from hineymoon.