Hi,

I recently got married and just got around to changing my last name. I currently have a perminate resident card that will be expiring next year. I am going to be filing for citizenship very soon. Do I need to change the name on my Permanent resident card before I file, or will it be OK that my last name is different on the card compared to what it legally is? If I have to replace the card first wouldn't it be better to just renew the card in my new name as it is the same price as replacing, so I don't have to incur the added fee of replacing and then citizen fee?

Are you in the U.S.

Normally, if you choose to change your name to that of your husband at the time of the marriage, the name-change occurs when the marriage ceremony takes place (or perhaps technically when the marriage certificate is filed). So I am slightly puzzled by your statement that you "just got around to changing [your] last name". What do you mean?

I just changed it with the social security office and on my license at secretary of states. Do I need to change it on my resident card before I apply for citizenship?

Put the name you want on form N-400, no need to file name change prior to that. However, if your name is different from the one on GC, it will delay your process.