Taxes, Names, and Legal Life After Saying "I Do"

Planning your wedding is thrilling, but what happens after the vows are exchanged? When you marry across borders, your new life together means more than just a new title — it transforms your legal life after saying “I do”, including your tax status, legal identity, and immigration obligations.

What to Know About Your Legal Life After Saying “I Do”

1. Your Tax Status After Saying “I Do”

Once your spouse becomes a lawful permanent resident (green card holder), you’ll generally file taxes as “Married Filing Jointly.” This filing status often brings benefits like lower tax rates and bigger deductions. However, if your spouse doesn’t yet have a Social Security number, they’ll need an ITIN (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number) to file.

💡 Tip: It’s important to file correctly because USCIS can review your tax returns when assessing the legitimacy of your marriage.

2. Name Changes and Immigration

Planning to change your last name? It’s a beautiful tradition, but when immigration paperwork is involved, consistency matters.If you change your name after marriage, make sure to update it everywhere — your immigration forms, passport, Social Security records, and driver's license. Mismatches between documents can lead to delays or rejections.

3. Getting a Social Security Number

A Social Security Number (SSN) is crucial for almost everything — working legally, opening bank accounts, paying taxes, and applying for loans. Once your spouse gets their green card, they should immediately apply for an SSN.

4. Legal Obligations: Financial Support

When you sponsor a spouse for a green card, you sign an Affidavit of Support (Form I-864), pledging to financially support them until they either become a U.S. citizen or have earned 40 quarters (about 10 years) of work credits.It’s a serious commitment — even if you divorce, the obligation can continue unless certain conditions are met.

Building a Life Together

Marriage is a journey of love, but it’s also a journey through legal systems.Making sure your paperwork reflects your love story accurately will make your path to permanent residency and citizenship smoother — and stress-free.

At Elizee Law Firm, we help you navigate every twist and turn of marriage and immigration. Let’s build your forever together.

Patricia Elizee is the managing partner of the Elizee Law Firm, an immigration law firm located at 1110 Brickell Avenue, Suite 315, Miami, Florida 33131. Phone 305-371-8846. The law firm was established in 2012. Ms. Elizee earned her Juris Doctorate at the University of Miami School of Law and her Masters in Law from the University of Washington School of Law.