Name Change
- Joined: Feb 23rd, 2007
- Posts: 5
My fiancé and I are getting married. She is Chinese and I am American. She’s planning on changing her last name and I was wondering how this is handled by the Chinese Government. Are Chinese citizens allowed to change their family name to non-Chinese names? If so how is it done? If not, what do Chinese who are marrying foreigner’s do? I know that there are a number of non-Chinese who contribute to this site who have Chinese wives. What have you all done?
admin
Re: Name Change
my guess is that it will not be recognized in China. I know several people who have changed their name (not only for marriage), but whatever's on that shenfenzheng (ID) stays there for life.
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dtt
Re: Name Change
Admin, thanks for the input.
Is there anyone on this message board who has some first-hand experience?
gdbill
Re: Name Change
Actually, there is a legal name change process that Chinese people can follow. However, whatever new name they use, it must be written in Chinese characters. If it isn't in Chinese, it will never appear on their hukou book and, thus, their ID card.
"Truth is not a commodity in short supply: The problem is, there's very little demand for it." -- ???
coco-nuts
Re: Name Change
Do you know how to begin that process for applying for name change?
gdbill
Re: Name Change
No idea. But from people I've talked to, ever Chinese person knows where and how to go through the process. Many people also say it is not terribly difficult.
"Truth is not a commodity in short supply: The problem is, there's very little demand for it." -- ???
andrewnina
Re: Name Change
i dont think its gonna be easy,changing name means changing nationality,theres no way for her to change her name to yours in china,all she has to do is apply for your home country's passport then she will be get her name changed.for example,I'm chinese and i married to a british,according to british immigration law i can only apply for british passport get my new name written on my new passport as Nina Paley instead of my chinese name He Miao,before i can apply for that i will have to hold residence permit for 4 years which i dont have now.thing is if i want to change my name to my husband's,living in London for 4 years is a must,during 4 years i can only leave england 90 days,otherwise i will never ever get my name changed,so i guess you and her have to stay in one place for a really long time without holidays,forget about thailand costa rica europe stuff like that,you cant go anywhere.you life would be stuck....
gdbill
Re: Name Change
Your name and your nationality are two totally separate issues.
To legally change your name in China, the process begins at the Public Security Bureau office where one's hukou is maintained.
For foreigners, however, you may have to go through the Chinese courts.
"Truth is not a commodity in short supply: The problem is, there's very little demand for it." -- ???
GracieLi
Re: Name Change
My husband's cousin legally changed her given name about 5 years ago. Some fortune teller told her it would be more auspicious. All I know about the process is:
1) It was grossly expensive.
2) It took a long time.
3) Nobody in her family uses her new name, ever.
If you ask the PSB (or go online in Chinese) you should be able to figure out who you need to speak with to get the process started.
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gdbill
Re: Name Change
You must come from along line of poverty if you believe that < 100 RMB is grossly expensive.
"Truth is not a commodity in short supply: The problem is, there's very little demand for it." -- ???