Name change for Canadian living in US.

[greypeacock]

I'm originally from Atlantic Canada.  I just recently, finally got my court-ordered name change completed. Excited, I ran downtown to start using the orders to change my documents. Long and extremely frustrating story later, I come to find out I can't change my state ID without changing my SSN first, and I can't change that without changing my green card first- a process that will take another three months wait, another biometrics(fingerprints) appointment and a near-400$ filing fee.

This just seems unfair. I'm frustrated because I thought I'd have SOME form of ID I could get after the court order was completed. I've been living in a homeless shelter for lack of other options while doing this. I've gotten an offer to stay with friends in rural Oregon and I think I'm going to take it.

I just hope a court order from another state still counts. I'm going to file from within Oregon for the green card changes. I might as well be comfortable while I wait another three months, eh?

I can't handle much longer being stealth in the shelter. Rumors about me are circulating.  'That effeminate guy wants to become a woman'. Ironic as I'm actually ftm. I still just feel unsafe. I've heard many disparaging comments about LGBT spectrum folks.

I dunno why I'm posting. I guess I just needed to vent.

Anyone else run into this elaborate namechange game? My court order is starting to just feel like a glorified IOU note.

[Devlyn]

Big hug! I wish things were going smoother for you. I don't know if any of this will help: https://www.susans.org/wiki/Category:Documentation_changes

It sounds like you have the process figured out and it's just a waiting game, we'll hang out with you! Come have a seat on the Group W bench!  Hugs, Devlyn

[mrs izzy]

State to state you should not have any issues with the legal name change. Just you will have to see what the new state needs. It would help a lot if you could get your birth certificate updated to the new name. The sad part every state has there own written or unwritten rules, and not everyone you will see knows them. Sometimes you get lucky and just have one who will change things.

Its the same here in Quebec, i am from the states but can change my health card gender (had SRS) but can not change my DL even though i have a Birth cert that has the new gender. I can change it once i get my PR Card updated gender. So yes for the PR card might be 6 months to a year? Who knows anymore. You have to learn to take things as they come.

Good luck and hope things get settled soon.
Izzy