G-325A & Asian naming convention

[Bob-KhaHan 1]

I have read some similar topics about this (regarding the fiancee's name), but I was wondering what other people have filled in for the section where it asks for the father's and mother's first name.

Let me use an example Asian name: Nguyen Nam Grioa

Should I use: "Nam" as the first name or should I use "Grioa" as the first name? Or.... should I use "Nam Grioa" in the first name box?

[abbynorm2 0]

I have read some similar topics about this (regarding the fiancee's name), but I was wondering what other people have filled in for the section where it asks for the father's and mother's first name.

Let me use an example Asian name: Nguyen Nam Grioa

Should I use: "Nam" as the first name or should I use "Grioa" as the first name? Or.... should I use "Nam Grioa" in the first name box?

If I remember correctly, Vietnamese names are constructed with the last name first, then the middle name and then the first name. I filled out some paperwork for one of my EX's brothers and it was written as Nguyen Van Tho, but she told me that his first name was Tho, and I already know that Nguyen is a Vietnamese last name.

Something that I wanted to point out, in your time line you have Texas service center as the place of filing, (not yet filed) but if you live in Texas you will be filing your I129f in Vermont, just a heads up.

Welcome to VJ

[Bob-KhaHan 1]

I have read some similar topics about this (regarding the fiancee's name), but I was wondering what other people have filled in for the section where it asks for the father's and mother's first name.

Let me use an example Asian name: Nguyen Nam Grioa

Should I use: "Nam" as the first name or should I use "Grioa" as the first name? Or.... should I use "Nam Grioa" in the first name box?

If I remember correctly, Vietnamese names are constructed with the last name first, then the middle name and then the first name. I filled out some paperwork for one of my EX's brothers and it was written as Nguyen Van Tho, but she told me that his first name was Tho, and I already know that Nguyen is a Vietnamese last name.

Something that I wanted to point out, in your time line you have Texas service center as the place of filing, (not yet filed) but if you live in Texas you will be filing your I129f in Vermont, just a heads up.

Welcome to VJ

Thanks I'll put in the last part of their name as their first name.

When I filled in the timeline, I just selected a random one since I didn't know what to choose at the time. I'll update it with the correct information.

[abbynorm2 0]

I have read some similar topics about this (regarding the fiancee's name), but I was wondering what other people have filled in for the section where it asks for the father's and mother's first name.

Let me use an example Asian name: Nguyen Nam Grioa

Should I use: "Nam" as the first name or should I use "Grioa" as the first name? Or.... should I use "Nam Grioa" in the first name box?

If I remember correctly, Vietnamese names are constructed with the last name first, then the middle name and then the first name. I filled out some paperwork for one of my EX's brothers and it was written as Nguyen Van Tho, but she told me that his first name was Tho, and I already know that Nguyen is a Vietnamese last name.

Something that I wanted to point out, in your time line you have Texas service center as the place of filing, (not yet filed) but if you live in Texas you will be filing your I129f in Vermont, just a heads up.

Welcome to VJ

Thanks I'll put in the last part of their name as their first name.

When I filled in the timeline, I just selected a random one since I didn't know what to choose at the time. I'll update it with the correct information.

I was just letting you know so that you didn't loose precious time waiting on the packet to be returned.

[Benika 1]

I have read some similar topics about this (regarding the fiancee's name), but I was wondering what other people have filled in for the section where it asks for the father's and mother's first name.

Let me use an example Asian name: Nguyen Nam Grioa

Should I use: "Nam" as the first name or should I use "Grioa" as the first name? Or.... should I use "Nam Grioa" in the first name box?

I believe it depends on how the names are used in the country. In Korea you would never just use one part of a person's name. If the name is "Bak Jay Min" - you would never just call him either "Jay" or "Min" - he would always be refered to as "Jay Min" so here the first names are filled in as "Jay Min" since its seen as one complete name - not 2 names. I know that when friends of mine applied for american tourist visas all of them wrote their names only as first names with no middle name.

Hope that helps and does not just add more confusion.

Beni

[pushbrk 12,883]

I have read some similar topics about this (regarding the fiancee's name), but I was wondering what other people have filled in for the section where it asks for the father's and mother's first name.

Let me use an example Asian name: Nguyen Nam Grioa

Should I use: "Nam" as the first name or should I use "Grioa" as the first name? Or.... should I use "Nam Grioa" in the first name box?

I believe it depends on how the names are used in the country. In Korea you would never just use one part of a person's name. If the name is "Bak Jay Min" - you would never just call him either "Jay" or "Min" - he would always be refered to as "Jay Min" so here the first names are filled in as "Jay Min" since its seen as one complete name - not 2 names. I know that when friends of mine applied for american tourist visas all of them wrote their names only as first names with no middle name.

Hope that helps and does not just add more confusion.

Beni

I cannot be specific about Vietnam but whenever "last name" is asked for, they mean "family name". In China the family name is spoken first as in Li Peiling. (Li is the family name and Peiling is the single given name.) There is no middle name but it takes three characters to write the name in Chinese because each character represents a syllable.

You need a Vietnam specific answer to your question about how the name is properly transliterated. Your fiance's passport can be a good guide but somebody with Vietnam experience and expertise needs to give you a reliable answer before you proceed.

Edited October 21, 2008 by pushbrk

[Bob-KhaHan 1]

abbynorm, thanks for the heads up.

Right now, I'm still not sure what the answer should be and now I'm wondering if I should do "Kha Han" for the first name instead of split it up as the first name and middle name. I feel that if I put Kha Han as the first name then somewhere during the K-1 process, they may put one of the names as first and one as the middle and make her "American" first name "Han" then middle name "Kha", which my fiancee does not want since she wants to be called "Kha Han"

[hniHnitsuJ 8]

Bob,

It’s not what your fiancée wants her name to be calling “Kha Han” or not. The best way is to look at her Vnese Passsport, or Khai Sinh (Birth-Certificate), and you can determine from there, what is her last name, middle name, or first name. You have to do this RIGHT before you submit into USCIS, or else you will be having lot of trouble in the future.

When come to name calling from home or school, Chinese and Vietnamese cultural are all the same. Some people name is always been calling at “MIDDLE, AND FIRST” name together. Asian people like the sound of 2 syllables more than 1 syllable. Here are some examples of Vnese name.

Last Middle First = calling name

Nguyen Ngoc Khanh Ha = Khanh Ha

Tran Tri Thu Trang = Thu Trang

Nguyen Thi Minh Khai = Minh Khai

I hope this will help you out.

Hinh Phuc Loi = Phuc Loi

[Ngoc-Anh 1]

It really depends on how she is called.

I for example do not have a middle name. Just my last name and first name (Ngoc Anh).....we put down Ngoc-Anh as first name.

Hope this helps.

[Bob-KhaHan 1]

Thanks HappyOne and hniHnitsuJ,

There was a topic on here about someone else also using the <MIDDLE NAME FIRST NAME> as both the first name so maybe that is something I will try. She doesn't have access to her birth certificate yet until she can get it from her parents during the Tet Festival so I won't make any final decisions until I see that form and have it translated.

As for the question in my original post, I think I'm going to put <MIDDLE NAME FIRST NAME> in the First Name box in the parents section.

I still have a long wait ahead of me before I even submit this paperwork, but I'm filling it out now so I can have any questions answered that arise. (For example, Kha Han doesn't remember her last 2 addresses she lived at since she was only temporarily staying there until she could find a permanent place to live.)

Thanks again guys and I would certainly love to hear other thoughts on the correct process.

[wizardfitz 13]

I have read some similar topics about this (regarding the fiancee's name), but I was wondering what other people have filled in for the section where it asks for the father's and mother's first name.

Let me use an example Asian name: Nguyen Nam Grioa

Should I use: "Nam" as the first name or should I use "Grioa" as the first name? Or.... should I use "Nam Grioa" in the first name box?

you should fill it out according to how it appears on your birth certificate. if your mothers last name is stated as nguyen on the birth cert then that is what you put in not what is the actual last name, they check according to the documents you provide and if something does not match then you can get an RFE