HCMC, VIETNAM names names names!

[Viking_in_Seattle 0]

Well, this is an interesting topic I have some first hand experience. My fiancee's first name is composed of two words. The first part is to make the name sound prettier or more formal, while the second part is what they typically go by. Teachers used both names for her when she was in school, and her name tag at the restaurant where she worked used both names. But her family and friends address her only as "Thanh".

On the USCIS paperwork I used both words for the first name without a hyphen -- no problem. But the first letter from the HCMC Consulate designated "Thanh" as her first name and "Thi XXX" as her middle name (XXX = first part of first name).

She contacted the Consulate to make sure they didn't make an error, and they insisted this was how her name was to be written. Maybe they wouldn't have changed it had I used a hyphen, but I doubt it very much. My attorney says it won't be a problem when we apply for the green card - they will just provide her name both ways (or maybe 3 including her new married name....I'm not sure right now).