Vital Statistics AB messed up last name. @@

[Bern. 3]

Hello again, so I have yet ANOTHER problem. I wish it would stop already.

So I'm in the process of completing my DS-230 IV Package for NVC, so I went to a local registry in Calgary, AB to get a copy of my birth certificate.I was told that I had been going by the wrong last name for 20 years. My last name is McGrath, capital M and G, but apparently I was registered as Mcgrath. I was then told that if I were to request a birth certificate with the name ''McGrath'' that I'd have to pay the $35 for the new certificate, then I would get some forms in the mail to 'amend' my last name, and then I'd have to wait 6-8 weeks for them to process it. I was so angry leaving the office, why should I have to pay for something that they messed up.

(Apparently my younger brother had the same problem but they fixed his right away whereas mine has drifted without any hint of being incorrect.)

To add some good news, I went digging about and found my original LONG FORM birth certificate which lists my parents, their birthplace, etc. However, it's all in capital letters.

So I'm thinking, should I just go ahead and get a new birth certificate, and pay the $70 and amend my name, should I get the new certificate that says 'Mcgrath' instead of 'McGrath'? Will it cause an RFE...or should I just get a notarized copy of the birth certificate I already have?

As well, I received my immunization records today and my middle name listed is Justine. Again, incorrect. It's supposed to be Justina. ._.

It seems that Alberta cannot get my name right and it's not a very complicated name.

So yeah, if anyone has experienced anything of the sort, your help would be much appreciated.

Thank you.

[Hugglebuggles 60]

Personally, I don't really see a problem. Its just a small mistake... its not like your last name really shows up different, its just the matter of one capital letter. Its a good possibility they won't even notice...

What does it say one your passport? They tend to care about whatever is on your passport much more than any other document. Is your middle name on it? I didn't have my middle name on my passport, so its not in my visa, on my marriage certificate, and it won't be on my GC. It really doesn't make much difference, middle names are hardly a matter of importance.

I was adopted as a child and my immunization record had my original last name on it, crossed out, with my new one written on top. They never even asked about that.

[Bern. 3]

Well you know Canadian Passports, they're all in capital letters. But everything includes my middle name. All my documentation except my AB health card is under my married name now. I always meant to call AB health and I always got side tracked, so I plan to give them a call on Tuesday.

But yes, you're right that it's not a giant difference, but it still concerns me. Maybe I should call NVC and see what what advice they give me. If anything, I'll send my original certificate so there is no delays while my name sorts itself out here...

Edit: Also, if I do send my original birth certificate, can I request it back? Will they accept a letter stating so?

[TimandJoyce 1]

Not really sure if this is the same thing or not, but when I went to my interview, Tim labeled my marital status as divorced, when I'm actually widowed. She either didn't notice or didn't care. And that's a biggie I think!!

And they took my original BC, the death certificate, and a copy of my divorce papers, ( which I was told was possible she may want an original one, because it was from 1991; she didn't of course). She made copies of all of them, and gave me back the originals.

[Bern. 3]

So NVC will forward the entire file to the embassy so if I ask for it back at the interview, they'll give it back? I think a letter would be good. It's just, I'm really concerned because I don't want to make any mistakes. ._.; I think I'll just send my original, while I amend my last name. But I'm going to be calling a lot of people and bugging them until it's fixed!

Or maybe I should just go with the ''Mcgrath'' bc instead of ''McGrath'' It's not necessarily wrong...just yeah. ._.;

On the bright side, it's near impossible to mess up my married name

But if anyone else has anything else to add, please do.

Thank you =)

[trailmix 77]

So NVC will forward the entire file to the embassy so if I ask for it back at the interview, they'll give it back? I think a letter would be good. It's just, I'm really concerned because I don't want to make any mistakes. ._.; I think I'll just send my original, while I amend my last name. But I'm going to be calling a lot of people and bugging them until it's fixed!

Or maybe I should just go with the ''Mcgrath'' bc instead of ''McGrath'' It's not necessarily wrong...just yeah. ._.;

On the bright side, it's near impossible to mess up my married name

But if anyone else has anything else to add, please do.

Thank you =)

Personally I wouldn't bother getting a new birth certificate, your original long form will be just fine. That way you also have the option of continuing to spell your name the way you always have.

My Sister went through the same thing. On her birth certificate they hyphenated her first and middle names so name-name - she had to have it amended to exclude the hyphen.

[CanAmCharlotte 0]

I'm at the naturalization stage and so far there have been no questions or RFE's regardng my first name. I have a bit of an unusual spelling (yes, the hyphen is courtesy of my parents). Many computer systems cannot handle a hyphen in a given name but will accomodate one in a surname (?!). The upshot is, I have various spellings on my legal documentation (Jo-Anne, Jo Anne, JoAnne). I haven't drawn attention to it during the immigration process and simply submitted the documentation as is. It would appear that either no one has noticed or it's not a big deal to them. When I go for my final interview I am prepared to address it if asked.

Good luck. I'm fairly certain there won't be an issue with it.

[Bern. 3]

But then, I won't have any birth certificate to fall back on if I send my original birth certificate. I'd only have the wallet sized birth certificate, again, which is all in uppercase. So I should include a letter saying I'd really appreciate my original birth certificate back, and then I should be able to get it back? >_<

What I had planned to do was try and amend my name and if it came time to send out my IV Package and it was not completed, then I'd send in my original long form with a letter requesting it back after the interview.

I'm also planning to get my police certificates done on Tuesday, under my married name, which I assume they're ask for my maiden name, should I should give them ''McGrath'' or ''Mcgrath? ._.''

As well, does anybody know if AB Vitals would know if I'm undergoing immigration? >_<

[trailmix 77]

You get your original birth certificate back at the interview - or they mail it to you with your passport. I would give them your maiden name and both McGraths - AB vital statistics has no idea you are doing a U.S. immigration process.

[Bern. 3]

Wait, I don't think I worried it right. McGrath is my maiden name...:S So, give the police my married, and both variations of McGrath? I'm going to maim someone.

Thank you so much everyone for your help..;_; It means so much.

Edited August 2, 2009 by Ber + Ter