umlauts?

[Weevil 1]

My fiance's last name is spelled with an umlaut, and I'm not sure if here in the states i can get documents and paperwork filled out using that spelling. I filled out the uscis paperwork using the non-umlaut spelling of his name..

Anyone have any experiance with that?

[Otto 83]

Karin and I have discussed this - although it doesn't affect the spelling in either of our names so we have no first-hand knowledge but it's a great question.

I think it can be especially important with names - some USCIS forms ask for the 'Native' spelling of one's name - this is where I would put the 'umlauted' version and the non-umlauted version everywhere else. I'm nearly 100% certain that anything you list as a persons's name (for example, including umlauts) will end up being keyed in with the closest english letter (an "a", "o", or 'u').

What is the spelling on the passport (we're curious now)?

Edited August 24, 2009 by Otto und Karin

[Weevil 1]

On the actual forms I spelled it non umlauted as oe as this is the correct non umlaut spelling in Germany, and how you are required to write it on forms like the I-94W. On other things like the letter of intent I spelled it with the umlaut. I belive on his passport, german, and french ID cards its spelled with the umlaut.

[Otto 83]

My gut tells me that if it's not on our keyboard, it won't be on any official's keyboard either and to stick with the non-umlauted spelling (oe, ue and/or ae).

[GabiandVi 34]

I've been wondering the same thing. For convenience sake, I usually spell my husband's last name without the accent aigu. It's easy enough to type the accent in any word processing program, but on a lot of documents in the past, I've just left it off. I don't think it was on any documents in China where my husband's name is written in the alphabet. It's not on my daughter's birth certificate, and it's not on any of her official documents either. I'm thinking I'll include the accent on the forms and include the name without the accent under "other names used."

I'll have to write his name under "other names used" anyway because he has a typical African name given to all male children born on a Wednesday, but he is never called by that name. He is called by his Christian name which does not appear on any official documents. I'll just include the alternate spelling of his surname as well.

[Mrs.J06 4]

Did not affect my name, but place of residence.

On my (German) passport it's spelled with Umlaut, I put it in all the forms with the Umlaut. If I remember correctly on the official documents from the consulate it was spelled "ae" or just with "a".