Made a mistake on my form I-485

[levench 0]

we filed the form I-485 last year and got my greencard last october 2010. I noticed that on the card my full name written was Celestine Milby(middle name) Gutierrez which is supposed to be Celestine Geronimo (father's surname) Gutierrez. I am planning to change my name on my passport into Celestine Geronimo Gutierrez but on my greencard it says Celestine Milby Gutierrez which is totally different and they might think its from a different person. What can I possibly do to make my middle name change to Geronimo instead of Milby? It was really an honest mistake. We bought this K-1 kit which made us really confused about the use of middle name. The example given shows that I should use my mother's surname instead of my father's surname but in our country we (women) normally use our father's last name but sadly it was my mistake that I didn't double check that when my husband is filling the form.

Edited February 4, 2011 by levench

[VanessaTony 3,567]

we filed the form I-485 last year and got my greencard last october 2010. I noticed that on the card my full name written was Celestine Milby(middle name) Gutierrez which is supposed to be Celestine Geronimo (father's surname) Gutierrez. I am planning to change my name on my passport into Celestine Geronimo Gutierrez but on my greencard it says Celestine Milby Gutierrez which is totally different and they might think its from a different person. What can I possibly do to make my middle name change to Geronimo instead of Milby? It was really an honest mistake. We bought this K-1 kit which made us really confused about the use of middle name. The example given shows that I should use my mother's surname instead of my father's surname but in our country we (women) normally use our father's last name but sadly it was my mistake that I didn't double check that when my husband is filling the form.

You have two choices:

1. File and I-90 to change the card and pay the $455 (ish) fee

2. Wait until ROC and change your name then by putting your new name on the forms.

My personal choice would be #2. You should be aware that not all states allow a middle name change at marriage so make sure you check your state requirements.

[levench 0]

You have two choices:

1. File and I-90 to change the card and pay the $455 (ish) fee

2. Wait until ROC and change your name then by putting your new name on the forms.

My personal choice would be #2. You should be aware that not all states allow a middle name change at marriage so make sure you check your state requirements.

geez...$455? that's too much? may I know what is ROC stands for? I live in Miami, Florida I will gonna ask my hubby about the change of middle name here. Thank you for your help. I appreciate it very much.

[VanessaTony 3,567]

geez...$455? that's too much? may I know what is ROC stands for? I live in Miami, Florida I will gonna ask my hubby about the change of middle name here. Thank you for your help. I appreciate it very much.

ROC means "removal of conditions". If you have a 2 year card you need to remove conditions in the 90 days before your GC expires.

Yeah.. the fee to change the card is very $$ so if you have a 2 year card and need to ROC then just wait for that. If you have a 10 year card and are going to apply for US citizen (USC) when the time comes you can change it for free then.

If you have a 10 year card and don't ever plan to apply for USC then you'll need to pay for a new card.

[levench 0]

ROC means "removal of conditions". If you have a 2 year card you need to remove conditions in the 90 days before your GC expires.

Yeah.. the fee to change the card is very $$ so if you have a 2 year card and need to ROC then just wait for that. If you have a 10 year card and are going to apply for US citizen (USC) when the time comes you can change it for free then.

If you have a 10 year card and don't ever plan to apply for USC then you'll need to pay for a new card.

Ah ok. I only have the 2 year card with me. But I need to change my passport I just dunno if I can do that using my name which is supposed to be "Celestine Geronimo Gutierrez" but then on my GC it shows Celestine Milby Gutierrez. They might think its from a different person. I actually plan to go to the Philippines on December 2011 to see my family and to do the church wedding as well, I am afraid that if I still use my old passport with my name Celestine Milby Geronimo on it, the US immigration will not allow me to go back to the US. Moreover, I only have my green card for two years so its really complicated...and also we can't afford to pay for $455 for the change of card that is why we did all of the papers on our own just to save on lawyer's fee.

[SunDrop 59]

I think the confusion lies in cultural naming traditions. In most of Europe and the US, you name a baby with a first name, which in your case is Celestine. You can (but don't have to) give your child a middle name. What this name is, is entirely up to you. Most people use a second name that is common in one family or another. For example, my daughter's first name is whatever we wanted and her middle name is Clare which is also my mother's first name and that of my Great Aunt, after whom my mother was named. Some of my friends have their mother's maiden name as their middle name. For example if Jane Doe and Fred Bloggs get married, Jane becomes Jane Bloggs. They have a baby and can call her Emily Freddette Bloggs or Emily Doe Bloggs. Entirely up to them.

Now let's say little Emily Doe Bloggs grows up and marries George Clooney. She can choose to take his family name, make no changes or create a new family name. Her choices are therefore to be called:

Emily Doe Bloggs (no change)

Emily Doe Clooney (takes his surname)

Emily Doe Bloggs-Clooney (creates a new surname)

Notice, her middle name given at birth, although it was her mother's family name doesn't change. Therefore, if Milby is your mother's family name, you'd usually be expected to keep this as your middle name even after marriage. At least here you would.

If I were you, I would apply for my passport as:

first name: Celestine

middle name: Milby Geronimo

last name: Gutierrez

That would mean you'd be referred to as Mrs. Gutierrez or Celestine M G Gutierrez. If you want the Geronimo to be part of your family name, that should appear on your GC as a hyphenated name, like Geronimo-Gutierrez.

Having said all that, if you travel with your old passport with Celestine Milby Geronimo, your GC with Celestine Milby Gutierrez and your marriage certificate showing passport name married a Mr. Gutierrez, you'll have no problems. Just remember to purchase the ticket in the name that matches your passport, and not your GC or you won't be allowed to travel.

So what it comes down to is do you want to be known as Mrs. Gutierrez or Mrs. Geronimo-Gutierrez?

[DaveE 178]

Yep, we are going through the same thing now. We had submitted all the documents for AOS with her maiden name becoming her new middle name. In Georgia they allow the name change, and document it on the marriage license. There was no problem with Social Security, the EAD, military ID or anything. During the AOS interview the interviewer changed what we had put on the I-485 back to the birth certificate middle name. When we got the notice of approval we noticed it right away. We called the 800 number and the lady said she would try to change it back, but she was too late.

Anyway, as soon as we received the GC we put it in an envelope with an I-90 form (no fee), and sent it back. Been in "acceptance" since mid December. Really a pain, that to file an I-90 you have to send the actual GC back to them.

Will see what happens.