Question for VJ-ers from India: to expand or not expand initials?

[MrsNotBonJovi 18]

This question is specifically for posters from India, especially from South India but answers are also welcome from anyone else who has had a similar issue.

While giving names of parents in Form G 325A,is it essential to expand initials or just give the initials as your parents use(d) them in their names?

For example, if your father's has always spelt his name as A.K. Raghavan and your mother as R.Lalitha (since in the south of India your mother will take your father's first name as the initials for her married name) do you have to provide expansion of initials like Ananthapur Krishna Raghavan and Raghavan Lalitha when filling Form 325-A?

The surname/first name system in the south of India is different than that of the US or even in the north of India and I have been reading in some posts that Immigration always requires full expansion of names and not initials.

Any clarifications?

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

I would ask in the South Asia subforum: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/forum/91-asia-south/

I would put the full name though. If it's too long you can always attach a supplement. Why would you not put the real name?

[MrsNotBonJovi 18]

I would ask in the South Asia subforum: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/forum/91-asia-south/

I would put the full name though. If it's too long you can always attach a supplement. Why would you not put the real name?

Thanks, I will post this in the South Asia sub forum too. There is no reason not to put the real name, except that in some official records in India, it is almost always the initials that are used and not the full expanded name. Which means passports etc. would mostly carry initials (especially for the older generation like parents) and if I input the full expanded name here, it may not reflect what is in the official version. I know this can be very confusing if you are not used to initials in names (like we do in India), which is why I sought clarification from those who have hit this trench.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

You might put both versions in that case. Make everything as clear as possible for people.

[MrsNotBonJovi 18]

You might put both versions in that case. Make everything as clear as possible for people.

Yes, that seems the better thing to do. Thanks!