Using just the "Primer Apellido" when filling out forms?

[gamm3 13]

Hi,

I am filling out the I-130 for my husband, a Colombian citizen. I have filled out the forms just using his first last name. Our thinking is that many latinos end up getting their names confused in the US and for official documents the 2nd appellido is used as the official one because it is the LAST name. So we just feel it would be easier to fill out his documents with only his 1st last name.

Could this be a problem since his passport and registro civil have both last names? The US marriage license only has his FIRST last name.

Thanks for your help!

[Mononoke28 135]

Hi,

I am filling out the I-130 for my husband, a Colombian citizen. I have filled out the forms just using his first last name. Our thinking is that many latinos end up getting their names confused in the US and for official documents the 2nd appellido is used as the official one because it is the LAST name. So we just feel it would be easier to fill out his documents with only his 1st last name.

Could this be a problem since his passport and registro civil have both last names? The US marriage license only has his FIRST last name.

Thanks for your help!

In the US the second last name does not exist, so filling everything out with his first name, middle name and first last name is all you need. Some people feel weird leaving out their second last name, of feel like their disrespecting their mothers by doing so, so they add a dash between their first last name and second last name in order to be able to use both.

Diana

[Andrea&Sergio 0]

I agree, using the first last name in the forms is the way to go. We have had no problems going that route.

Side note: How did you get your marriage license with only his first last name? You are so lucky, with us the county clerk insisted his name reflect his passport exactly no matter how many times I protested and tried to explain the culture difference. Now of course my name change has me looking like his sister not his wife, lol.

[Andrea&Henry 311]

When my husband filed for my k1 visa he used all my names and last names (both of them). It was never an issue. No mistakes.

[gamm3 13]

I agree, using the first last name in the forms is the way to go. We have had no problems going that route.

Side note: How did you get your marriage license with only his first last name? You are so lucky, with us the county clerk insisted his name reflect his passport exactly no matter how many times I protested and tried to explain the culture difference. Now of course my name change has me looking like his sister not his wife, lol.

Well it was the 2nd county we went to try to get the marriage license. The first one would not issue us a license without a drivers license or Social Security card. Can you believe that? It made me so mad - that has to be illegal or something. I felt like a criminal and it is not illegal to get married in the US even if you´re not a citizen or permanent resident.

Anyway we went to the next county over which is actually the county that the church we got married in is located. They did it all with no problems - no questions asked. I guess this is the county that is more used to dealing with foreigners.

I had always planned to take my husbands last name, but he has convinced me not to because of #1 the sheer amount of bureacracy in order to change my name and the fact that everyone in Colombia would think i am his sister. Im kind of glad to stay with my name now that Im used to it!

[MrsSuarez 2]

you should use the names of your husband like it appears on his passport and his birth certificate. it will avoid you headaches in the future.

[gamm3 13]

you should use the names of your husband like it appears on his passport and his birth certificate. it will avoid you headaches in the future.

Do you have a specific example Mrs. Suarez? Im afraid there could also be headaches using both the last names like people using the 2nd last name as his actual last name. Unfortunately I have seen this happen several time with immigrants, although Im sure my husband would correct them right away. Who knows?!

[Mononoke28 135]

Do you have a specific example Mrs. Suarez? Im afraid there could also be headaches using both the last names like people using the 2nd last name as his actual last name. Unfortunately I have seen this happen several time with immigrants, although Im sure my husband would correct them right away. Who knows?!

Based on experience, using both last names is a complete pain in the neck while living in the US because they don't know what to do with the second last name since it doesn't exist in this country.

Like I said earlier, the easiest way is to just get rid of the second last name here in the US and use the first one. If the person is extremely attached to his/her second last name then they can try to squeeze both of them on all forms, not just immigration forms, and hope they don't butcher it when issuing a document such as a green card, driver's license, credit card, debit card, etc.

Diana

[gstrength 20]

Hi,

I am filling out the I-130 for my husband, a Colombian citizen. I have filled out the forms just using his first last name. Our thinking is that many latinos end up getting their names confused in the US and for official documents the 2nd appellido is used as the official one because it is the LAST name. So we just feel it would be easier to fill out his documents with only his 1st last name.

Could this be a problem since his passport and registro civil have both last names? The US marriage license only has his FIRST last name.

Thanks for your help!

I dropped my wife's second last name on all the forms, most of the forms ask you for other names she has used, i wrote down her name with first and second last names in this section, i did the same for myself since, I acquired citizenship through naturalization and I had to go through the whole process and, believe me it could get complicated in the future if you don't. One of my brothers decided to hyphenate our second last name and it has been difficult for him, because, basically when you write down your last name in pretty much any paperwork, there is not enough room to both hyphenated last names. Best advice, Drop it.

[gamm3 13]

I dropped my wife's second last name on all the forms, most of the forms ask you for other names she has used, i wrote down her name with first and second last names in this section, i did the same for myself since, I acquired citizenship through naturalization and I had to go through the whole process and, believe me it could get complicated in the future if you don't. One of my brothers decided to hyphenate our second last name and it has been difficult for him, because, basically when you write down your last name in pretty much any paperwork, there is not enough room to both hyphenated last names. Best advice, Drop it.

Ok Thanks - the forms are sent off with just his first last name!! (Today a friend should be mailing them from the US - eeeek!)

[Andrea&Sergio 0]

Ok Thanks - the forms are sent off with just his first last name!! (Today a friend should be mailing them from the US - eeeek!)

Good luck to you!