USCIS Refuses to correct my name on GC..

[Great_Dane 1]

Hello everyone,

Recently I posed a question in the following topic that was resolved:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/454445-finally-got-gc-name-is-wrong-and-travelling-soon/

But I am posting a new topic because this new issue is completely different and separate from the previous one, which I hope is okay.

The good news is, I can travel with my current Green Card and don't need to have it changed. The bad news is, my Green Card is now inconsistent with everything else I've ever been issued by the U.S. government and with my original passport's romanization of my name.

We set up an Infopass appointment as suggested to do so in the topic I previously made. Upon having our appointment, the Immigration Officer was incredibly impolite in his demeanor, with a very angry poker face that's hard to describe. As my wife and I kept explaining the issue, he informed us that they only issue GC's based on birth certificate and nothing else. Soon after the manager or director (Whatever you call that at USCIS) stepped in and took over, informing us that she'd already looked at our case many times and knew who we were as soon as we made the appointment. She told us that we cannot have it changed, since using the correct romanization of my character would add an additional character, and that if I ever want it to be different I'll have to become a citizen eventually and legally change my name.

I find this incredibly insulting and discriminating, since they have replaced my special character "ø" with the only roman character that looks like it "o", which is a completely different character than mine, and is a name I've never been given. "oe" is internationally recognized as the equivalent of my character, which I kept explaining to her, but she kept seeming like she just didn't get it. I asked what they did with things like Cantonese characters and she just flat out refused to answer, which I honestly think is because she knows that in those cases they do have to go by set standards since Cantonese characters don't look like roman characters at all.

I'm not sure what to do now.. in one way, I'm just glad I can travel, and knowing some of the troubles other immigrants go through, this is such a small issue. I just at the same time can't help but feel discrimated against, and not heard. If I formally try to change it (with the I-90 form), it will take about 4-6 months (according to them) and I will most likely get the change denied, which seems futile. I want to complain, write an angry letter, do something, but I don't know where or how.

I have a feeling that part of my issue is living in the culturally indiverse state of Idaho, but maybe other users on this forum have similar experiences and can share their solutions, since I'm all out of solutions at this point..

Edited September 18, 2013 by Great_Dane

[Ryan H 3,826]

Moved from Adjustment of Status from Family Based Visas to General Immigration-Related Discussion.

[Darnell 8,479]

I suggest contacting the USCIS Ombudsman, at this point.

[Moomin 292]

I am in Indiana, about an hour from Chicago. I am guessing they are simply not used to dealing with the Danish vowels. Very few Danes have to go through the process. If anything, it is an error on your greencard. If USCIS is at fault, they have to correct it free of charge however, I doubt they are en the generous mood that often.

My middle and maiden name both has all of the lovely Danish vowels in them. Well, "had". They originally changed Ø to E and then back to a simple O - not OE. Then another Ø in my middle name was changed to OE. My name is all over the place. I did get my last name(maiden name) corrected thrhough SSA that sent a request to change it through the SAVE database. They mentioned I should pay attention to any and all mail with my name on, to make sure it was the right name.

So 2 years after, I live with it but always sign my name with a line through the O. No change in hell will I pay for the I-90 to add or delete one letter from my name when it wont look right anyways.

EDIT; I am sorry about the late reply, hope you can use it anyhow!

Edited October 31, 2013 by moomin