Signatures on G-325A for non-native English speakers

[elvenshadow 19]

Hi. When my Japanese wife signs her G-325A, I figured that she should sign her name using English. She has no English "signature" so she just wrote her name in pen using English letters. Since pretty much every other legal document that she has ever signed has her signature written in Japanese, would it be a good or bad idea to also write her usual signature in Japanese under or next to the English one?

Has anyone else from countries where the primary language is not English dealt with this before? Thank you.

[mrsgi65on 0]

signature should be the same as shown on her ID.

it has to match whatever passport or a state ID she has.

good luck!

[elvenshadow 19]

Well, here's the the thing about that...

The only documents that we are submitting with our I-130 packet that already have her signature on them are the marriage certificate (konin todoke) and photo copies of all her passport pages. Both of these documents have her signature in Japanese but with her maiden name. The passport was altered to have a change of name but it is on a separate page than the one with her signature. The marriage certificate is only signed at the time with maiden name.

So, even if she was to sign in Japanese, it would differ from her old Japanese signature.

Do you think it would be OK to just sign it as her current married name in Japanese but underneath where she already signed her name in in English letters on the G-325A?

(Sorry, I forgot to mention that she does not have any IDs from the US since she has always lived in Japan)

Edited April 16, 2014 by elvenshadow

[pushbrk 13,174]

signature should be the same as shown on her ID.

it has to match whatever passport or a state ID she has.

good luck!

No, it does not. She can change her signature anytime she wants during the process. I like the idea of signing all in the native alphabet until after US entry, but it really doesn't matter. A "signature" need not even be legible. If she's ready to start signing her name in the Roman alphabet (not "English") then she can start anytime she likes.

[mrsgi65on 0]

Well, here's the the thing about that...

The only documents that we are submitting with our I-130 packet that already have her signature on them are the marriage certificate (konin todoke) and photo copies of all her passport pages. Both of these documents have her signature in Japanese but with her maiden name. The passport was altered to have a change of name but it is on a separate page than the one with her signature. The marriage certificate is only signed at the time with maiden name.

So, even if she was to sign in Japanese, it would differ from her old Japanese signature.

Do you think it would be OK to just sign it as her current married name in Japanese but underneath where she already signed her name in in English letters on the G-325A?

(Sorry, I forgot to mention that she does not have any IDs from the US since she has always lived in Japan)

So you guys got married in jp?

Did you have to get on her "koseki?"

Did she changed her name to yours?

Are you guys still in jp?

I'd recommend to get a new passport with a new signature...

I've went to my district hall and asked them if I can get a name change on my passport, they said it's better to make a new one with my new name because of a new law in the immigration area is changing, or already have changed... Sorry I can't remember the exact dates but I'm sure there's been a change this year..

So on the bottom form G-325A it says something like print your other form of names in your language..something like that right? I'd sign in the current name on the passport, then print the old one on the passport beneath it like you said..

I'd make a new passport tho.. that way she can sign in English and state the katakana name beneath it..

Sorry my advice is unsure.. but I'll look into it since I'd have to apply for one too

You're applying for ir1/cr1?

[elvenshadow 19]

Pushbrk, thank you. So I guess we can just leave it as is with the roman alphabet signature. It doesn't look much like a signature but I guess it works. Maybe we just have to be consistent from this point on and make sure that she keeps signing any future documents the same way.

mrsgi65on, to answer your questions

yes, we got married here in Japan and live here together. I have lived here for nearly 7 years. I am on her koseki. Yes, she took my surname which is why her signature would differ from what is in her passport.

At this point, it seems like getting a new passport would just be pointless. More paperwork, money and time. The one she has now is perfectly legal and valid. I would rather not risk having the processing of a new passport slow down the I-130 process.

We did type her name on the form in the section that asks for how it is written in her native language in Japanese, so at least that is there.

Yes, I guess we are going for a CR-1 (been legally married about 1 year and 9 months) since everyone says K3 is futile. So, I don't really think there is any better option.

Edited April 16, 2014 by elvenshadow

[elvenshadow 19]

I just thought I would follow up and mention that my father called USCIS and asked what to do about the signature in this case on the G-325A. They said that my wife should sign in both English and Japanese. So, I think we will do that to be safe.

[pushbrk 13,174]

They were guessing, but signing both ways will not be a problem. We don't call it the misinformation line for nothing.