Name too long for American systems

[Mariana M. 18]

Warning - this will be confusing:

So I have one of the longest names on earth. One first name, three long last names. 32 characters.

Two letters were cut from my last name on my I-94 because there was no space in the system.

My Social Security card currently only has my first last name for some reason.

At my university only my very last name is used.

I went to the Social Security office to try to add all of my names to it, and I couldn't because my I-94 is too close to its expiration date, but they told me that they wouldn't be able to fit my whole name regardless, just three names and the first letter of the last one.

I am not going to take my husband's name, I wanted to keep all of mine.

However, I'm afraid that all of this is going to cause me too many problems soon. I'm inclined to adopt only my first last name, which is also the easiest for Americans to understand and spell. The other parts of my family would be upset, though, and you know. I'll try to avoid that.

I'm sending my AOS out on Monday, so I need to decide all of this soon.

Any advice? Considerations about what kind of problems I might have if I have my name cut differently on each document?

[Gosia & Tito 199]

Warning - this will be confusing:

So I have one of the longest names on earth. One first name, three long last names. 32 characters.

Two letters were cut from my last name on my I-94 because there was no space in the system.

My Social Security card currently only has my first last name for some reason.

At my university only my very last name is used.

I went to the Social Security office to try to add all of my names to it, and I couldn't because my I-94 is too close to its expiration date, but they told me that they wouldn't be able to fit my whole name regardless, just three names and the first letter of the last one.

I am not going to take my husband's name, I wanted to keep all of mine.

However, I'm afraid that all of this is going to cause me too many problems soon. I'm inclined to adopt only my first last name, which is also the easiest for Americans to understand and spell. The other parts of my family would be upset, though, and you know. I'll try to avoid that.

I'm sending my AOS out on Monday, so I need to decide all of this soon.

Any advice? Considerations about what kind of problems I might have if I have my name cut differently on each document?

I'd go with First and first-Last as you describe. You GC will then come that way and when is passport time will be same. With EAD/GC you would then do the SS card same way.

I'd also have ryou college record changed to same.

You can still keep your Brasilian documents as they are.

If someone asks, you could say it's an American thing to take First and first-Last

[Mariana M. 18]

I'd go with First and first-Last as you describe. You GC will then come that way and when is passport time will be same. With EAD/GC you would then do the SS card same way.

I'd also have ryou college record changed to same.

You can still keep your Brasilian documents as they are.

If someone asks, you could say it's an American thing to take First and first-Last

The name that I'd be leaving out in that case would be the name of the grandfather that helps me the most, so he could never know it! It's difficult.

But I'll definitely think about it, thank you!

[Gosia & Tito 199]

The name that I'd be leaving out in that case would be the name of the grandfather that helps me the most, so he could never know it! It's difficult.

But I'll definitely think about it, thank you!

I can understand that, Eu sou peruano; o nome da minha irmã tem 30 letras e a mesma decisão

The docs with your "shorter" name will only be US documents. Your Brasilian ones will remain same

[samlog 25]

For making your life easier in U.S I would say keep only your last name and add your husband's name, you can try add your grandfather's name as a middle name but it all depend of state where you live there're different rules about that. If you don't pretend change documents in Brazil you don't need change your name, you can keep your family name as it is.

[Visalessbob 0]

My wife also from Brazil had encountered this same issue as her name would not fit on Florida State ID, Social Security card, Turbo Tax, airline boarding passes etc. The staff at each of these locations were able to find work arounds even if the full name did not fit on the actual document but did fit in their form fields within their software on the computer. But something to consider is that your federal tax return and how you fill it out with your name needs to match identically to your social security name and how that is set up in the system. If not, then the IRS will kick it back very quickly.

[Mariana M. 18]

For making your life easier in U.S I would say keep only your last name and add your husband's name, you can try add your grandfather's name as a middle name but it all depend of state where you live there're different rules about that. If you don't pretend change documents in Brazil you don't need change your name, you can keep your family name as it is.

My wife also from Brazil had encountered this same issue as her name would not fit on Florida State ID, Social Security card, Turbo Tax, airline boarding passes etc. The staff at each of these locations were able to find work arounds even if the full name did not fit on the actual document but did fit in their form fields within their software on the computer. But something to consider is that your federal tax return and how you fill it out with your name needs to match identically to your social security name and how that is set up in the system. If not, then the IRS will kick it back very quickly.

Yes, this is all too complicated. Although I originally didn't want to, I will just take my husband's name and my very last one.

Thanks everyone!