Other Names Used: Ds-160 verses I-129f and G-325a

[Eric The Wait 40]

Hello:

My fiance will fill out the DS-160 form soon and schedule her interview. She is terribly confused about the "other names used" field on the DS-160 and so am I. Some background is important. I will provide the background information and then discuss the problem.

This will be at the Tokyo Embassy.

She is NOT a Japanese citizen but is a legal permanent resident there. She has lived in Japan for 25 years and was born in Korea. Her Passport is from South Korea. In Japan her given name is pronounced differently. Her given name in Korean begins with a "G" sound. Her Korean Passport and her Japanese residence card have English spellings for her name and use the "G". However, in Japan her given name is pronounced with a hard "K". There are other slight differences in pronunciation. She is commonly referred to by the Japanese pronounciation, even by me, but it is, in essence, a nickname.

She was married to a Japanese citizen and divorced. She never officially changed her name, never officially took her husband's last name. The marriage and divorce certificates show her original last name. However, she did informally use the husband's last name, such as on social media sites, etc. But again, her name has on all official documents and ID cards always been her original name.

When we filled out the I-129f Petition and the G-325a we left the field for "other names used" blank. I made numerous inquiries about this here on Visa Jounrey and elsewhere and was told that the "other names used" field should be left blank unless there was an OFFICIAL change of name and there was a court decree or other formal paperwork to show that her name was changed from the "other name used" to her present one. There NEVER was any official change of name, even on her marriage and divorce certificates.

I carefully read the Japanese Embassy website instructions for the "other names used" field in the DS-160 form. They explicitly state that the "other names used" should include: "maiden name, previous married name, stage name, Japanese Name for non-Japanese Citizen, etc".

So, here is my concern: Clearly the last item listed would apply. But this will mean that the "other names used" fields for the I-129f and G-325a (Biographical Info) will be different from the "other names used" field for the DS-160. I am concerned that this will cause problems. However, we will, of course, be truthful on all forms.

Here's where is gets very confusing. For the "previous married name" she never officially took her husband's last name. However, she did use that last name informally, and it is still the name she uses on social media sites, But it is NOT her official name and is not on any ID cards, passport, etc, and never was. Her permament residence card in Japan has, and always has had, her original Korean name.

I think it is obvious she must include the Japanese pronunciation of her first name in the "other names used" field. Will this create a problem as the "other names used" fields on the I-129f and G-325a are blank?

And, what should she say about her use of her husband's last name in informal settings, such as on social media sites, etc.?

it is important that she be completely truthful.

When we filled out the i-129f and G-325a back in January 2015 we believed we were being totally truthful because all the advice we received here and elsewhere said that "nicknames", etc should never be put in the "other names used" field because on those forms they are looking for OFFICIAL names only. We also didn't put her husband's name in the "other names used" field because again, it never OFFICIALLY applied to her and we were told that ANY other name used would have to be supported by a court decree or other official document showing an official change from the "other name used" to the one on the application.

So now the DS-160 will be different from the I-129f and G-325a. We are very concerned about this and would welcome suggestions about how to proceed and opinions about the gravity of the situation

Thank you.

Edited November 19, 2015 by Eric The Wait

[baron555 934]

Pronunciations don't count. Informal names don't count. Sounds like she never officially used a different name.