IO changed my wife's name durin interview

[jamart2005 0]

We just went on AOS interview.. And when he reviews our documents he said we entered my wife's name incorrectly...

When we got married, we changed her name from

firstname maiden_middlename maiden_lastname

to

Firstname maiden_lastname married_lastname

So basically her old middlename got dropped, then her maiden last name becomes middle name then my last name becomes her as well..

but the IO says thats wrong, he said my wifes first name should be her firstname plus her old maiden_middlename... Then her middlename can be her maiden_lastname then she can take my lastname as her lastname

This worries me to no end cause we wont have a bridge document to that new name the IO made us take... I was asking the IO if cant we just drop the old maiden middlename but he insist that for Filipinos we should have the name like that cause its our culture... Afaik, its not our culture making middle name part of firstname when getting married... And its weird that uscis would handle different persons name based on culture...

Any advise if this is really normal?.. Or if we should take steps about it?...

Btw.. This name change would mean her greencard wont match passport and other documents she would have in the Philippines...

[Penguin_ie 5,994]

Sounds like the USCIS guy is right. A middle name is not a last name, it is a second first name.

So for example if Annie Berta Clark married John Smith, she can become:

a. Annie Berta Clark (keep her name)

b. Annie Berta Smith (take husband's last name)

c Annie Berta Clark-Smith (double barrel her last name)

but her middle name is just her middle name, and remains thus. I have two middle names, and I never use them in daily life, but they are still listed on my passports and naturalisation cert.

[jamart2005 0]

I understand that, in some culture its just a second firstname... But its totally not the case for us if he really want to handle it "culture" base....

we didnt hypenate the last names... Thats why the maiden middlename is dropped

Our middlename, culturewise.. Its our mothers lastname... That is why it sounds so ridiculous to us that IO wants to make her mother's last name as part of her given name...

[rnab32 19]

Wow, that's strange! My Filipino wife went with Firstname maiden_lastname married_lastname as well when we got married, and that's the name we used when applying for her AOS that we just submitted. So we might be in the same boat. Hopefully more people will reply to this thread with their thoughts/comments/suggestions...

Edited February 26, 2016 by rnab32

[rnab32 19]

Wow, that's strange! My Filipino wife went with Firstname maiden_lastname married_lastname as well when we got married, and that's the name we used when applying for her AOS that we just submitted. So we might be in the same boat. Hopefully more people will reply to this thread with their thoughts/comments/suggestions...

And now looking at our marriage license application, the instructions don't allow changing the firstname...only the middle and lastnames. So when we got married, my wife could not move her maiden_middlename to her firstname if she wanted to:

"Note: Parties to the marriage may not change their first name on the marriage license."

Edited February 26, 2016 by rnab32

[Umka36 781]

Interesting. I thought you had to go to court to change your first name and middle name.

http://info.legalzoom.com/legally-change-middle-name-20191.html

[Tahoma 2,292]

We were married in Washington State. When we married and when my wife adjusted her status, she had no problem using the Filipino tradition, and we know other couples who had no problem. In addition, you will find many people here on VJ who had no problem.

Since changing your name upon marriage is governed by the state, maybe the USCIS is honoring the law in the state where you were married. What is your state law on this matter?

[jamart2005 0]

And now looking at our marriage license application, the instructions don't allow changing the firstname...only the middle and lastnames. So when we got married, my wife could not move her maiden_middlename to her firstname if she wanted to:

"Note: Parties to the marriage may not change their first name on the marriage license."

Yes... This is exactly the same way we understand it.... My best guess at what the IO could be thinking is, he might think the maiden middle name of my wife was like the middle name here in america which is basically a given name which we cant change by marriage.. But then, it doesnt make sense he keeps referring to the culture in Philippines and saying that its what we do... So he should know its a mothers last name and not a second given name..

Umka and tahoma...

Changing middle name and last name is allowed in California... As what rnab also pointed out.. So it should not be a state restriction.. I still believe its just a misunderstanding... Hopefully we can corret or get clarification from them

[jamart2005 0]

Just to update you guys, last friday.. We called uscis and explained what happened to us... Since right now the case is still pending approval... They said to right a letter to them that says we wanted to correct the name and sent with all proper supporting documents.. So we sent that.. We now waiting what would happen...

In case they didnt correct it in time, we might need to file form I90 To request the correction to be made... Which would add months again... Sigh.. I just hope someone reviews our file before approving and catch this error... Its hard to keep arguing with the IO at the interview...

[Darnell 8,478]

I understand that, in some culture its just a second firstname... But its totally not the case for us if he really want to handle it "culture" base....

we didnt hypenate the last names... Thats why the maiden middlename is dropped

Our middlename, culturewise.. Its our mothers lastname... That is why it sounds so ridiculous to us that IO wants to make her mother's last name as part of her given name...

I suggest you two get IN to that local office via an infopass appointment, ask to speak to the shift supervisor about all of this.

[Umka36 781]

I learn something new in regards to CA rules:

Each spouse may adopt any of the following middle or last names after their marriage:

The current last name of the other spouse

• The last name of either spouse given at birth
• A name combining into a single last name all or a segment of the current last name or the last name of either spouse given at birth
• A hyphenated combination of last names

http://losangelesmarriagelicense.com/name-change.html

[Darnell 8,478]

ya, they try to accomodate any hispanic 'rules' there in Califunky...

but that's not federal, aye?

[rnab32 19]

Just to update you guys, last friday.. We called uscis and explained what happened to us... Since right now the case is still pending approval... They said to right a letter to them that says we wanted to correct the name and sent with all proper supporting documents.. So we sent that.. We now waiting what would happen...

In case they didnt correct it in time, we might need to file form I90 To request the correction to be made... Which would add months again... Sigh.. I just hope someone reviews our file before approving and catch this error... Its hard to keep arguing with the IO at the interview...

Good luck jamart, hope everything turns out ok. Please keep us posted...

[jamart2005 0]

Getting info pass before was not possible due to work so we settled to just sending a letter...

We got the greencard!... And its on the correct name... What a relief...

We didnt know if the letter helped at all cause we didnt get response from it.. Or if just someone saw what the IO did and corrected it... Either way.. Atleast we are ok now...

Thanks to all those you give there thoughts on the matter...

[rnab32 19]

Glad to hear that jamart and congrats on a successful approval!