Incorrect Name on my Green Card

[CharlieJK 12]

Hi,

I was wondering if anyone could give me some advice. I received my green card a couple of weeks ago but when I went to get my Social Security Number (I didn't apply for one when i first came in on the K-1 visa) I was told that they couldn't issue me with a social security number as the name on my green card didn't match the name on my passport. Essentially they've just put 'J' instead of 'James' as my middle name and also missed out two other middle names (that my parents decided I needed!).

My k-1 visa in my passport also has all three middle names.

I've been told I need to fill out an i-90 form (replacement of green card). However, the instructions say that I need to include my current green card when I send it off.

My question is how long (roughly) does the replacement card take and how will not having a green card on me affect me? I need to travel to Canada for work and also back to England soon and I'm concerned that there will be issues with me coming back in without my green card?

Thank you in advance for any help!

Charlie

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Just an experience to relate, but my husband's greencard had only his middle initial and Social Security had no problem. In fact the SSA changed his card three times for each time his immigration status showed a variation to his name. They matched up to what USCIS had on record, not vice versa. They even said to us that they were required to issue in the USCIS name on record.

1) John Smith (taken from old paper I-94 which did not do middle names)

2) John R Smith ( greencard name)

3) John Robert Smith (naturalization certificate name)

Maybe speak to a supervisor at SSA before you go mailing off your green card??

Edited April 13, 2016 by Nich-Nick

[BigDaddy28 228]

I don't see why they denied you social security. I mean when I had a green card my middle name was only the initial and my social security was in my full whole name.

I would advice you to go again to social security ask to speak to a supervisor and tell them thats how USCIS issues the cards. There is no mistake in your card. If they look in the back of the card they will see your full whole name.

[racheal&david 108]

I agree with the other posts. My SSC is in my full name, including two middle names and my hyphenated last name and my green card has only my first name, first middle name initial and then my last. My entire name wouldn't even fit on my green card, I'm sure yours wouldn't either.

Go back to social security.

[Amhara 460]

Why did you show the SSA your K-1 visa? It is expired and the SSA doesn't need your visa to establish age or identity. You should be able to get an SSN based on your GC and either foreign birth certificate or passport. (Use your birth certificate.) They can use your GC for identity and proof of residency and your birth certificate as proof of your age. Yes, they will need to match up the name on your SSA card with what's on your GC, but that's not such a big deal, given your name is materially the same.

I would suggest filing in your Form I-90 electronically. My husband's GC was issued in the wrong name too (despite us requesting for it to be updated in writing - twice). When I saw the instructions that they want us to mail the GC back, I said "NOPE!" You can attach all your documents on the ELIS system when you e-file the I-90. I suggest that when you file electronically, or before you mail off your GC to paper file, get an I-551 stamp in your passport. It's just as good as the GC and proves your LPR status. My husband and I haven't done that yet because his passport is no longer valid for travel and we need to get his new name updated on a new passport anyways.

I don't know how long it takes for them to process an I-90, but it appears to be several, several months - despite it being processed in the "Intergrated Operating Environment" for e-filed petitions. (Our case number starts with IOE.) I think we will be ready for the long haul and I'm not expecting to see anything until September 2016, maybe. I guess we'll need another biometrics, but we haven't received anything yet - been only two and a half weeks since we filed it though. I think the replacement takes quite a long time...

[CharlieJK 12]

Why did you show the SSA your K-1 visa? It is expired and the SSA doesn't need your visa to establish age or identity. You should be able to get an SSN based on your GC and either foreign birth certificate or passport. (Use your birth certificate.) They can use your GC for identity and proof of residency and your birth certificate as proof of your age. Yes, they will need to match up the name on your SSA card with what's on your GC, but that's not such a big deal, given your name is materially the same.

I would suggest filing in your Form I-90 electronically. My husband's GC was issued in the wrong name too (despite us requesting for it to be updated in writing - twice). When I saw the instructions that they want us to mail the GC back, I said "NOPE!" You can attach all your documents on the ELIS system when you e-file the I-90. I suggest that when you file electronically, or before you mail off your GC to paper file, get an I-551 stamp in your passport. It's just as good as the GC and proves your LPR status. My husband and I haven't done that yet because his passport is no longer valid for travel and we need to get his new name updated on a new passport anyways.

Thank you everyone for your replies, they're a lot of help. I think my best bet is try the social security office again, try and speak to a supervisor and if they still won't do anything I'll request a replacement card.

I didn't show them my K-1 visa but they looked at it as it was in my passport. That definitely didn't help as the lady who I saw (who to be honest seemed to be completely incompetent) printed off a letter for me with my surname as 'Montreal'. The only place in the entire passport the word 'Montreal' is mentioned is on my K-1 visa as that was the US Consulate I went for my K-1 interview. When I asked her to correct it she then decided to give me the surname 'King'. I have no idea where that came from.

How do I get an I-551 stamp in my passport? I've been in and out of the US a couple of times but it just looks like a regular stamp. Do i need to go to a USCIS office to get this done?

Thanks again for all your help,

Charlie

[CharlieJK 12]

Why did you show the SSA your K-1 visa? It is expired and the SSA doesn't need your visa to establish age or identity. You should be able to get an SSN based on your GC and either foreign birth certificate or passport. (Use your birth certificate.) They can use your GC for identity and proof of residency and your birth certificate as proof of your age. Yes, they will need to match up the name on your SSA card with what's on your GC, but that's not such a big deal, given your name is materially the same.

I would suggest filing in your Form I-90 electronically. My husband's GC was issued in the wrong name too (despite us requesting for it to be updated in writing - twice). When I saw the instructions that they want us to mail the GC back, I said "NOPE!" You can attach all your documents on the ELIS system when you e-file the I-90. I suggest that when you file electronically, or before you mail off your GC to paper file, get an I-551 stamp in your passport. It's just as good as the GC and proves your LPR status. My husband and I haven't done that yet because his passport is no longer valid for travel and we need to get his new name updated on a new passport anyways.

Thank you everyone for your replies, they're a lot of help. I think my best bet is try the social security office again, try and speak to a supervisor and if they still won't do anything I'll request a replacement card.

I didn't show them my K-1 visa but they looked at it as it was in my passport. That definitely didn't help as the lady who I saw (who to be honest seemed to be completely incompetent) printed off a letter for me with my surname as 'Montreal'. The only place in the entire passport the word 'Montreal' is mentioned is on my K-1 visa as that was the US Consulate I went for my K-1 interview. When I asked her to correct it she then decided to give me the surname 'King'. I have no idea where that came from.

How do I get an I-551 stamp in my passport? I've been in and out of the US a couple of times but it just looks like a regular stamp. Do i need to go to a USCIS office to get this done?

Thanks again for all your help,

Charlie

[Sarahnick 19]

I had to file I90 and send my green card away too, I90 (by paper and mailed everything together) takes around 6-9 months... Awful long...

After about 2/3 weeks of filing I had another biometric done.

I also made an info pass to get an I551 stamp (which I am using right now for traveling)

[Dave&Roza 748]

Thank you everyone for your replies, they're a lot of help. I think my best bet is try the social security office again, try and speak to a supervisor and if they still won't do anything I'll request a replacement card.

I didn't show them my K-1 visa but they looked at it as it was in my passport. That definitely didn't help as the lady who I saw (who to be honest seemed to be completely incompetent) printed off a letter for me with my surname as 'Montreal'. The only place in the entire passport the word 'Montreal' is mentioned is on my K-1 visa as that was the US Consulate I went for my K-1 interview. When I asked her to correct it she then decided to give me the surname 'King'. I have no idea where that came from.

How do I get an I-551 stamp in my passport? I've been in and out of the US a couple of times but it just looks like a regular stamp. Do i need to go to a USCIS office to get this done?

Thanks again for all your help,

Charlie

You only need to show them the I-551 (i.e. the green card) and your foreign birth certificate--you do have a few copies that you brought with you, do you? If not, you should get them as some places will only accept the BC and not the passport for proof of age. If you do, then you only have to explain why the USCIS put the name they did on your GC and not the name on your BC.

If you do not have your BC, you can use your passport to establish age. I would politely but firmly explain to the person that your immigration records are in the name on the GC and you would like the SSC in that name as well. Your passport have nothing to do with your identify only to establish your age. If they continue to argue, point tout that the passport is issues by the UK and is not in any way shape or form an official US document. Then ask for a supervisor.

You do not need a new GC, you need a new SSA employee or location. It amazes me how ill trained these people are. My Grandmother visited her doctor, but she was told she needed a new Medicare card. The SSA office was across the street. I took her SSN and walked into the office and asked if they could send a new Medicare card to the address of record for this SSN. "I am sorry, but the person's whose SSN that is must make the request." So I get my Grandmother, and we get to the window and she does exactly what I did. Did the woman ask to see an ID? No. She just said okay we will mail it to xxxx address. Is that correct? Yes. Then my Grandmother went off on her. I could understand if she requested any form of ID from my Grandmother or if I was trying to have it mailed to a different address. The SSA makes things much harder than they need to be.

I hope you next trip works out. Just be polite, but very firm.

Dave

Edited April 14, 2016 by Dave&Roza

[simonschus 58]

I'm unclear whether this will be relevant but I was having a read through the SSA webpage the other day. I found this guidance about middle names. I took the guidance as meaning that middle names are entirely unimportant for SSN and SSN cards. However, I have no idea if the problem you're facing is that the SSA don't extent that guidance to when they're using immigration documents.

Simon.

[CharlieJK 12]

I'm unclear whether this will be relevant but I was having a read through the SSA webpage the other day. I found this guidance about middle names. I took the guidance as meaning that middle names are entirely unimportant for SSN and SSN cards. However, I have no idea if the problem you're facing is that the SSA don't extent that guidance to when they're using immigration documents.

Simon.

Thanks, Simon - that's very helpful!

[CharlieJK 12]

Hi everyone,

Thank you again for all your help and advice. I went back to the Social Security office today and managed to get it sorted.

In case it pops up again for anyone else here is what the problem was. I noticed last night when I flew back into the country and went through an automated machine my Green Card has my middle names on the back of the Green Card, except for the last one is shortened due the first three letters due to lack of space. My name flashed up on the screen when I scanned my green card with my middle names except the last one was shortened to just the three letters (due to lack of space I assume).

When I went back today I saw the same lady and she tried to verify my details using the shortened third middle name and it was verified with the system and I'll be getting my social security number in two weeks.

Long story short - the lady told me the wrong thing the first time round and I think was just trying to give a reason for my name not being verified. Anyone who has a very long name should try to get the officer to use the name exactly as printed on the bottom line on the back of the card. It's in the format:

SURNAME<<FIRSTNAME<MIDDLENAME<MIDDLENAME<MIDDLENAME

[Amhara 460]

Thanks for the update, Charlie!