Quick question about names

[samack 79]

I wasn't actually thinking about this until I came across a couple of posts that have made me a bit worried. Our case was approved and we received our NOA2 last week, so maybe the time for concern has passed, but it still seems like something that could come up at the interview and cause a problem.

When we were filling out the initial K1 visa, there was a bit of a question over which name we should use for me. The name on my birth certificate and SIN is Sarah Ashley, but the only place I ever use Sarah is when dealing with the government (specifically student loans, because of my SIN) and it's also on my university degrees for the sake of continuity. My passport (and driver's license, so all of my photo ID), however, is under just Ashley. That's never caused a problem. When I'm able to, I ispecify that I prefer to go by Ashley. As far as I can remember, there wasn't anywhere on the initial forms to list my preferred name, but I did indicate that my initial is A. I had wanted to just use Ashley on the application, but my fiance thought it was best to use the name that's on file with the government, so that's what we did. I also know that, for consistency, he referred to me as "Sarah" in his letter of intent, though that's not what he calls me, and I can't remember if he indicated anywhere in it that I actually go by Ashley. If he didn't, are they going to give me a hard time at the interview? If my birth certificate and SIN both have "Sarah Ashley" (as well as a third name that I dislike so intensely I never speak of it), my passport/other photo ID says "Ashley", and our application says "Sarah A.", am I in for a tough interview or is that an easy discrepancy to explain? I have to renew my passport before I send in my P3 and could technically change my name to match the application, but I think that might actually require an entirely new passport and I'd really rather not have to do that or to travel under a name I don't use.

I've always been annoyed by my family's (and, in turn, my own) inconsistency when it comes to my name, but I'm hoping this doesn't end up being the worst case of it yet.

[samack 79]

I also just realized that all of this means that my visa is going to be issued to Sarah A. and my passport will still be Ashley, which I'm pretty convinced will cause a problem somewhere. Now I'm even more concerned.

[thejusts 9]

I also just realized that all of this means that my visa is going to be issued to Sarah A. and my passport will still be Ashley, which I'm pretty convinced will cause a problem somewhere. Now I'm even more concerned.

I would think that the name on your visa needs to match the name on the passport. But someone that has more familiarity with this topic may have a better answer.

We sent a request to change my fiancés name because he's a "Son" (similar to Junior) and every time they sent a correspondence it would state his full name without SON, but his passport has SON. So we just requested to change to be safe and not run into any issues in the interview or when the visa is granted.

[pch1 64]

If you used the name you have on your passport or BC then you have no worries.

On G325a they have a second box that ask you if you go by any other names or have you used any other name.

[NikLR 13,230]

How did you get just Ashley on your official government ID like your passport?

[samack 79]

How did you get just Ashley on your official government ID like your passport?

It's the name I used when I was applying (over a decade ago, not thinking anything of it and glad it looked like I could finally have something under the name I go by) and no one has questioned it. From the section on the site about names:

The name that appears on your passport is normally the same that appears on your birth or Canadian citizenship certificate.

We accept the following variances on the name that appears on your birth or Canadian citizenship certificate:

• Dropping of given names
• Inversion of given names

Note that you will need another form of identification that supports the name you want to appear in your passport (for example, a driver’s license).

So I guess it just fell under "dropping of given names"? I would have used my license, which is under Ashley, as my secondary form of identification. I'm going to call the passport office today to see if they have any advice, but it seems like just getting a new passport would be the best/easiest thing. The peace of mind definitely outweighs the hassle of it.

Edited April 22, 2016 by samack

[NikLR 13,230]

I agree it would be. Especially for travel. If you ever chase US citizenship you can change your name at that time if you want to drop the Sarah.

Or you can get a formal name change in Canada?

Which province are you in?

[NikLR 13,230]

I get your name issues though. My husband has a first name and 2 middle names AND a nick name that isn't any of those. Plus a last name nick name from the military!

I call him by his 1st middle name (his decision), but he goes by his first name in a professional manner at work. His mom calls him by his nick name amd his best friend by his military nick name.

Sigh.

[samack 79]

I agree it would be. Especially for travel. If you ever chase US citizenship you can change your name at that time if you want to drop the Sarah.

Or you can get a formal name change in Canada?

Which province are you in?

I get your name issues though. My husband has a first name and 2 middle names AND a nick name that isn't any of those. Plus a last name nick name from the military!

I call him by his 1st middle name (his decision), but he goes by his first name in a professional manner at work. His mom calls him by his nick name amd his best friend by his military nick name.

Sigh.

I'm in New Brunswick!

The funny thing is, looking back on it, I kind of wish my family had stuck with Sarah. Ashley was the it name the year I was born, so I've always been surrounded by a lot of them. It also sometimes sounds like "actually", depending on who says it and how it's said, which has occasionally led to awkward confusion in public. I've gotten used to Ashley at this point, though, and that's how everyone knows me, but having to remember which version is used where can be a bit of a pain. There have been quite a few instances - even as recently as yesterday - where the conversation goes something like "yes, my name is Ashley _______" "Hmmm, I can't seem to find you in the system" "...oh! OH. Try Sarah instead". I might look into having it changed if I ever go for citizenship, just for the ease of it. I know it's hardly a big deal in the grand scheme of things, and I'm definitely glad I realized all of this before I just went ahead and renewed my passport under Ashley. My fiance and I were talking about it last night and his reaction was "why did you ever get your passport in anything other than exactly what's on your birth certificate?!", to which I responded "because they let me and because, when I first got it at the age of 19, it didn't occur to me that I'd ever have a fiance who wasn't Canadian!" It was kind of funny.

But wow, my name issue isn't anything compared to your husband's! Most people don't know about my actual first name and maybe 4 in the whole world know about the third one (which is misspelled in a way that doesn't make it any easier to admit to), so I mostly only answer to the one. I'd recommend using an acronym if one was possible, but that might only confuse things even more