Potential FNU issue

[pm5k 129]

I was reading about the numerous headaches people have faced who are in an FNU situation.

My wife has a sister who has no legal last name (in Pakistan). To further complicate things more, her husband also has no last name.

In efforts to avoid the FNU nightmare that others have faced, we are trying to devise a solution.

If they both legally change their names, will that cause problems regarding inconsistencies (birth certificates, marriage certificate, children's birth certificates, school documents, etc)? Can this be alleviated with affidavits?

They can also correct their birth certificates, but then the certificates will be issued with a new issue date, and I have heard of late entry birth certificates causing issues if they do not have secondary evidence.

It may be worth mentioning that marriage certificates in Pakistan write each individual's name as "person son/daughter of (father's name)". They use an Arabic type of system ("bin" = son of, "bint" = daughter of).

Could one write their name as "person son of father"? This would match marriage certificate.

Any advice would be appreciated.

I just realized that I posted this under IR1 CR1.

Mods, please move this to the siblings forum area.

Mods, please move this to the family members forum. My mistake.

[IcezMan_IcezLady 582]

I think they both can change their names

The husband can change his name,first, then the wife adopts the man's last name.

He could use the "Bin" as his middle name..Some groups put those prefixes together, example, Irish names like Fitzgerald,etc.

Then his wife can take his last name. It will be inappropriate to have her add "Bin" or "Bint" to her name since her relationship to the last name is not through birth.

It is best to do it in Pakistan before they move here if they haven't done so already. They will need an affidavit of the name change for both of them. In Ghana, the name change will have to be published in the widely circulated newspaper. You do the name change according to the laws of the country.

Make sure they keep all records of their past names and new names.

Good luck!

[NikLR 13,232]

~~moved to Bringing family members of USC to America from IR1/CR1 process and procedures~~

[pm5k 129]

The "bint" situation would only apply if she decides not change her name after marriage. I will have to check what the specific preference is. I believe Pakistan also uses the newspaper as proof, but I am not sure.