What's in a name? (Middle name help for dual citizen)

[Jawyman42 0]

Hi. I am an American citizen and my wife is a citizen of the Philippines.  We will have our first child soon while living in the United States.  Our child will automatically have citizenship in both countries, but we will need to register the birth with the Philippine government in order for this to be recognized. 

This is where things get complicated.  

Names in the United States are whatever we want. In the Philippines, custom dictates that the "middle name" is the same as the mother's maiden name. As a far as I can tell there is no legal requirement for this, it is only custom. 

We plan to name our son after my wife's maiden name.  Example: if wife's name is Susan Elizabeth John Smith, we would name our son John Jack Smith.   His first name will be my wife's maiden name. This will be recorded on his birth certificate here in the states. When registering with the Philippine government, we are worried that his name will be recorded as John Jack John Smith.  Our wish is that his recorded name in both countries will be the same so that passports and IDs will match exactly regardless of where they are issued.

Since there is no law concerning this and it is only custom, how's do we go about convincing the PSA to record his name as we have chosen and not follow traditional naming conventions in the Philippines? 

(names used have been changed to protect the innocent) 

Edited January 15, 2017 by Jawyman42

[Sagot 1,548]

6 minutes ago, Jawyman42 said:

Hi. I am an American citizen and my wife is a citizen of the Philippines.  We will have our first child soon while living in the United States.  Our child will automatically have citizenship in both countries, but we will need to register the birth with the Philippine government in order for this to be recognized. 

This is where things get complicated.  

Names in the United States are whatever we want. In the Philippines, custom dictates that the "middle name" is the same as the mother's maiden name. As a far as I can tell there is no legal requirement for this, it is only custom. 

We plan to name our son after my wife's maiden name.  Example: if wife's name is Susan Elizabeth John Smith, we would name our son John Jack Smith.   His first name will be my wife's maiden name. This will be recorded on his birth certificate here in the states. When registering with the Philippine government, we are worried that his name will be recorded as John Jack John Smith.  Our wish is that his recorded name in both countries will be the same so that passports and IDs will match exactly regardless of where they are issued.

Since there is no law concerning this and it is only custom, how's do we go about convincing the PSA to record his name as we have chosen and not follow traditional naming conventions in the Philippines? 

(names used have been changed to protect the innocent) 

You have no worries with that.  The birth certificate you submit for Report of Birth through the consulate will be accepted at PSA.  DFA will follow the birth certificate as well for the passport.  No issues. 

 

This can sometimes be an issue WITHIN the philippines, but you are in the USA... so not an issue.

[Cyberfx1024 7,980]

They will recognize whatever you write down on the paper. So do what you want.

[Greenbaum 12,259]

There is no law that states you have to use a naming machination that either US or Phil governments wish for you to use.  Your child and you chose the name. Put on the BC and be done with this stillness from these governements

 

BTW Congratulations and Greenbaum would be an outstanding first name.  

[Jawyman42 0]

http://www.philippineconsulatela.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/ROB-SAMPLE-FORM-BY-MAIL.pdf

 

This is the link on the consulate website that has jurisdiction over our area. This is why it concerns me. 

Edited January 26, 2017 by Jawyman42

[Greenbaum 12,259]

38 minutes ago, Jawyman42 said:

http://www.philippineconsulatela.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/ROB-SAMPLE-FORM-BY-MAIL.pdf

 

This is the link on the consulate website that has jurisdiction over our area. This is why it concerns me. 

The BC trumps everything. It's a legal document.  Countries of the free world will follow the BC. Like a document that asks for first, middle and last fill yours accordingly. If you want the Filipino naming then use it. But, keep it one way. I hope you can now rest easy.

Edited January 26, 2017 by Greenbaum

[Sagot 1,548]

48 minutes ago, Jawyman42 said:

http://www.philippineconsulatela.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/ROB-SAMPLE-FORM-BY-MAIL.pdf

 

This is the link on the consulate website that has jurisdiction over our area. This is why it concerns me. 

I know a couple that are IN the Philippines, they used convention naming format, giving their son his own unique middle name (being he is a USC also) no issues with local registry or PSA, they had no issues (except for one idiot at a DFA branch, so they went to the main DFA office .. no issues with the Philippine passport)

 

Consulates should not be an issue either.  I would ignore that EXAMPLE form and follow the birth certificate.

Edited January 26, 2017 by Sagot

[Hank_ 9,174]

I have heard from others, that with ROB the consulate will push for adding the maiden name of the mother but in your case, being you were born in the USA I don't see the benefit. 

 

I would lean towards ignoring the consulate also.

[Cyberfx1024 7,980]

1 hour ago, Hank_ said:

I have heard from others, that with ROB the consulate will push for adding the maiden name of the mother but in your case, being you were born in the USA I don't see the benefit. 

 

I would lean towards ignoring the consulate also.

This is completely not true. I have done two count that TWO ROB with the LA Consulate and they have never tried to push anything on us. If they did I would have shut them up right then and there.

[Jawyman42 0]

Looks like there is some debate over this depending on the individual processing the paperwork. We'll give it a shot and hopefully won't have an issue. I'll post results soon.  Thanks everyone for your thoughts! 

[Hank_ 9,174]

1 hour ago, cyberfx1024 said:

This is completely not true. I have done two count that TWO ROB with the LA Consulate and they have never tried to push anything on us. If they did I would have shut them up right then and there.

 

Each consulate does things different, crazy as that may be.  You are talking LA, so "completely" is limited to your experience... the other I referred about are dealing with DC.

 

As I stated, I would IGNORE the consulate.   

 

Not sure what you issue is.

[Cyberfx1024 7,980]

7 hours ago, Hank_ said:

 

Each consulate does things different, crazy as that may be.  You are talking LA, so "completely" is limited to your experience... the other I referred about are dealing with DC.

 

As I stated, I would IGNORE the consulate.   

 

Not sure what you issue is.

 

No issue over here and I apologize if it came off like I had one. I was typing and I was just thinking what if they tried to get me to change the names of our children, and how it would have pissed me off if that happened. I asked my wife when it came time to talk about the names of our children if she wanted it done the Filipino way and she said no. My asawa actually said "That is a Filipino custom and yes I am a Filipina, but we are in the US and the kids are US citizens. So why would I do that custom here?" I then left it at that. 

Edited January 27, 2017 by cyberfx1024

[Sagot 1,548]

No harm, no foul.

 

DC is the worse to deal with.   We lived in AZ so we used LA for ROM and renewing the passport during an outreach event.  With DC you can't do the passport renewal in the married name until AFTER completing ROM ... jeez.    

 

DC is not "user friendly"