Potential Problem - two last names

[bora bora 1]

I need some advice - especially from people who have gone through this.

When I filled out the I-129F months ago (I'm the USC) I put down both of my fiance's last names. He's Brazilian and Brazilians have at least 2 last names.

All of the paperwork I sent (G-325A and other documents to the consulate) were all sent in the same way.

However, his visa states that his last name is his final last name S and gives his first name Eliton and his 1st last name G as if it were his middle name.

So it says last name S - given names Eliton G.

The immigration officer in Miami gave us a hard time because of this and even crossed out his first last name G and left only his final last name S on the I-94. Therefore, he got his SSN as in Eliton S and left out his "middle name" all together.

His state ID was listed as Eliton G S. (As G being his middle name - again).

Now that I'm completing the AOS forms I'm writing that Eliton is his first name, G is his middle, and S is his last name - just as his visa states. When his complete name is written out it is correct. In Brazil they use the final last name as the last name.

But G is not really a middle name.

So...will this be a problem? Should I include an explanation? I don't want problems, delays, or RFEs because of this.

Thanks in advance.

[Alex+R 0]

I haven't gone through this, as "my Brazilian" has only 2 names total, but I've read before that they use the first last name as a middle name. Also, I have 2 last names (Brazilian style, mom and dad) but according to the gov't I have two middles. That just seems to be how they handle it.

[bora bora 1]

It shouldn't be a problem, right? I was advised to keep his first last name as the middle name since that is what is on his visa (and now his SSN). I will cross my fingers then.

My mom has two last names too and she said that the state of NY always gives her a hard time for that.

[Thatchi 0]

The first last name is the mother's family last name and not a middle name...i would leave that out, would only list his last last name...

They also ask for any other way you write your name, and i wrote my full legal name in Brazil before i was married.

In Brazil you always have 2 last names though...i like the american way better....it's simpler

[Reynaldo 0]

In Brazil you always have 2 last names though...i like the american way better....it's simpler

I beg to differ

- Reynaldo Rodrigues

[florida_guy07 0]

It shouldn't be a problem, right? I was advised to keep his first last name as the middle name since that is what is on his visa (and now his SSN). I will cross my fingers then.

My mom has two last names too and she said that the state of NY always gives her a hard time for that.

Bora Bora,

my wife also has 2 last names... In Brazil, for those who don't know, most parents name their children FIRST NAME followed by MOTHER'S FAMILY'S LAST NAME followed by FATHER'S LAST NAME.

My wife when she came to america she said she practically stopped using her "1st last name" and she uses it as her "middle name" when asked what her middle name is. But usually she doesnt use it at all. I didn't know she had a "middle" name until after months and months after we met.

That's why you will see brazilians with some very uncommon and "last-name-looking" middle names... It is even worse when parents pick a name, a middle name and THEN 2 last names... lol

Edited April 17, 2007 by florida_guy07

[neophi 5]

Wow, that's pretty confusing. In Colombia, people always write down their 2 last names for legal documents, but not very every day use. However, in the USCIS forms I only wrote down her last name (i.e. her father's last name) to avoid any confusion with her middle name as I have heard of cases similar to yours.

Anyway, what's done is done. Your case sounds complicated, but then again I am no expert, but the reason I'm replying is to suggest you call USCIS customer service. They aren't going to give you any legal advice, but I think they can answer questions as to how to fill out a specific form.

I hope all goes well.

PS: I do think, however, keeping the names consistent is a good idea as you have done.

Edited April 17, 2007 by felipe d.

[Thatchi 0]

In Brazil you always have 2 last names though...i like the american way better....it's simpler

I beg to differ

- Reynaldo Rodrigues

I can;t see nothing wrong with that

I like it...better than Jorge Fernandes Alvares Souza da Silva

[bora bora 1]

Hahaha, I worked in Brazil and I used to always joke with my students that all of their last names were Souza and Silva, or both...

I also thought about calling USCIS but they've given me answers that completely contradict what should be done ie. tell me to leave my fiance's father's name blank on the I-129F form.

I am going to send in the paperwork with Eliton as his first name, G as his middle, and S as his last since that is how his visa is. What is important is that all of his names are there and "in order".

I just don't know: should I include a letter of explanation - I think I'll be ok without it. I don't want to open a can of worms.

[Singers 0]

I've dealt with this for both myself and my husband. I'm first generation born in the US for my family so I have two 'last names' plus a middle name.. So for the US I'm considered to have two middle names. ( I only use my father's family name as my surname.)

My husband has two first names, his English one and his Chinese name. He uses his English name as his first name and his Chinese name as his middle.

Now ask me what we're going to do for our kids names..

[burke 0]

I hope that I don't have any problems!! I wrote in all the papers as my surnames my two surnames and nothing as the middle name. That's how They did it in for my social security number...Since I came to USA I had million of problems because of that...but I refuse to only use my father's surname!!!!

[bora bora 1]

You'd think that USCIS would be used to this - I hope it's not a problem either. The good thing is that I don't plan on sending anything from when I put both last names on.

We never requested to use only his last last name - it was the American consulate who granted his visa and decided to only list the final last name. Ah, drama....

[athena_ny 1]

If in Brazil they use the second last name commonly, it shouldn't cause any problems - in Peru, they use the first last name (for example my husbands four names are M M C A and he goes by M M C) but here they want to turn his "real" last name into his middle so it winds up being M C A and the second last is the one that gets spelled out and to him that's NOT his last name that should be on his driver's license, etc. All four names are on his visa, and maybe the I-94 but if anything, the C name might be the only one that appears (which is how it should be). The DMV still won't change it. He put down that M C A has been used instead of M M C on his immigration paperwork, so it's fine but he gets very upset because people are constantly ignoring him when he tells him "THIS is my name." I would too.

[burke 0]

You'd think that USCIS would be used to this - I hope it's not a problem either. The good thing is that I don't plan on sending anything from when I put both last names on.

We never requested to use only his last last name - it was the American consulate who granted his visa and decided to only list the final last name. Ah, drama....

That's weird....the consulate in Madrid(Spain) wrote my J-1 and F-1 visa in the right way(not middle name and in the surname place my two surnames!!). Every time that I had a problem with that (bank, credit card, ...), I always wonder if I am the only one in this country with two surname and no middle name!!! (I know for sure that I am not the only one...so is it so difficult to learn????). Ah!! And what about not changing the surname when you marry!!! We don't do it in Spain!! And everybody gives me this weird look!!!

[bora bora 1]

Drama!

This does not need to be a big deal, right? You'd think that the DMV, USCIS, SSA could get it together. A friend of mine is Colombian and when she graduated from NYU last spring they gave her a hard time because she wanted both of her last names on her diploma. They wanted her to get a document notarized for this. That is ridiculous.

I think it's a bit easier for Brazilians only because their final last name is their commonly used last name - not like Hispanic cultures.