Different name on Birth Certificate than on all other documents. Please advise!

[Senad and Anna 1]

Hello,

 

My name is Senad and I am new to the forum.

 

My fiance and I will be applying for K-1 this summer.  We are in the process of gathering all the paperwork and planing everything out.  Her nationality is German, she was born in Poland.

When she moved from Poland to Germany as a child, the ending of her last name "-ska", was changed to "-ski" and all other documents hence forth were with "-ski" ending.  Passports, certificates, IDs, etc.  So technically, it is a different last name.

 

My assumption is that we only have to fill out the section "previous names used" in the I-129F form.

 

Would anyone please advise or share a personal story if related. 

 

Thank you very much!

 

Senad and Anna  

[USS_Voyager 1,972]

6 minutes ago, Senad and Anna said:

Hello,

 

My name is Senad and I am new to the forum.

 

My fiance and I will be applying for K-1 this summer.  We are in the process of gathering all the paperwork and planing everything out.  Her nationality is German, she was born in Poland.

When she moved from Poland to Germany as a child, the ending of her last name "-ska", was changed to "-ski" and all other documents hence forth were with "-ski" ending.  Passports, certificates, IDs, etc.  So technically, it is a different last name.

 

My assumption is that we only have to fill out the section "previous names used" in the I-129F form.

 

How was that name change documented? Is it through a legal name change process? Does she have documents for it?

The only reason I ask is, her birth certificate would be Polish right, and has the "ska" on it. I don't know if they will take issues with that. 

[HP+IC 292]

IMO, this is the same last name legally and technically. It is a well known issue for Eastern Europe, where females often have last names with specific ending -ova, -ska etc whereas male members of the same family may have completely different last names, and yet, it's the same last name. If you submit this as a legally different surname, USCIS will have no other way out but to ask for the proof of change which you will not be able to provide. At most, I would have mentioned it as 'other last name used' if at all. The embassy must be well aware of the situation. E.g., here in Ukraine I have been through 3 spelling policy changes: born Anna, 1st passport Anna, 2nd passport Anna/Ganna, 1st intl passport Ganna, the one valid now Hanna.