Problem with middle name

[mqmendoza 1]

Hi everyone!

So when I applied for my SS number here in the US the person assisted me told me that I should dropped my last name and keep my middle name. Example maiden name-Maria Santos Reyes (not my real name), so they made me dropped Reyes and kept Santos. So now my married name would be Maria Santos Smith. That name is in my SS, green card and all documents I have here in the US. I also just applied for the removal of my conditions on my green card last month. And today I went to renew my passport and was told that I can't dropped my last name and they want me to stick with the Reyes. So instead of Maria Santos Smith they want me to use Maria Reyes Smith. They told me I can't have it the way I have my name in my green card and ss. But I paid for the certification that will certify that I am the same person since I told them I will be visiting the Philippines. Now my question is how do I correct my middle name. Or any suggestion on what I can do to fix this. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you so much.

[millefleur 5,046]

Is this just a problem with the SSN or is it also an issue on your green card? How is your name listed on your GC?

[mqmendoza 1]

It's a problem on my ss too. My name in gc is Maria Santos Smith. And in my passport it is Maria Reyes Smith. Because that is how we do it in the Phils. When you get married your surname will be your middle name. But the person in ss told me to dropped my surname and my middle name on my maiden name will be my middle name on my married name. 

[junkmart 320]

18 hours ago, mqmendoza said:

Hi everyone!

So when I applied for my SS number here in the US the person assisted me told me that I should dropped my last name and keep my middle name. Example maiden name-Maria Santos Reyes (not my real name), so they made me dropped Reyes and kept Santos. So now my married name would be Maria Santos Smith. That name is in my SS, green card and all documents I have here in the US. I also just applied for the removal of my conditions on my green card last month. And today I went to renew my passport and was told that I can't dropped my last name and they want me to stick with the Reyes. So instead of Maria Santos Smith they want me to use Maria Reyes Smith. They told me I can't have it the way I have my name in my green card and ss. But I paid for the certification that will certify that I am the same person since I told them I will be visiting the Philippines. Now my question is how do I correct my middle name. Or any suggestion on what I can do to fix this. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you so much.

You don't have a middle name, you have two surnames, which is common elsewhere, but not in the US.

1. The social security office cannot just suggest which last name you should keep. They shouldn't let you "choose" either. Your legal name is what is on your birth certificate or, if you changed it at marriage, what is on your Marriage Certificate, or if you did a legal name change through the civil courts.

2. You mention that your GC and all documents you have here in the US have the same name as the name the SS office made you choose? This surprises me, and makes me think that some document you provided to USCIS and/or SS office had your new last name of Santos Smith.

3. Now you want to renew your passport, but they won't accept your new name? I assume you are renewing with the Philippines consulate?

 

I know I haven't answered your question, but I need more information. What is the format of your name on your marriage certificate?

[mqmendoza 1]

Thanks for thw reply junkmart. Sorry of my post is a bit confusing. 

But yeah all of my documents including SS and gc has my name Maria Santos Smith.

I was able to renew my passport but in the name Maria Reyes Smith because that is how we do it in the Philippines. When you het married your last name will become your middle name.

Now my problem is I have different names on my passport and with my ss and gc. 

Although the consulate will issue me a certification of one and the same person as proof. Because I mention that I will be visiting the Phils. at the end of this year.

 

I talked to the SS personnel just now about how to correct it and they told me to just bring my birth cert and marriage cert. 

Now my question is, do I really need to correct my name on ss and gc now to match with my passport(because that's how it sjould be in the first place) or can I wait till I get my US citizenship to do the name change?

Bt the way the removal of my conditional green card is pending right now. 

 

Also if I travel to the Phils will I get held at the airport due to different names I have on passport and gc? Even if I have my certifocation of one and the same person.

[junkmart 320]

6 minutes ago, mqmendoza said:

Thanks for thw reply junkmart. Sorry of my post is a bit confusing. 

But yeah all of my documents including SS and gc has my name Maria Santos Smith.

I was able to renew my passport but in the name Maria Reyes Smith because that is how we do it in the Philippines. When you het married your last name will become your middle name.

Now my problem is I have different names on my passport and with my ss and gc. 

Although the consulate will issue me a certification of one and the same person as proof. Because I mention that I will be visiting the Phils. at the end of this year.

 

I talked to the SS personnel just now about how to correct it and they told me to just bring my birth cert and marriage cert. 

Now my question is, do I really need to correct my name on ss and gc now to match with my passport(because that's how it sjould be in the first place) or can I wait till I get my US citizenship to do the name change?

Bt the way the removal of my conditional green card is pending right now. 

 

Also if I travel to the Phils will I get held at the airport due to different names I have on passport and gc? Even if I have my certifocation of one and the same person.

I wish I could help, but this is beyond what I know.

[Cyberfx1024 7,980]

15 minutes ago, mqmendoza said:

Thanks for thw reply junkmart. Sorry of my post is a bit confusing. 

But yeah all of my documents including SS and gc has my name Maria Santos Smith.

I was able to renew my passport but in the name Maria Reyes Smith because that is how we do it in the Philippines. When you het married your last name will become your middle name.

Now my problem is I have different names on my passport and with my ss and gc. 

Although the consulate will issue me a certification of one and the same person as proof. Because I mention that I will be visiting the Phils. at the end of this year.

I talked to the SS personnel just now about how to correct it and they told me to just bring my birth cert and marriage cert. 

Now my question is, do I really need to correct my name on ss and gc now to match with my passport(because that's how it sjould be in the first place) or can I wait till I get my US citizenship to do the name change?

Bt the way the removal of my conditional green card is pending right now. 

Also if I travel to the Phils will I get held at the airport due to different names I have on passport and gc? Even if I have my certifocation of one and the same person.

You will have no issues in regards to traveling back to Pinas with a GC and a Philippine passport that do not match at all. This is a very common problem and something that doesn't need to be worried about. 

 

You can wait until your Naturalization and then use whatever name you want to use then. 

If you travel back to Pinas then bring your passport, GC, and your marriage license. That is all you need in order to go there and to come back. You will need to book the tickets in the name on your passport and not your GC. 

[mqmendoza 1]

4 hours ago, junkmart said:

You don't have a middle name, you have two surnames, which is common elsewhere, but not in the US.

1. The social security office cannot just suggest which last name you should keep. They shouldn't let you "choose" either. Your legal name is what is on your birth certificate or, if you changed it at marriage, what is on your Marriage Certificate, or if you did a legal name change through the civil courts.

2. You mention that your GC and all documents you have here in the US have the same name as the name the SS office made you choose? This surprises me, and makes me think that some document you provided to USCIS and/or SS office had your new last name of Santos Smith.

3. Now you want to renew your passport, but they won't accept your new name? I assume you are renewing with the Philippines consulate?

 

I know I haven't answered your question, but I need more information. What is the format of your name on your marriage 

16 minutes ago, Cyberfx1024 said:

You will have no issues in regards to traveling back to Pinas with a GC and a Philippine passport that do not match at all. This is a very common problem and something that doesn't need to be worried about. 

 

You can wait until your Naturalization and then use whatever name you want to use then. 

If you travel back to Pinas then bring your passport, GC, and your marriage license. That is all you need in order to go there and to come back. You will need to book the tickets in the name on your passport and not your GC. 

Thanks Cyberfx1024! 

Do you think I need to correct my SS also or just wait till my naturalization to change it together with my gc?

 

 

 

 

[Cyberfx1024 7,980]

1 hour ago, mqmendoza said:

 

 

 

If you are happy with your name as is in the USA then why would you change it? It looks like the Philippines are the only ones complaining about it. So let them complain while your happy with your name here in the USA. 

[mqmendoza 1]

27 minutes ago, Cyberfx1024 said:

If you are happy with your name as is in the USA then why would you change it? It looks like the Philippines are the only ones complaining about it. So let them complain while your happy with your name here in the USA. 

Thank you so much! Now I'm at ease because I was so confused and have no idea on what to do and been over thinking about it, maybe I'm just scared to get in trouble or something😅. But really thanks a lot!