Two Last Names for Hispanics

[GabachaYucateca 0]

I hope I can articulate this question well. Throughout all of the paperwork we've been using my fiance's complete name...one first, one second, and paternal and maternal last names. And his visa will most likely have those two last names.

My question: is it possible to drop one of them for every day use or will that cause confusion with official paces? I ask for two reasons: one, people generally seem to get confused about two last names, and second, his last names are Mayan: Tuz Poot. And I can imagine people having a field day mispronouncing his name. Basically only other Mayans can pronounce it correctly.

Any suggestions?

[rob&ana 0]

I dont know if there is a technical reason, but when I went for my SS card, they automatically dropped my mother's last name (second last name). I think it will be immediate and no, it will not have any implications with the rest of the process.

If changing your maiden name to your husband's name (in my case) doesnt have much implications, then I dont think that dropping his second last name will be a problem.

[GabachaYucateca 0]

Thanks, Ana!

As I mentioned above, I think that Tuz will be easier for people than the Poot. Even after seven years together, I still can't pronounce it correctly.

[LaGreenEyes 0]

On my husband's Social Security card they have only his main last name, but on his driver's license they put both of them, because they said they were required to put what it has in his passport. On the marriage license they made him do both as well. I don't remember what his green card is under...

[Converse34 1]

When I get married I am considering just adding my husband name to the end of my current last name. So all legal documents will have both - however, I would most like only use one name at a time. So I will continue to use my Maiden name in work situtations and use my husbands new name in social situations. By having both names on legal documents, I should have no problems only use one name at a time. So for example, let's say I was traveling with my husband. I could book the ticket using his name even though my passport has both names - as long as one name on the passport matches the name on the ticket, it is fine. Also the reverse is true if I was traveling with work, I could use my Maiden name even though both names are on the passport.

By having both names on documents, I think it gives you more of a choice. However, I would be interested to read if anyone has any experience using both names.

[athena_ny 1]

I hope I can articulate this question well. Throughout all of the paperwork we've been using my fiance's complete name...one first, one second, and paternal and maternal last names. And his visa will most likely have those two last names.

My question: is it possible to drop one of them for every day use or will that cause confusion with official paces? I ask for two reasons: one, people generally seem to get confused about two last names, and second, his last names are Mayan: Tuz Poot. And I can imagine people having a field day mispronouncing his name. Basically only other Mayans can pronounce it correctly.

Any suggestions?

My husband only uses one of his last names, so for AOS we put down M M C with M M C A in other names used. His passport has both names, but he only wants to use M M C, so we figured it would be easiest to show the green card with his desired name. Hasn't caused any problems thus far.

[ardilla 0]

When we got married my husband officially changed his name (via the marriage license) from AB CD to AB C. This was the only way he could get the people at the drivers license office to accept his paternal surname as his surname and stop using his material surname attached to it. Our state seems to be pretty picky about passports and birth certificates matching drivers licenses. With the marriage certificate he was able to change his social security record, and then his records at work (W4), at banks, on the credit cards he uses, and on his IRS record. USCIS was easier (we used "other names used" on the applications) but the drivers license office and the banks were insistent that the name he used had to match his drivers license name.

As an aside, we had to persist a few times with the county clerk before they conceded that he could change his last name by dropping the second surname. The front desk staff fought us on this one at first, but after later explaining to them the cultural significance behind the name change, they agreed to take things up the food chain until they could verify that in fact this type of name change is allowable.

[~Nini~ 2]

When I get married I am considering just adding my husband name to the end of my current last name. So all legal documents will have both - however, I would most like only use one name at a time. So I will continue to use my Maiden name in work situtations and use my husbands new name in social situations. By having both names on legal documents, I should have no problems only use one name at a time. So for example, let's say I was traveling with my husband. I could book the ticket using his name even though my passport has both names - as long as one name on the passport matches the name on the ticket, it is fine. Also the reverse is true if I was traveling with work, I could use my Maiden name even though both names are on the passport.

By having both names on documents, I think it gives you more of a choice. However, I would be interested to read if anyone has any experience using both names.

I'm also intending to do this and would be really interested in anyone else's experiences with this.

Given that you were intending to use both names, let's say that original name is AB and fiance's last name is C. For stuff like credit cards, I'd assume that it would be ABC in full. Are you given the option so that it'd show up as A. B. C? Or, can you even apply for credit cards with just AB, or AC?

I swear, this name thing is like trying to derive calculus equations again.

Edited June 11, 2007 by Nini & Bee

[Converse34 1]

So I am planning on never using the whole name ABC except on passport and drivers license.

So for a credit card, I would apply for in my new AC name. Any existing credit cards, they usually just want, I think, a copy of the marriage certificate. So I would change almost everything over to my new name, but at work keep my existing name. My aunt is a Doctor and I know she has done this.

I mean there I suppose there is no real reason for me to keep my AB name, but I like it and I think it gives me the ability to keep a little bit my past (both my undergrad and masters are in this name) but socially allow me to take my husbands name. I do not want a hyphenated name.

But then again, I might find out it causes too many problems, and switch everything over.

When I get married I am considering just adding my husband name to the end of my current last name. So all legal documents will have both - however, I would most like only use one name at a time. So I will continue to use my Maiden name in work situtations and use my husbands new name in social situations. By having both names on legal documents, I should have no problems only use one name at a time. So for example, let's say I was traveling with my husband. I could book the ticket using his name even though my passport has both names - as long as one name on the passport matches the name on the ticket, it is fine. Also the reverse is true if I was traveling with work, I could use my Maiden name even though both names are on the passport.

By having both names on documents, I think it gives you more of a choice. However, I would be interested to read if anyone has any experience using both names.

I'm also intending to do this and would be really interested in anyone else's experiences with this.

Given that you were intending to use both names, let's say that original name is AB and fiance's last name is C. For stuff like credit cards, I'd assume that it would be ABC in full. Are you given the option so that it'd show up as A. B. C? Or, can you even apply for credit cards with just AB, or AC?

I swear, this name thing is like trying to derive calculus equations again.

[bora bora 1]

Ooooh, don't get me started on this topic. My husband is not Hispanic (but Latin) and he also has 2 last names - no middle name.

Therefore, when I completed the I-129 form for him (along w/ others) I used his first name and 2 last names.

However, his visa was issued using his first surname as his middle name. Unlike hispanic countries, Brazilians normally use their final surname most often since that is their father's surname, not their mother's.

Due to the fact that my husband's visa has only one last name, and uses his other last name as the middle name - I've followed that trend when filling out his paperwork. He doesn't mind and I think it's easier.

I hope USCIS doesn't notice and give me a hard time.

It's not too big of a change.

Your husband can decide (along w/ what his visa says) what he'd like to do. OR.....he can get used to people pronouncing his last name wrong.

[Converse34 1]

I find dealing with a last name pronunciation varies all of the time. Although I am the USC, I have a slightly unique last name (it is that difficult really, just sound it out). If you live in an area of the country that is used to these names, you have a lot less difficulty. But once you start getting telemarketers, banks, anyone on the phone, it is obviously more difficult.

However, I have found the US to be much better than UK - where if your name isn't Jones or Smith - they don't even try and pronounce it.

So you will get a mix bag, the easiest thing to do is politely correct where necessary and to just be prepared to answer to all kinds of different pronunciations

Ooooh, don't get me started on this topic. My husband is not Hispanic (but Latin) and he also has 2 last names - no middle name.

Therefore, when I completed the I-129 form for him (along w/ others) I used his first name and 2 last names.

However, his visa was issued using his first surname as his middle name. Unlike hispanic countries, Brazilians normally use their final surname most often since that is their father's surname, not their mother's.

Due to the fact that my husband's visa has only one last name, and uses his other last name as the middle name - I've followed that trend when filling out his paperwork. He doesn't mind and I think it's easier.

I hope USCIS doesn't notice and give me a hard time.

It's not too big of a change.

Your husband can decide (along w/ what his visa says) what he'd like to do. OR.....he can get used to people pronouncing his last name wrong.

[Magnolia31 0]

I hope I can articulate this question well. Throughout all of the paperwork we've been using my fiance's complete name...one first, one second, and paternal and maternal last names. And his visa will most likely have those two last names.

My question: is it possible to drop one of them for every day use or will that cause confusion with official paces? I ask for two reasons: one, people generally seem to get confused about two last names, and second, his last names are Mayan: Tuz Poot. And I can imagine people having a field day mispronouncing his name. Basically only other Mayans can pronounce it correctly.

Any suggestions?

Hmm, not sure how USCIS looks at it but one of my best friends has two last names. Her full name is Marilynn Puig-Rodriguez. She drops the Rodriguez and only uses Puig.

[bora bora 1]

I hope I can articulate this question well. Throughout all of the paperwork we've been using my fiance's complete name...one first, one second, and paternal and maternal last names. And his visa will most likely have those two last names.

My question: is it possible to drop one of them for every day use or will that cause confusion with official paces? I ask for two reasons: one, people generally seem to get confused about two last names, and second, his last names are Mayan: Tuz Poot. And I can imagine people having a field day mispronouncing his name. Basically only other Mayans can pronounce it correctly.

Any suggestions?

Hmm, not sure how USCIS looks at it but one of my best friends has two last names. Her full name is Marilynn Puig-Rodriguez. She drops the Rodriguez and only uses Puig.

Yes, hispanics use their first surname since it is from their father.

Brazilians use their final surname because that is from their father.

What a mess for this country who can't figure it out....

[athena_ny 1]

I hope I can articulate this question well. Throughout all of the paperwork we've been using my fiance's complete name...one first, one second, and paternal and maternal last names. And his visa will most likely have those two last names.

My question: is it possible to drop one of them for every day use or will that cause confusion with official paces? I ask for two reasons: one, people generally seem to get confused about two last names, and second, his last names are Mayan: Tuz Poot. And I can imagine people having a field day mispronouncing his name. Basically only other Mayans can pronounce it correctly.

Any suggestions?

Hmm, not sure how USCIS looks at it but one of my best friends has two last names. Her full name is Marilynn Puig-Rodriguez. She drops the Rodriguez and only uses Puig.

Yes, hispanics use their first surname since it is from their father.

Brazilians use their final surname because that is from their father.

What a mess for this country who can't figure it out....

Even worse is when you explain it to them, and the DMV still refuses to change the name to what it SHOULD be, even when presented with other documentation...

BUT. He finally got it changed, after multiple trips. Woowoo!

[GabachaYucateca 0]

Well, we'll be going to the SS office next week, so we'll see what happens there.

His visa was issued with both of his last names and I'm trying to stick to that just for consistency's sake...I've read that people have had issues when one document has both last names and another doesn't.

When asked for his full name, I try to give them both. But of course, people move on to the next question once I get the Tuz out...I have to say, "wait, wait, there's more!"