Error/change name on GC, what to do? (& ok with no GC for a while?)

[toopapres 0]

Hi everyone, in January we received my wife's GC. The name was incorrect.
My wife's name is Betty Sue (no middle name) O'Toole. (Real name changed, but same situation!)
On the GC, it is shown as:
Given Name: Betty S
Surname: O Toole
The issues:

• first name (which has two parts) has been separated, immigration probably think the 'Sue' is a middle name, understandable, but we filled in all the documents correctly, always put 'n/a' in the section for 'middle name'
  • I understand the name can get cut short if it is too long, but her first name is only 13 characters long (including the space). So I don't think length is the issue.
• last name, the apostrophe has been replaced with a space: O'Toole (good) -> O Toole(bad)

 

We want to get this corrected! Plus, want to get her surname updated to her married surname.
So, correct first name because of a mistake, and update last name to married one.
Her passport doesn't include her married name, but before entry to the US, she has been using it for work, banks, tax... etc
We are unable to change the name on her passport, her country does not let her, citizens cannot change their name where she is from.

 

My questions:

1. How can we prove it? It is ambiguous that Betty Sue is one name, and not first and middle. My own first and middle names (ex: Peter Adam) are displayed next to each other on my passport, birth certificate - same for her. There is no separate area for a middle name, so I don't see how we can prove that her name isn't Betty    Sue,   but,  Betty Sue. Will they just accept our word? (plus of course, the same documents we went before)
2. The new GC is free if there is a mistake, but we have to pay if we want to make an update (not a mistake). We have both... (mistake and update), any feedback on whether they will fix first name AND update last name, still for free? I guess it's at their discretion, but any input?
3. I see here https://egov.uscis.gov/processing-times/ that it can be a 6.5 to 11.5 month wait for a replacement. That's crazy. In 6.5 months her I-551 stamp will expire, so how will she be able to get in and out of the country if her green card is with USCIS? This one is making us worry. We want to go on vacation and leave the country next summer for a few weeks.

 

Thank you very much for all your help. This community has been very helpful for us.

Edited June 4, 2020 by toopapres

[portorusa 431]

I am not sure about double first name but USCIS does not support special characters (including the apostrophe ‘) so you have to choose between “O Toole” or “OToole”. 

[toopapres 0]

17 hours ago, portorusa said:

I am not sure about double first name but USCIS does not support special characters (including the apostrophe ‘) so you have to choose between “O Toole” or “OToole”. 

Interesting privilege that citizens are allowed to have more choice of characters in their name!
Thanks

[payxibka 10,045]

12 minutes ago, toopapres said:

Interesting privilege that citizens are allowed to have more choice of characters in their name!
Thanks

When is a USC issued a benefit from the uscis where this "privilege " occurs?

[toopapres 0]

1 hour ago, payxibka said:

When is a USC issued a benefit from the uscis where this "privilege " occurs?

Just a little joke, that immigrants aren't 'allowed' an apostrophe in their name, but when naming a US baby I guess you're allowed to include an apostrophe then...? I may be wrong if so, maybe it's a US wide limitation, just some misinformed humor. Thankfully I've never had to deal with this myself, my birth name only includes a-z.

Still thinking about our GC situation.
Possibly, it's too much trouble, and we'll just wait to fix the issues when getting her 10 year card.

Edited June 5, 2020 by toopapres