Name too long for USCIS - what now?

[Jöla 27]

I have searched the forums and a few people have posted about similar issues, however my situation is slightly different so I wanted to hear what other users would advise.

 

In Germany, middle names are legally all first names, which is why I have 3 first names and one last name. The three first names come out to 19 characters with spaces, like so: ABCDE EFGHIJ KLMNOP

It seems USCIS can only process 18 characters for the first name field. So on my hardcopy NOA, the very last letter of my 3rd first name is missing (the "P" in the example above, so the name stated reads: ABCDE EFGHIJ KLMNO).

 

This has already confused the DMV as it is the only place my name is written with that letter missing. My passport, my visa, my SS card, everything shows my name correctly but this newest letter from USCIS. I am worried that USCIS will actually do the same for my Green Card and other documents in the future.

 

Should I call them or file an e-request for a typographical error?

Should I try to change the 3rd first name into my middle name?

Other options?

Thanks for any advice on this!

Edited June 17, 2021 by Jöla
typo

[Mike E 11,741]

I would have used the second and third first name as my middle name to go with the flow.

 

In my wife's country most people have just one or more first names. She has two first names.

 

I recommended to her, and her attorney that we use her second first name as her surname, and have no middle name until after naturalization (when she can adopt my surtname as her surname, and move her old USA surname to her middle name). Both agreed and it has worked great so far.

[Jöla 27]

The K-1 is my 3rd US Visa and it has never been an issue up until the AOS process.

 

I would prefer making the 2nd and 3rd names my middle names but isn't it too late for that now?

[Mike E 11,741]

28 minutes ago, Jöla said:

The K-1 is my 3rd US Visa and it has never been an issue up until the AOS process.

 

I would prefer making the 2nd and 3rd names my middle names but isn't it too late for that now?

At your AOS interview you can attempt to get the name the way you want.  

[Jöla 27]

19 minutes ago, Mike E said:

At your AOS interview you can attempt to get the name the way you want.  

Gotcha, that's good to know.

 

As far as calling them now about this, can that hurt?

Can anyone confirm if the EAD/Combo Card/Green Cards will also show the truncated name or if maybe they've fixed it in the meantime so it's not even gonna be an issue anymore?

[Jöla 27]

On 6/18/2021 at 8:42 AM, Mike E said:

At your AOS interview you can attempt to get the name the way you want.  

Just wanted to thank you again and confirm that this approach worked like a charm.

I asked them at my interview last week, my GC arrived yesterday and it shows all 3 names on the back in the machine-readable section, and only the first middle initial after my first name on the front under "given name". Exactly what I wanted. 👍

[platinum-android 4]

Hi, I'm in the same situation, but I already received my GC. Is there any way to change my second first name to my middle name? Maybe I can do this during the ROC process?

Edited December 20, 2021 by platinum-android