Legal Name and Shortened Same Discrepancy

[ArtUK 2]

Hi all, 

I'm from the UK and my wife is the USC. We submitted our I-130 in Q4 of 2024 and are currently waiting for a response. Given how long the processing time can be, I’m trying to reduce any chance of an RFE.

 

I just realised that some of the supporting evidence we submitted (like joint bills, auto and vacation insurance policies, and other miscellaneous documents) includes my shortened first name, rather than my full legal name. However, all official documents, such as our son's birth certificate, the I-130 form itself, and my driver's license use my full legal name.

 

I've seen posts on Reddit where people received RFEs asking them to clarify name discrepancies, and I’d really like to avoid that if possible.

Would it be a good idea to proactively submit unsolicited evidence to clarify that the shortened/preferred name and my full legal name refer to the same person? I was thinking of drafting an affidavit stating this, and attaching scans of my passport, driver’s license, and birth certificate in a concise PDF. Or is that unnecessary at this stage?

 

Thanks

 

 

[Dashinka 25,311]

Did you include your shortened/nickname in the section other names used?  If so, probably not an issue.  That being said, if you filed online, you can upload documents. 

 

Good Luck!

[S2N 80]

Chile has two legal last names but by convention the paternal last name is used on its own in many cases. Because of that my husband has documents that only list one of his last names.

I uploaded an additional response when filing noting that I didn’t use the “additional names used” box of the online form because it asked for proof of a legal name change when there was none. We’ll see if we get an RFE, but I have a feeling “documents in similar but different names without a legal change” is somewhat common.

[OldUser 8,784]

1 hour ago, S2N said:

Chile has two legal last names but by convention the paternal last name is used on its own in many cases. Because of that my husband has documents that only list one of his last names.

I uploaded an additional response when filing noting that I didn’t use the “additional names used” box of the online form because it asked for proof of a legal name change when there was none. We’ll see if we get an RFE, but I have a feeling “documents in similar but different names without a legal change” is somewhat common.

Are you a US citizen or beneficiary?

 

If beneficiary, I hope not listing other names used is going to be OK. Because this question pops in different forms throughout the process, even in N-400.

I always listed my nickname and alternative spellings of my name that appeared in documents. Didn't have to explain much or provide any other proof.

Other names used field is exactly for this type of situations. I'm pretty sure warning about uploading evidence in online form could have been ignored, just like some warnings in online N-400 form that people ignore for a reason and never get an RFE.

 

I'm talking about names like Chris, Christopher, Kristofer

Edited April 15 by OldUser

[OldUser 8,784]

Example at my interview.

 

- What's your current name?

- Chrisopher Brown

- Have you ever used any other names?

- Yes officer, my birth certificate says Kristofer Brown. I use Chris ad a short version of my name.

 

 

Never had a problem with this.

 

 

On the other hand, if your name is Frank on some documents, but Robert on other. That, yeah, most likely will require some explaining.

Edited April 15 by OldUser

[ArtUK 2]

14 minutes ago, OldUser said:

Are you a US citizen or beneficiary?

 

If beneficiary, I hope not listing other names used is going to be OK. Because this question pops in different forms throughout the process, even in N-400.

I always listed my nickname and alternative spellings of my name that appeared in documents. Didn't have to explain much or provide any other proof.

Other names used field is exactly for this type of situations. I'm pretty sure warning about uploading evidence in online form could have been ignored, just like some warnings in online N-400 form that people ignore for a reason and never get an RFE.

 

I'm talking about names like Chris, Christopher, Kristofer

Hey @OldUser,

 

I am the beneficiary in this scenario and I completed the I-130 online so I'll to double check if I did use the "preferred names" or "other names" field on that form. Yeah I am talking about the use of Alex instead of Alexander for example. Pretty innocuous but wanted to make sure that I'd done all I can to prevent an RFE. 

 

[S2N 80]

51 minutes ago, OldUser said:

Are you a US citizen or beneficiary?

 

If beneficiary, I hope not listing other names used is going to be OK. Because this question pops in different forms throughout the process, even in N-400.

I always listed my nickname and alternative spellings of my name that appeared in documents. Didn't have to explain much or provide any other proof.

Other names used field is exactly for this type of situations. I'm pretty sure warning about uploading evidence in online form could have been ignored, just like some warnings in online N-400 form that people ignore for a reason and never get an RFE.

 

I'm talking about names like Chris, Christopher, Kristofer

I’m the petitioner. Talking about something like Juan Garcia Fernandez and some documents only list Juan Garcia or Juan Garcia F.

 

The online form made it mandatory to upload proof of legal name change if you listed any of those, which won’t exist. I added an additional response to that question noting the name and said it was not a legal change and because of the technical limitation was disclosing it as an additional response rather than directly on the question.

 

 

 

 

[pushbrk 13,360]

I see this as a non-issue, the way you described it.  No need to do anything.