Name change during naturalization process

[Olya2007 0]

Hi.

I am preparing docs for an interview and came across this question. I slightly changed my last name (just took off 2 letters at ending). And even completely forgot about that . Now when I am translating my original birth certificate and also previous Divorce certificate (Ukrainian) I noticed that it's different from how my last name written on my Passport (and on 129F). Will it be a problem ? And if yes, what should I do?

I don't have any documents about the change. Those who gone through naturalization know that it's offered by officer during the interview and then it's a done deal. Please advice me on that!

[zqt3344 21]

Hi.

I am preparing docs for an interview and came across this question. I slightly changed my last name (just took off 2 letters at ending). And even completely forgot about that . Now when I am translating my original birth certificate and also previous Divorce certificate (Ukrainian) I noticed that it's different from how my last name written on my Passport (and on 129F). Will it be a problem ? And if yes, what should I do?

I don't have any documents about the change. Those who gone through naturalization know that it's offered by officer during the interview and then it's a done deal. Please advice me on that!

Translate it to English how you have it spelled. Or you could attach addendum or note that your name when translated back and forth between Russian and Ukrainian to English comes out the way it does with the two letter difference due to the process in the translation of different alphabets if it makes you feel better.

We found similar problem with our translations, for example translating from Russian to English would sometimes have different spelling from Ukrainian to English or Ukrainian to Russian, which you probably know already all this or have noticed. We did not attach a note or addendum explaining this and had no problems with our English translations, we just translated each document from Ukrainian to English as it appeared and even though there were some words with slight one or two letter differences which happens when you translate anyway. Well hope this helps, anyway that is what we did.

[Olya2007 0]

Thanks a lot for your answer! I was worried that on petition approval stage (where I also sent translations and my last name was different then it is on my Passport) we did not have any problems, but on interview when they see it again (and being able to read in Russian) they will spot it and it can cause a problem

[cbr900rr1_kicks 0]

Hello, My wife changed her name to my name (US) when we got married. So her green card has her married name, and her Ukrainian passport still has her Family name. When we traveled to Ukraine, the passport control in Ukraine, gave us big problems when returning to the US. They said the names did not match, even after we showed him a copy of the marriage certificate. It was a big problem, and he said something about a "stamp" that was supposed to be in her Ukrainian passport. So when we got back, we figured it would be easier to change her green card name back to her family name so it will match her Ukrainian passport. It has been almost 6 months and were still waiting to get the new green card with her family name (we already went to court to legally change her name back, and had biometrics and everything).. Anyone know how long it could take, and what is the "stamp" the Ukrainian passport control was talking about ???

Thankyou very much !!

[Sinergy 3]

Moved thread to US Citizenship General Discussion as this is not K1 related.

[moonhunt 1]

Hi.

I am preparing docs for an interview and came across this question. I slightly changed my last name (just took off 2 letters at ending). And even completely forgot about that . Now when I am translating my original birth certificate and also previous Divorce certificate (Ukrainian) I noticed that it's different from how my last name written on my Passport (and on 129F). Will it be a problem ? And if yes, what should I do?

I don't have any documents about the change. Those who gone through naturalization know that it's offered by officer during the interview and then it's a done deal. Please advice me on that!

Did you declare those names in "othernames used" field?

If not, it may cause the problem with FBI namecheck since they have to go through FBI database for all kinds of combination for criminal/terrorist database records along with others.

If there is no issue from FBI namecheck by USCIS adjudicator, it may be enough with affidavit of support from your family to state those names are same, and notarized those affidavit of support documentation.

But if USCIS adjudicator may find out from interview, and he/she may think to run FBI namecheck again with the changes in name spelling, it may take extra time - maybe a couple of months? - to re-do FBI namecheck.

[Masha276 0]

Hello, My wife changed her name to my name (US) when we got married. So her green card has her married name, and her Ukrainian passport still has her Family name. When we traveled to Ukraine, the passport control in Ukraine, gave us big problems when returning to the US. They said the names did not match, even after we showed him a copy of the marriage certificate. It was a big problem, and he said something about a "stamp" that was supposed to be in her Ukrainian passport. So when we got back, we figured it would be easier to change her green card name back to her family name so it will match her Ukrainian passport. It has been almost 6 months and were still waiting to get the new green card with her family name (we already went to court to legally change her name back, and had biometrics and everything).. Anyone know how long it could take, and what is the "stamp" the Ukrainian passport control was talking about ???

Thankyou very much !!

This stamp is to show that your wife has been legally "approved" to live outside Ukraine as a permanent resident. A bunch of BS. You can get this stamp at the Ukrainian consulate, but it's very complicated. My husband and I have chosen to wait till I become naturalized (less than 3 years!) and then just travel on a US passport.

If you do chose to get this stamp, here are the instructions (from the Consulate in DC): http://www.mfa.gov.ua/usa/ua/1597.htm

[tjjolle 0]

Hello, My wife changed her name to my name (US) when we got married. So her green card has her married name, and her Ukrainian passport still has her Family name. When we traveled to Ukraine, the passport control in Ukraine, gave us big problems when returning to the US. They said the names did not match, even after we showed him a copy of the marriage certificate. It was a big problem, and he said something about a "stamp" that was supposed to be in her Ukrainian passport. So when we got back, we figured it would be easier to change her green card name back to her family name so it will match her Ukrainian passport. It has been almost 6 months and were still waiting to get the new green card with her family name (we already went to court to legally change her name back, and had biometrics and everything).. Anyone know how long it could take, and what is the "stamp" the Ukrainian passport control was talking about ???

Thankyou very much !!

This stamp is to show that your wife has been legally "approved" to live outside Ukraine as a permanent resident. A bunch of BS. You can get this stamp at the Ukrainian consulate, but it's very complicated. My husband and I have chosen to wait till I become naturalized (less than 3 years!) and then just travel on a US passport.

If you do chose to get this stamp, here are the instructions (from the Consulate in DC): <a href="http://www.mfa.gov.ua/usa/ua/1597.htm" target="_blank">http://www.mfa.gov.ua/usa/ua/1597.htm</a>

I think it would be a lot easier to get this stamp in her Ukrainian passport. I did this for my russian passport and it took me 1 month. it's just stating that you have new last name now and what this last name is...and the cost was around $100 (don't remember for sure), but I never do any of my docs in Consulates, I'd rather to pay a few more bucks to special companies (like this one for example: http://www.russianpassportservice.com) and don't have any problems.