US Immigration from Spain

Hello everyone!

After 12 years living in the USA I want my name to be corrected for what it actually is in my Spanish passport and birth certificate because well, that's who I am. Living in the USA one can put whatever name they want and change it whenever. However, that it is legal and permitted does not mean that all names are treated with respect or understanding because they are another format or whatever.

In my country of origin (Spain) middle names do not exist so I actually have a compound first name for example Ana Maria and a compound last name (one from my dad, one from my mum): for example Janer Perell . None of my names have a hyphen, just a space. So I am going to talk about stuff using that fictitious example name: Ana Maria Janer Perell .

When asking some people about their experience some told me that:

1. In the USA even if you write everything right, most places/people will change your name to be Ana Perell , ignoring anything in between. These people decided to write their name in several places in many different ways given their frustration. Ana Janer, Ana-Maria Janer-Perell , etc. But would not that cause more issues? Then they said that it was not really a problem but decided to give their children a hyphenated surname or just one surname because poor guys. Now, if it was not a problem to you, why did you do it different for your children? Others, decided to follow their same format, spaces, no hyphens for their children.

2. In the USA they do not understand the two last names or two first names so they will want to put everything in between as your middle name and you will have serious issues even if you write it right and will have to call to many places to attempt to get things fixed. Even then, some places will not want to fix it.

3. In the USA they do not understand the two last names/two first names so it is best to put the hyphen. These people hyphenated their first name Ana-Maria and last name Janer-Perell to decrease the chances that what falls in between is considered a middle name. However, they still say that it can be a pain and that it is a battle to have to clarify what belongs to what.

So here are my thoughts. I do not understand why someone who specifically writes two words on the first name field, leaves blank the middle name, and puts two words in the last name field has to go through any grief of others not following what they entered so now other people or agencies have the right to change others legal name? just because they want to or do not understand the format? Also, why people have to change their name adding a hyphen because apparently others do not want to understand? Is not it a country of freedom and immigrants? At this point I am so confused thinking that if I correct my name the way it is in my country of origin with the format explained above I will live a life of constant misunderstandings and bureaucratic hell. Is it really that bad? What are your experiences?

Thank you in advance for your time!

Hello everyone!

I am sure this question has been asked before but here it goes. I came to the USA 12 years ago under a K-1 visa and once married did my I-485 (AOS). I was granted a 10 year green card and it is time to renew so here are my questions:

Hello everyone!

I hope you are well. I either have to choose between renewing my 10 year green card or doing the citizenship. I know all processing times are ridiculous and, currently, with the NOA for both applications, an extension of 2 years to the expiring green card is added. Now, I understand the citizenship is a longer process but is it really taking people 20 months to get a new green card printed? I am not mentioning any state because any online application for I-90 seems to go through Potomac anyway. Any insight on your experiences is greatly appreciated!

Hello everyone!

My 10 years GC expires June 2023. With the new policy changes of USCIS I would get an automatic extension of the green card of 24 months for either an I-90 or an N-400 application. Yesterday, talking to an USCIS agent, she said that if my citizenship is pending after 2 years then I would not get anymore green card extensions. Right now in the USCIS website the GC and the citizenship processing times are around 20 months each for 80% of cases. My husband and I moved to Fort Myers, FL on April 2021 so I have never done anything related to immigration in the Fort Myers office. I am in a dilemma. Should I just renew the GC and then do the naturalization having 10 extra years more to do it whenever or just go ahead and do the citizenship now? It is just problematic to choose what to do the fact that USCIS has overall not been doing good with processing times since COVID...

Side question: anyone knows if there are judicial oath ceremonies in the Fort Myers office? USCIS messed up my first name back in the days and split my two words first name into a first and a middle. Also, I want my maiden name back for cultural reasons so would like that restored too. Therefore, whenever I apply for the N-400, I would ask for a name change to have my first and last name restored to my birth name.

Thank you in advance! Probably I am overthinking this but USCIS being slow processing doesn't make things better for this indecisive human being.

Hello everyone!

I hope you are all well. I have an Spanish passport with a compound first name (two words) and a compound last name (two words, no hyphen). My green card has my first name split as First and Middle and my husband's last name as last name. I want to put my name back to my birth name/passport name in my green card, both, my first and last name. I have not divorced. I just want my name and heritage back. I have to renew my 10 years green card again soon. Is this something that can be done during the application, or will it be rejected? USCIS representatives refuse to give me any information about it.

Thank you in advance