Today I was going thru my paper work and I noticed that my mothers name on my Marriage Certificate is her nick name not her actual name. (All other immigration related documents which I have sent to immigration for me sofar, has her actual name). I got married in New Jersey in 2001 and my mother has never visited USA. Do you think if I go to City Hall where I got married and ask them to correct it and give me new certificate or put note on it (I am not sure they can do that or how they will work on this issue) or I just submit the citizenship application and if IO raise the question at interview I can explain that this is her nick name not actual name. Please advise me with your experience. Thank you
Issue with Nick name while applying for citizenship
- Thread starter Aniket19
- Start date
rick92
Volunteer Moderator
You have to use the same exact first and last names that are shown on your Green Card. If any other document shows any discrepancies, I would explain it to the IO in person if they ask for an explanation.-
If they need an explanation during the process, believe me, they will send you a letter asking for the explanation. Then, you can elaborate.
Jackolantern
Registered Users (C)
On the green card? The name of the mother of a green card holder is not on the green card.
I don't think this is something to worry about. Many marriage certificates don't have parents' names at all. In the US, parents are normally irrelevant to the marriage process, unless either of the people getting married is so young that they need parental consent. Unless you are applying based on marriage to a US citizen, or there is reason to believe you have a prior marriage, USCIS isn't going to pay much attention to your marriage certificate.
rick92, Jackolantern
Thank you for your reply.
There is no mothers name on greencard. I was talking about mothers name on my Marriage Certificate.
Yes I am applying based on marriage to a US Citizen, that's why I am worried with this error. Should I go to city hall to make changes (I am not sure they can do anything about it) or explain IO in person when this question is raised. Please advise me. Thank you.
Thank you for your reply.
There is no mothers name on greencard. I was talking about mothers name on my Marriage Certificate.
Yes I am applying based on marriage to a US Citizen, that's why I am worried with this error. Should I go to city hall to make changes (I am not sure they can do anything about it) or explain IO in person when this question is raised. Please advise me. Thank you.
Jackolantern
Registered Users (C)
If the nickname is an obvious derivation of her real name (e.g. Emilia -> Emmy or Elizabeth -> Beth/Betty) it shouldn't be an issue at all.
Otherwise, you could go for the interview with the certificate as is, and deal with it if the interviewer says something, visiting City Hall after the interview if you have to. Or you could proactively go to City Hall before the interview and find out how to change it or how to get a official note with an explanation. It all depends on how concerned you are about having your citizenship delayed by a number of weeks if you have to clear this up after the interview, vs. the convenience (or lack thereof) of going to City Hall to attempt to do something about it ahead of time. For some people they'd have to go to another state or even out of the country to deal with the authorities that issued their marriage certificate, so they probably wouldn't want to go there unless the interviewer forced them to.
Otherwise, you could go for the interview with the certificate as is, and deal with it if the interviewer says something, visiting City Hall after the interview if you have to. Or you could proactively go to City Hall before the interview and find out how to change it or how to get a official note with an explanation. It all depends on how concerned you are about having your citizenship delayed by a number of weeks if you have to clear this up after the interview, vs. the convenience (or lack thereof) of going to City Hall to attempt to do something about it ahead of time. For some people they'd have to go to another state or even out of the country to deal with the authorities that issued their marriage certificate, so they probably wouldn't want to go there unless the interviewer forced them to.
rick92
Volunteer Moderator
Sorry about the confusion. I keep forgetting the GC does not show it unless they are , of course, matching it up and looking further.
As I said before, explain when asked. If not, two choices: be proactive as Jack stated or wait for the incovenience to show up.
As Jack said, don't worry about it too much. These people are super-busy and personally, I think they don't want any more paper unless necessary.
As I said before, explain when asked. If not, two choices: be proactive as Jack stated or wait for the incovenience to show up.
As Jack said, don't worry about it too much. These people are super-busy and personally, I think they don't want any more paper unless necessary.