Difference in Names

S

sparky.001

New Member
Hello,

I am a male US permanent resident and have been on green card for more than five years and am going to apply for citizenship. I have an issue with the name on my green card. Here's a bit of history:

When I came in to US on an H1 visa, I got my social security number based on the name on my Indian passport. My drivers license and all the legal documents till date are based on that name.

I had applied for green card with the same name. But the name on my birth certificate was different (it contained a two part first name) so INS came back to me asking for the name difference. I provided other documents from parents indicating that the name on my passport was the correct name. But INS approved the green card with the name on my birth certificate. So now my name on green card is different than the one on my drivers license, social security etc.

What I want to do is to keep my current legal name (the one on Indian passport/drivers license etc.) after citizenship. So wanted to know what should I fill in the following sections of the N-400 forms:

* Your Current Legal Name
* Other names you have used
* Name change

Please advise.

Thank you very much for your help.
 
I'm interested to know what others will say because if you're using a different name compared to your Birth Certificate, what will be the ramifications on your US Citizenship application, Social Security and Passport. Hopefully, somebody who is knowlegeable on this matter can help you.
 
rjmco said:
I'm interested to know what others will say because if you're using a different name compared to your Birth Certificate, what will be the ramifications on your US Citizenship application, Social Security and Passport. Hopefully, somebody who is knowlegeable on this matter can help you.
Click to expand...

All these sub-continent countries that have the out-of-sync process of passport authorization compared to birth registry will have this problem. I have a similiar problem but luckily I was never asked for a birth certificate by US immigration. And even if they wanted one,, I can always get one with whatever name I wanted from the local city corporation.

As to what you should do.. I think your DL should match your Green Card. The anomalies of names are verified by FBI report ( happened to my wife for which her interview was delayed for name clearance). I think you should use what you use today... Put your Passport/DL name as your existing name and tell the IO that you want your name to be as that. That may require a name change because DHS has your name different than what you have in your passport and DL and other credentials. Your utility bills/certificates should be a proof of the validity of your name change request.
 
The N-400 has one question for your current legal name, and another question for the name displayed on your green card.

According to the N-400 instructions, they see your legal name as what is on your birth certificate, unless there is another legal action to change your name such as marriage or a name change court order.

So answer the questions as instructed -- your birth certificate name for the legal name question, then the green card name for the green card name question.

Then the other issue is that you want your citizenship documents to be in the name on your passport and DL etc. But USCIS doesn't recognize that as your legal name. So request a name change to the passport/DL name that you have been using and want to keep using.
 
If someone does not have the birth certificate or if the name on the birth certificate is missing or completely wrong , what would be the legal name? Can the name on the affidavit (provided by one's parents) be used as the legal name?
 
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