Long name problems, want to change

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hashitoxicosis

Registered Users (C)
I am an indian citizen with a very long name in passport due to them appending my dad's name to mine. This leads to different agencies truncating the name as they deem fit. My name in my green card, SS card, Drivers license are different truncations of the name.

I recently moved to NY state and am having trouble with the DMV. They want my SS name to match my GC name. I was planning to change my name during n-400 process (4 yrs away still) but I am forced to do that now.

I am assuming that first place to change will be the Indian passport, then GC then other cards.
Any problems one can foresee with this? Is there a better way to do this? Also, does USCIS accept the passport name change as proof enough, or do I have to also go with a court order?

The name I am going to assume will essentially be my passport name minus my dad's name. All my educational records are already based on my shorter name.

Thanks in advance
 
If the Indian government won't give you an official name change certificate or order along with the new passport, you should change your name with a US court instead (or in addition to the Indian name change). USCIS will need an official document showing the name change from old name to new name.

Alternatively, instead of doing a full-blown name change process now, you could just change your SS card to match the GC, to satisfy the DMV. On the SS form, they have separate questions for "Name to be shown on card" and "Full legal name at birth", so they can still capture your full name in the database while displaying a shortened name on the card. Of course, that only solves the short-term problem; in the future you'll still need a complete name change process or you'll run into more name issues in another situation.
 
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The name shown in my SS, is actually name I am hoping to keep in the future - hence i am reluctant to change it.
May be I should procure a name change through the courts parallely. I am in NY and the affidavit I have to provide has a line that says "4. I am a natural born citizen of the US"
So I am not sure if I can even do it through the NY courts.
 
Just cross out that line and fill out the rest of it, or cross out the words "natural born citizen" and write "permanent resident" above it. It would be ridiculous for that line to be mandatory, as it would not even allow naturalized citizens to do a name change.
 
An update on my name change:

Contacted Indian embassy: They need one advertisement each in India and US about my name change. Then, they want me to wait 1 month and apply at the consulate with an affidavit and a passport renewal form.

USCIS seems to need a US court order. I also changed my name though NY courts. After the order is signed by the judge (< 1week in my case) you need to advertise in the newspaper. I could have saved some money if I had waited prior to the advertisement as required by indian consulate. I have filed an online I-90. Wish me luck.
 
Green Card : Last and First Reversed

hashitoxicosis:

Good Luck on your online I-90 .

I hope i could your experience , in my green card last name and First name got reversed when compared to my indian passport.

Is there an problem in this and eligible for US Citizenship now , should I just start the Citizenship paperwork .

What are the process involved if I were to change the name now ( I dont know whether I am required to change since there is no spelling mistake )

Thanks
 
Just go ahead and file for citizenship. They know that the green card often has a different name/order/spelling than your passport or birth certificate, that is why they have a separate question for your legal name and for the name that is printed on the green card. They will produce the naturalization certificate with the spelling and order that is on your birth certificate (unless you have legally changed your name after birth, in which case you need to present documentation of that change).
 
Further updates on my name change

Biometrics done for name change I-90. They wanted me to show the old GC and certified court order - gave both back to me.

Indian consulate contacted me. They wanted proof that I have applied for greencard name change - faxed them a copy of the receipt. I had previously submitted a passport renewal app with the new name as below:

One advertisement EACH in Indian and us newspaper needed. The date on the advertisement needs to be a month before your application date. You need original newspapers - clearly showing the date.

Fill the online passport form and submit . Print out the pdf file that pops up at the end of the online application. Use care to shrink to fit while printing - the pdf is A4 sized, and cuts off the bar codes if printed as such on letter paper. Fill in other needed info on that form you printed out by hand and affix 2x2 inch photo.

Notarized affidavit about name change: form available online

Passport data form: available online - photo needed

a 3rd photograph - not attached to any docs

Proof of address : driving license etc

As above , please take Greencard name change app receipt also

Flew to NY (From Upstate NY -thank god for JetBlue) , dropped in all documents , cash and filled an express mail label for return shipping. Received passport(new and old) in 5-6 business days

Hope it helps someone
 
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