name doesn't match on social security card and GC: implications for citizenship, etc.

dig

Registered Users (C)
Mu name is spelled differently in my GC/passport (1) and my social security card/driver license (2). The spellings are close enough not to cause any significant practical consequences (so far). Two questions:

1. Can there be problems while applying for citizenship?
2. If yes, how do I go about getting a uniform spelling on all documents? I assume it all should be (1).

Thank you.
 
Have you renewed your driver's license since noticing this? In some states, they will not renew your license if there is a name spelling discrepancy between your SS card and GC.
1. Can there be problems while applying for citizenship?
Should not be a problem. On the citizenship applicaiton, USCIS has separate questions for your current legal name, the name displayed on the GC, and other names used. Between all those questions, make sure all variations of your name ever used on all your current and past legal documents are listed, and you'll be OK.

2. If yes, how do I go about getting a uniform spelling on all documents? I assume it all should be (1).
USCIS considers the name on your birth certificate to be your official legal name, unless there is something else like marriage that changed your name.

If the GC doesn't match the birth certificate, start with the GC. How long ago was the GC issued? If it was recent (1-2 months), and the wrong spelling is USCIS mistake, you can get it corrected for free. But you have to know what was written on your I-485 or immigrant visa paperwork to know if it was USCIS mistake.

Then once the GC is corrected, get your SS card corrected (if it is also wrong), showing the updated GC when you apply for the corrected SS card. Then you can use the GC and SS card when you renew the driver's license.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
opening a can of worms, for me the gc and dl matches, the ss doesnt match with the gc nor the passport
 
i do not have the birth certificate with me ( i think its misplaced) but i am sure that in india, the passport goes by ur birth certificate
That is what most countries do, but sometimes it doesn't match due to spelling errors and/or mistaken reordering of names by the clerical staff who handle issuing of the passports. Find out exactly what is on the birth certificate so you can avoid having to do another round of name changes later in the future. You'll need the birth certificate anyway to apply for citizenship or sponsor a green card for a relative. You had to submit a copy of the birth certificate when applying for your GC; maybe you still have a copy lying around somewhere.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
The name on my social security card didn't match the name on my GC. I listed the name that appeared on my SS card in the "other names used" section on the N-400. I didn't have any problems whatsoever.
 
Thank you all for your feedback. Sounds like I should be fine without any changes, since the spelling in my birth certificate does match that in GC. Could still be a hassle when getting a driver license in a different state, but that's relatively minor.
 
That is what most countries do, but sometimes it doesn't match due to spelling errors and/or mistaken reordering of names by the clerical staff who handle issuing of the passports. Find out exactly what is on the birth certificate so you can avoid having to do another round of name changes later in the future. You'll need the birth certificate anyway to apply for citizenship or sponsor a green card for a relative. You had to submit a copy of the birth certificate when applying for your GC; maybe you still have a copy lying around somewhere.

jack i do have a copy but not the original one. are u sure that i would need my birth certificate for naturalization ? I had sent the N400 today but i didnt enclose a copy of my birth certificate. is it okay if i produce the copy at the interview or do i need the original for the interview ? or should i try to get a duplicate copy from the registering agency in the mean time? please advice
 
Last edited by a moderator:
jack i do have a copy but not the original one. are u sure that i would need my birth certificate for naturalization ? I had sent the N400 today but i didnt enclose a copy of my birth certificate. is it okay if i produce the copy at the interview or do i need the original for the interview ? or should i try to get a duplicate copy from the registering agency in the mean time? please advice
They sometimes ask to see the birth certificate in the interview. In your case I figure it's 95% certain they will ask for it, because you have a name discrepancy issue and they'll rely on the birth certificate to identify which name is the real legal name. So try to get a new certified copy from the registration agency.
 
Thank you all for your feedback. Sounds like I should be fine without any changes, since the spelling in my birth certificate does match that in GC. Could still be a hassle when getting a driver license in a different state, but that's relatively minor.
Yes, you'll be fine for citizenship as long as you list everything in the "other names used" section and bring your birth certificate to the interview. It's just the other things like driver's license that could involve problems.
 
They sometimes ask to see the birth certificate in the interview. In your case I figure it's 95% certain they will ask for it, because you have a name discrepancy issue and they'll rely on the birth certificate to identify which name is the real legal name. So try to get a new certified copy from the registration agency.

jack,
is the copy enough for the interview ? the birth certificate and passport display my name in the right way.
the gc and dl have the name in the same way (but different from the passport/birth certificate
the re-entry permit has the name in a different way
the social security card has the name ins a differen way
these are all that i could think of now
 
jack,
is the copy enough for the interview ?
If there is any mismatch on different documents involving your name or date of birth, and they want to see the birth certificate to sort it out which is the true name or DOB, they probably will require the certified one from the registration authority. If you don't have it and they ask for it, your case will get delayed.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
jack,

can you help me out ,

S**************** is my first name
A**************** is my dad's name
K**************** is my last name

for all my life i have been known as S************ A*************** , my college/school certificates show that

sppose my name in the birth certificate appears as
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

name : S**************
son of (father's name) : A*************
house name : K*************

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
on my passport its as

surname : K************** A*************
given name : S**************

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

on my GC its as
K*********** , A************ S just the first letter of my first name

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

SS Card

S********** K A************* the first letter of my last name (middle initial) and the spelling of my dad's name is mispelled by a letter

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

re-enty permit

surname : K***************
given name : A**************
middle name : S************** i do not have a clue how this happened, its been sever al years :(

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

my school / college certificates

S*********** A*************

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++



jack what do u think, is it going to be a mess? will i be able to choose the name as per my birth certificate ? i found the original by the way


thanks
 
Top