True full name and getting ready for interview

M

mrmcr

New Member
Hello everyone,
Me an my husband are getting ready for our interview on May 8th, in Santa Ana. I have a couple of questions, I already read the doc file with the interview FAQ and we are using those questions to practice, not because we don't know the answers but because we want to be ready.
My first questions is about the true full name, should I give my married name? the name I'm using right now? or the name as it appears on my birth certificate? I think I should say my married name, and under "other names used" I should say my maiden name, but I'm a little confused about that.
My second question is, my last name is spelled as Penalosa in my birth certificate and as Penaloza in my passport and in my visa, do you think this might be a problem or cause any doubts about my identity?
Once I get my green card (THINKING POSITIVE!!), I would like to have all my documents under my married name.
My last question is about the documents we should take with us as evidence of joint life, we have a rent lease we both of our names, a joint bank account, last tax season filled together, letters written to both of us at the same address, and of course, emails we sent to each other, a scrapbook with tons of pictures of us together and our families, etc... any other recommendations?
Thank you so much for your help!
 
mrmcr said:
Hello everyone,
Me an my husband are getting ready for our interview on May 8th, in Santa Ana. I have a couple of questions, I already read the doc file with the interview FAQ and we are using those questions to practice, not because we don't know the answers but because we want to be ready.
My first questions is about the true full name, should I give my married name? the name I'm using right now? or the name as it appears on my birth certificate? I think I should say my married name, and under "other names used" I should say my maiden name, but I'm a little confused about that.
My second question is, my last name is spelled as Penalosa in my birth certificate and as Penaloza in my passport and in my visa, do you think this might be a problem or cause any doubts about my identity?
Once I get my green card (THINKING POSITIVE!!), I would like to have all my documents under my married name.
My last question is about the documents we should take with us as evidence of joint life, we have a rent lease we both of our names, a joint bank account, last tax season filled together, letters written to both of us at the same address, and of course, emails we sent to each other, a scrapbook with tons of pictures of us together and our families, etc... any other recommendations?
Thank you so much for your help!
Click to expand...


I was in a same situation 3 years ago. OK, so my name in my visa was spelled in English transcription, in my passport it was written in French transcription. On the application itself I used the name as it was written on my visa,and "other names used" I put my husbands last name. so I would suggest you could do the same thing. Don't use your spouses name, use your own as it appeares on your visa. I read somewhere you have to file a special form in order to change your name to your married one. And anyway, INS already has a file with your maden name, so I think it's easier.
Your evidence of marriage looks good, so I think you'll do fine.
Good luck with the interview! :)
 
When the officer ask your name you should say the name that you are using right now, if you decided to change your last name to your married name then you should say your married name. What is the name that you put in the forms so is the one that will appear in your card? If you put your maiden name then that is your name.

That is why is important to check all the information of documents when you are applying for services. In any case, is important that they have your corrected last name in their database with S not with Z.

For example, is your name is Jeanette Penalosa and now you are using Jeanette Jimenez and you put in your forms Jeanette Jimenez then your name is Jeanette Jimenez, IF the officer ask you for your complete MAIDEN name then you said Jeanette Penalosa.

To change your name in the rest of your documents (do you apply for an EAD?) and I guess you have already a SSN right? you can change your name but will take time, but you can do it.

IF you did not change your last name to your married name when you applied for your immigration documents/benefits then everything and your card will be in your maiden name and you will have to pay again to ask for a new card with your name changed.

Good luck,
 
The name I wrote in the application for my green card is my maiden name spelled correctly, my EAD and SSN are under my married name.
The notice we got for our interview is written to my maiden name.
Let me know if I understand this correctly:
When the inspector asks me for my name: I should say my maiden name (since the application for the green card was filled with this name).
When he asks me for other names used: My married name and my name with the error on my last name.
Is that correct?
Thanks again.
 
Well, the problem that you put both type of names in the different applications...I will tell you my own experience:
The officer called my name as appeared on my interview notice that is what appears on my I-485, I choose to use my married name. But during the interview he was reading my maiden name and he said "your name before marry was "Jeanette Jimenez Verdi" "and I said yes. That was the entire part of names. So I never had to tell my name he is the one who was reading and he just wanted to know what was my maiden and what was my married name, but he was follow what I put in the application. But I use my married name for all my documents.

Girl, you must change and use one name at a time, can cause confusion you know...hehe :)

Anyway, so probably when the officer called you (you will be seating in a waiting room) s/he will called you by the name that appears in your I-485 application. But at the end, what is the name that you have been choose to use? If you have decided to use your maiden name then use it anyway there is no problem plus is the one in your I-485 application to adjust status. If they ask you why you use your married name in the other forms or ask for your SSN card just explain that probably you change your mind and now you are in the process to change your documents to your married name.

I hope I don't confuse you more, sorry but is really confusing.
 
Remember, the officer will go through all your application, your I-485 and biographical data, so just remember the name that you choose to put in your application as Family Name and then the Other Names Used. That's all. Don't put too much brain on it, you will be fine.

Good luck,
 
what is the possibility that they might not include one middle name...( I have 2 middle names) and my I-130 shows one middle name, I-485 shows the other (from my dad's) middle name. How ever the birth certificate/ native passport has all of it. Now that all of you are talking about this i checked my previous visas/and I-94s they all have been interchangingly used each one..and I am worried this might be a confusion?
 
Just clarify it on the interview if that comes up. Take ALL your documents originals with you, especially your birth certificate since is the one who had all your names.

Of course you can talk to your officer how your name will be in the green card, normally is as your I-485 application is. Normally, there is just space for three things: for one Family Name (last name), one Middle Name and one First Name.
 
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