Patronymic / Middle Name Madness

[Redneck-NOVA 1]

So here is my situation. I went to my N-400 interview today and the interviewing officer noticed that the spelling of my 'middle name' (patronymic) is different on all my current documents and forms from 3.5 year old informal traslation of my Russian birth certificate which was submitted for K-1 application. For some reason she said that she has to correct it and go by the old 'birth certificate translation' spelling.

Since Russian travel passport doesn't include patronymics in latin transliteration, there is no 'official' spelling in latin letters.

Now I might have a mess on my hands: I have one spelling that I've been using for the past 3.5 years everywhere in the US, on every official form - I have it on my DL, SS card, GC, all INS forms, car registration, bank accounts, etc. And now I have the other spelling that she copied from this old birth certificate translation, which I assume will be on my Naturalization certificate once I get it.

What should I do? Should I be worried about it at all or you think it's Ok? Will I have to go and update my name everywhere? Did anyone else have similar experience?

Also, when she corrected it, she didn't use the "do you want to change your legal name" option on the form, she just crossed it out with a red pen and wrote the other spelling next to it. Is it all ok?

[baron555 934]

If you are approved and become a citizen.....there are bigger problems in this world than the spelling of your middle name.

Do not worry and Congrats.

[Rob_Lesya 4]

Not sure why she wouldn't just use the "do you want to change your legal name" section to let you choose whichever spelling you wanted to use.....

but Baron555 is right--- it's not something I'd worry TOO much about.... it just sounds like you won't be using your middle name for the rest of your life.

[clueless_in_usa 8]

So here is my situation. I went to my N-400 interview today and the interviewing officer noticed that the spelling of my 'middle name' (patronymic) is different on all my current documents and forms from 3.5 year old informal traslation of my Russian birth certificate which was submitted for K-1 application. For some reason she said that she has to correct it and go by the old 'birth certificate translation' spelling.

Since Russian travel passport doesn't include patronymics in latin transliteration, there is no 'official' spelling in latin letters.

Now I might have a mess on my hands: I have one spelling that I've been using for the past 3.5 years everywhere in the US, on every official form - I have it on my DL, SS card, GC, all INS forms, car registration, bank accounts, etc. And now I have the other spelling that she copied from this old birth certificate translation, which I assume will be on my Naturalization certificate once I get it.

What should I do? Should I be worried about it at all or you think it's Ok? Will I have to go and update my name everywhere? Did anyone else have similar experience?

Also, when she corrected it, she didn't use the "do you want to change your legal name" option on the form, she just crossed it out with a red pen and wrote the other spelling next to it. Is it all ok?

One more reason why WE prefer not to even mention the patronymic anywhere. WE only used he name as it appears on her international passport in Roman letters. I prefer simplicity, if you have not noticed (I am a practical person, which usually avoids headaches like this).

[slim 1,514]

Is it too late to request them to change it, and why didn't you ask them to do it right then?

[akdiver 3]

Is it too late to request them to change it, and why didn't you ask them to do it right then?

I'm with slim. You could have saved yourself a huge amount of headache simply by using the N400 name change procedure to get the name the way you want it (i.e. to match your existing documents). If I were you, I would contact them ASAP and tell them this is what you want to do. Do not delay! Otherwise, it is pretty clear that you're N400 document is going to have the "wrong" name on it, and who knows what of hassle this may cause you in the future.