Mailed N-400 Packet Yesterday. Be concerend about Part 1-A

[worrywart2013 2]

Dropped the wife's N-400 packet in the mail yesterday. Going back over it--second guessing ourselves--we're now concerned about Part 1 (Name).

When we got her green card USCIS had put here name as "Given Name", "Middle Initial", "Maiden Name Married Name"; but when she filed for her social security card in 2004 they said they couldn't/didn't do compound names without a hyphen, and they had to go by the birth certificate and marriage license, so they listed her as "Given Name", "Middle Name", "Married Name" on her SS card. Everyone that's seen her GC--which she uses as her main ID--(employer, bank, state ID) has ignored the Maiden name in the middle and defaults to using a regular single married name. Which is what she's used since we've got married.

1A: Legal Name: Given Name, Full Middle Name, Married Name
1B: Greencard Name: Given Name, Middle Initial, Maiden Name Married Name (* This is how the card was issued)
1C: Other Names: Given, Maiden; Green Card Variant; Legal
1D: Name Change Request: Given Name, Full Middle Name, Married Name.

Here's how we ended up confused on Part A.

Part 1. Your Name (the person applying for naturalization)

A. Your current legal name - Your current legal name is

the name on your birth certificate unless it has been

changed after birth by a legal action such as a marriage

or court order.

B. Your name exactly as it appears on your Permanent

Resident Card (if different from above) - Write your

name exactly as it appears on your card. even if it is

misspelled.

So, to me, that means her married name. As Part 1A doesn't specify greencard name and Part 1B makes provision for a difference. But that's a layman's reading of it.

Could the difference lead to problems with her application?

[Penguin_ie 5,992]

No problems, because they will see her name on her greencard, passport and ssn anyways. It often happens that a maiden name is added or left of.

[worrywart2013 2]

Was getting over being worried about this. Now that we got her biometrics on Tuesday, I'm right back to where I was with it

Spent the last week getting together every document we can (taxes, bank, school records for the kids, married and birth certs, on and on.) to show that she's never used her name any other way than Give, Middle, Married.

Still concerned that we could have an issue with her card being issued as Given, Middle initial, Maiden Name Married name. Maybe them denying us on the ground that we never corrected the card--never thought of it to be honest, cause everyone that saw the card dropped the maiden name.

Hell, the closer this all gets we're getting worried they'll pull her PR status over this cause we don't have everything matching.

[Jamericanlove 31]

I took my ex-hubands last name when we got married and that's what shows on my PR card. In the final decree it was stipulated that my name revert to my maiden name. I never changed the card and I put my maiden name as my legal name in the application (married name as name exactly as shown on the PR card) and it was accepted. When I went to biometrics the person organizing everyone told me to write my name in both formats on the form. I'm sure they ran the the background check on both names. Other than that everything was fine. I'm sure at the interview it will also be clear even though everything of mine (card/passport/DL) doesn't match either.

You'll be fine.

Edited September 14, 2013 by Jamericanlove

[newlyweds2010 208]

Also, my understanding is that you can fix your application at the time of the interview. I wouldn't stress too much

[worrywart2013 2]

The going heart attack worry with this is

"Can they pull her PR status over it, put an order of removal on her? "

"Would they do that, or would they more likely just deny the N-400 is the AO has an issue with it?"

[Penguin_ie 5,992]

No they won't pull her PR status.

No they won't deny the N-400.

Worst that will happen is that they make you get an affadavit or something, ie that there will be a delay in the process before she gets the oath.

[worrywart2013 2]

What sort of affidavits?

[Penguin_ie 5,992]

From people who know both her names,

Look, it is natural to panic a but about immigration stuff, but you are really worrying for nothing here.

Edited September 15, 2013 by Penguin_ie

[worrywart2013 2]

From people who know both her names,

Look, it is natural to panic a but about immigration stuff, but you are really worrying for nothing here.

Well that could be interesting, since since we've been married she's only used her married name. We were married before she filed for her green-card. She's never used what the Greencard has. So basically what we'd have is going around asking people to sign a bit of paper saying she is Given Middle Married, and that's all they've ever known her as.

We're not even sure how the green-card got cooked up the way it did, but apparently common for them to have some form name error on them--especially for women.

Yeah, we're stressing over it more than we stressed over the greencard. She's the only one of us working right now, with the kids medical insurance through her job, and her and I both are scared their going to pull her status, and she'll be out of work and out of the country over the name issue.

[env88 3]

There are tons of people with different names in green card, social security card, foreign country's passport, birth certificate, etc.

I am one of those. You really don't need to worry about this... The application is very straight forward and that's why it has separate sections for legal name and for green card name. They recognize many people have different names or different versions or parts of the same name showing in their documents.

So for green card name: write exactly what shows on the green card.

For legal name: write whatever she feels her legal name is or should be (whether this is what's on her birth certificate, foreign passport, social security card, marriage certificate or whatever).

At the time of the interview make sure you bring evidence of her legal name just in case. She can even clarify to the officer the name that she wants to have on her naturalization certificate (this will also later be the name on her U.S. passport).

[worrywart2013 2]

Back from biometrics, crank staff aside things went smoothly on that part.

[mozplay 28]

I agree with newlyweds above.. you can fix it at the time of the interview. It's not an issue. It may cause a short delay in getting your oath date, but that's all.

When I went for my interview, the interviewer told me I should have listed my married name (First, Middle, Married) as a name used, even though I've never used it. I wanted to officially change it to that at the oath. I still don't understand why this was the case, but regardless, they then had to run a background check for that name. That's it. Just be prepared for a little delay but don't worry.

[worrywart2013 2]

On the N400 we listed both variants under "Other Names" along with her maiden name--so they've got the info; did the same on the biometrics, the officer that signed her in just swapped the clipboards when we asked what to do, gave us one with slots for other names and we just repeated the info from the N400. Luckily she's only used her married now, so I think consistency will work in our favor.

Biometric note: When the officer asks "Can you read and understand english?" Do not say "Yes", then say "No, understand" when you have to answer questions and fill in forms, they get cranky when you do that. Two people before my wife did this to the woman handling the fingerprints and put her in a really bad mood.

[worrywart2013 2]

Well that's quick: txt alert just went off:

On September 19, 2013, your N400, APPLICATION FOR NATURALIZATION was placed in line for interview scheduling. When scheduling is complete, you will receive a notice with a time and place for your interview. If you have not received the notice within 90 days of the date above, please call customer service at 1-800-375-5283 for further assistance.

So basically, anytime now--I suppose. 24 hours after biometrics, and we get queued? Don't know if that's a good or a bad sign.