What documents do I need to send to show proof of legal name change?

[gjelly 0]

I have a question:

I'm about to begin the K-1 visa process for my fiancée who is a Korean citizen but permanent resident of Japan, having lived there since she was an infant. As with many permanent Korean residents in Japan she uses a Japanese name, but in her passport and other official documents she uses her original Korean name. I will apply for her visa using the Korean name in her passport but on the I-129F application there is a question about "other names used". Should I write her Japanese name in this space, and if so, what documents do I need to send to show proof of legal name change?

[shiroiuso 3]

Since no one has answered the question yet... I will take a guess.

I think you should probably write her Japanese name under "other names used." Does she have a juminhyo or some other documentation that includes her Japanese name (the juminhyo may have it as a legal alias)? I would include something like that. With or without that documentation, would write a letter of addendum explaining the situation and why she uses two names, and write a little star by that box on the form with the note, "See addendum."

It may be okay to not write it if her passport and all other official materials are in her Korean name with no mention of her Japanese name as a legal alias, but I think it's safer to write it and include the letter of addendum.

I hope that someone with more experience sees this thread and can answer more authoritatively!

[Cody and Daisy 374]

You need to use the Korean name as that is her legal name.

The Japanese name is seen more as a nickname as it is not her legal name unless it is a translated version or a shortened version.

Always use the legal name that is on government documents.

"Other" is usually for previous legal names, like past marriages, legal name changes or maiden names before marriage.

It does not need to be included.

Edited February 23, 2015 by Cody and Daisy

[KayDeeCee 4,904]

As the poster above in post #2 mentioned, does she have some document as proof of her permanent residency that has her Japanese name on it? If so, put the name under 'other names used' and provide a copy of that.

If she has no legal documentation with her Japanese name on it, then add an attachment sheet to explain the use of her Japanese name, since some of your supporting documents may contain the Japanese name she has used since she was a baby.

[Maria4Garrett 5]

. Koreans have japanese version of their names in japanese . Other name is from maiden or any documented names previously used or has changed. If she has changed her Korean name to Japanese then it will be reflected from her residence certificate which you have to submit ( translated ) as well