Immediate change of name after birth - Birth certificate null and void

[Thomianguy 36]

As the time is winding down for us to get that NOA2, my wife, in talking to her mother, came across a concern. Her birth certificate has a name she had for all of about few days before her grandmother implored her mother to change it to the current name she has used and known all her life. This resulted in what the British influenced [Guyana] system calls a "Deed Poll" which allows an official name change. This she has; a new one recently obtained. As a result, her original birth certificate is now null and void because she was NOT born with the name she currently uses. Her national ID shows her Deed Poll name and all other documents she has used all her life shows her Deed Poll and current name.

I tried to assuage her fears by telling her to look at it like her new passport. As long as she has an official document that shows a birth AND the name change, she should be fine. It is like her having her maiden name, but it being changed through a marriage and a legal document showing the change. Is this a correct conclusion? I ask because she CANNOT, at this stage, get a birth certificate with the name she currently uses because legally, she was NOT born with the current name she has. In addition, should I inform the NVC about this up front as we go beyond the soon to arrive NOA2 or do we just explain this to the CO at the time of the interview or does it even matter as long as we have the necessary document to show the legal change?

[Illiria 980]

So long as she has a birth certificate with her original name, a deed poll certificate or similar documenting the legal change and her IDs in her changed name she should be fine. Remember to also put on the forms in the 'also known as' section her birth name, I almost forgot to do that once for my maiden name. She can explain the change if they have questions at the interview.

Knowing why her mother changed it so she has a story to go behind the change should at least make her more comfortable explaining it than saying she doesn't know why her mother changed it.

This is much easier than the cases where someone has been called something all their life and they find out their real legal name is something different and they are without the deed poll like document to confirm the change. Seen that happen on here and it was a nightmare for them to sort out.

[Thomianguy 36]

So long as she has a birth certificate with her original name, a deed poll certificate or similar documenting the legal change and her IDs in her changed name she should be fine. Remember to also put on the forms in the 'also known as' section her birth name, I almost forgot to do that once for my maiden name. She can explain the change if they have questions at the interview.

Knowing why her mother changed it so she has a story to go behind the change should at least make her more comfortable explaining it than saying she doesn't know why her mother changed it.

This is much easier than the cases where someone has been called something all their life and they find out their real legal name is something different and they are without the deed poll like document to confirm the change. Seen that happen on here and it was a nightmare for them to sort out.

Why thank you!1

I am not sure I included that in the section of "other names used" on the I-130, but we did submit both documents WITH an explanation of the change. I was not quite clear what it was all about then when we sent in the I-130, but I can explain it better now so I will make sure that this is made VERY clear from here on forward.

[kamw 93]

Why thank you!1

I am not sure I included that in the section of "other names used" on the I-130, but we did submit both documents WITH an explanation of the change. I was not quite clear what it was all about then when we sent in the I-130, but I can explain it better now so I will make sure that this is made VERY clear from here on forward.

I didn't put it in the "other name used" section for my husband and I didn't include an explanation- i thought it was self explanatory. Didn't even think of it until I saw your post. I mean technically he never used the name.

When he was born the hospital gave him the wrong last name and they had it changed a few weeks later. I just included a copy of the original birth certificate and a copy of the deed pole showing his name changed to what he uses now. I didn't have any issues at any point in the process thus far.

Her original birth certificate is not null and void- it just needs to always be presented with the deed pole and she'll be fine.

[Thomianguy 36]

I didn't put it in the "other name used" section for my husband and I didn't include an explanation- i thought it was self explanatory. Didn't even think of it until I saw your post. I mean technically he never used the name.

When he was born the hospital gave him the wrong last name and they had it changed a few weeks later. I just included a copy of the original birth certificate and a copy of the deed pole showing his name changed to what he uses now. I didn't have any issues at any point in the process thus far.

Her original birth certificate is not null and void- it just needs to always be presented with the deed pole and she'll be fine.

This is what I've always thought. Thanks for the assurance!

[Thomianguy 36]

Oh, she just reminded me of the real issue she has and that is, somewhere along the way, we found out that there is some requirement that ALL presented documents must be UNDER one year old. Well, her original birth certificate is from decades ago. So while her BC is currently null and void, she wants to know if she should go out to get a "current" null and void one or would the original one suffice?

[pushbrk 12,967]

Oh, she just reminded me of the real issue she has and that is, somewhere along the way, we found out that there is some requirement that ALL presented documents must be UNDER one year old. Well, her original birth certificate is from decades ago. So while her BC is currently null and void, she wants to know if she should go out to get a "current" null and void one or would the original one suffice?

It's not a real issue, because you "found out" wrong. The police certificate should be as fresh as possible and less than a year old. Otherwise, all birth certificates are certified copies of something that happened at birth. The deed pole happened when IT happened. The Certified Copy of the deed pole is valid no matter when it is issued.

Some police reports and even birth certificates in other countries, get issued with expiration dates. With the explainable exception of Ghana, "Birth Certificates" never "expire".

Seconding another who said the birth certificate is not null and void. It and the deed pole document are both useless unless they are presented together, at least in the instant context.

Edited October 13, 2015 by pushbrk

[Thomianguy 36]

It's not a real issue, because you "found out" wrong. The police certificate should be as fresh as possible and less than a year old. Otherwise, all birth certificates are certified copies of something that happened at birth. The deed pole happened when IT happened. The Certified Copy of the deed pole is valid no matter when it is issued.

Some police reports and even birth certificates in other countries, get issued with expiration dates. With the explainable exception of Ghana, "Birth Certificates" never "expire".

Seconding another who said the birth certificate is not null and void. It and the deed pole document are both useless unless they are presented together, at least in the instant context.

Thank you very much, sir. I just remembered there was one last issue and that is with her birth certificate. As is often a common problem in some countries and before the age of computers, information was often copied down incorrectly. On her birth certificate, her mother's maiden name should end with "iff," instead the good folks at the local post office spelled it as "eif" and it was never corrected. Not sure I see much of a a problem here, but just asking just in case there is something I am not considering.

[pushbrk 12,967]

Thank you very much, sir. I just remembered there was one last issue and that is with her birth certificate. As is often a common problem in some countries and before the age of computers, information was often copied down incorrectly. On her birth certificate, her mother's maiden name should end with "iff," instead the good folks at the local post office spelled it as "eif" and it was never corrected. Not sure I see much of a a problem here, but just asking just in case there is something I am not considering.

That one, I wouldn't worry about, particularly if the copy shows it hand written and all other information between the BC and the DP are consistent.

[sharda 8]

As the time is winding down for us to get that NOA2, my wife, in talking to her mother, came across a concern. Her birth certificate has a name she had for all of about few days before her grandmother implored her mother to change it to the current name she has used and known all her life. This resulted in what the British influenced [Guyana] system calls a "Deed Poll" which allows an official name change. This she has; a new one recently obtained. As a result, her original birth certificate is now null and void because she was NOT born with the name she currently uses. Her national ID shows her Deed Poll name and all other documents she has used all her life shows her Deed Poll and current name.

I tried to assuage her fears by telling her to look at it like her new passport. As long as she has an official document that shows a birth AND the name change, she should be fine. It is like her having her maiden name, but it being changed through a marriage and a legal document showing the change. Is this a correct conclusion? I ask because she CANNOT, at this stage, get a birth certificate with the name she currently uses because legally, she was NOT born with the current name she has. In addition, should I inform the NVC about this up front as we go beyond the soon to arrive NOA2 or do we just explain this to the CO at the time of the interview or does it even matter as long as we have the necessary document to show the legal change?

Make an inquiry at the US consulate in Georgetown via email......because BC and PC in Guyana should only be 6 months valid upon interview, just be on the safe side.

[Thomianguy 36]

Makes great sense.