Different name in Green card and Social Security

[npatel22526 0]

Hi All,

I have different name on green card and SSN, On the green card, my name is written as Namrataben and in social security , passport and other documents have Namrata. In gujarat (India), it used to be very common to add "ben" to women's name, so it must have added to green card incorrectly while immigration processing, which was happened in 2011. Due to this I feel like I am in big trouble. First when I went for biometrics for citizenship on 03/17/2016. I have written my name as "Namrata" in application, but they asked me to write exact same name as it appears in my green card for my application as they only consider green card . Everything went alright , my biometrics were taken with the name "Namrataben". Now, for interview I heard they require state-id or license, so I went to DMV to obtain stat-id but unable to do so because of different name in two documents, and they suggested that we should go to SSN office to correct the name in SSN or get Naturalization Certificate. When I checked the application requirement for name change in SSN, they requires document showing name change or again state-id or other photo id. (passport also have name written as "Namrata" so won't help here)

All my documents have name without "ben" except green card, of course it would make sense to follow name correction procedure at USCIS if this was at initial stage, but now when I am applying for citizenship it did not make much sense to me.

All being said, I can not change name in SSN because I do not have a state ID and I can not get state ID because I do not have same name in SSN and green card and without these I can not appear for interview and can not get Naturalization letter which would have helped me get state ID .

What are the choices I have ? Should I contact USCIS and get my name fixed through legal procedure, would it complicate in-process naturalization ? or there is another way to get State id or change name in SSN (Which I do not prefer) ?

Also say name is changed in SSN, what happens after citizenship interview, will my name be "Namrata" or "Namrataben"?

I appreciate any suggestion to get out of these messy situation.

Thanks

[almost_umrican 54]

you mentioned two different names but you did not mention what should be the right name that should appear. is it the one on the GC ? how come SS administration come up with a different name and you did not point out the mistake there or may be later (if the GC name was the one you wanted on your SSN).

1) SSA will change your name to match up with your GC. it is a error on their part which i believe you should have reported (if i have interpreted the issue correctly)

2) matching names on ssn and GC will get you a ID/DL

3)USICIS will carry on with the same name you have on your GC during your naturalization process unless you decide to change the name officially during the process. which is the best/fastest/easiest/cheapest way to change one's name officially. your naturalization certificate will have your new name , so will your US pass.

Edited March 30, 2016 by almost_umrican

[npatel22526 0]

Thank you very much for your response.

Correct name is "Namrata" as appeared in SSN hence ideally that is not need to be changed, but I was considering the option as suggested by DMV. Name on Green Card was incorrect and is part of my mistake for not realizing, part of it because my VISA which also have the A-number have all correct information but god knows from where the "ben" was added to the GC.

It would have been much easier if the name on SSN were to be wrong , as I have my birth certificate, marriage certificate and much more , supporting the correct name.

[JimmyHou 613]

Thank you very much for your response.

Correct name is "Namrata" as appeared in SSN hence ideally that is not need to be changed, but I was considering the option as suggested by DMV. Name on Green Card was incorrect and is part of my mistake for not realizing, part of it because my VISA which also have the A-number have all correct information but god knows from where the "ben" was added to the GC.

It would have been much easier if the name on SSN were to be wrong , as I have my birth certificate, marriage certificate and much more , supporting the correct name.

The name on your birth certificate is your legal name unless it's been changed through a name change order or through marriage.

It doesn't matter what's on your green card, your naturalization certificate will state your birth name unless you provide a document that proves otherwise or request a name change through the N400. That's why the N400 has one entry for "Legal Name" and one for "Name on Green Card". Many applicants in this situation who actually wanted to keep the green card name were informed that they would have to fill out a name change form. This is because a green card isn't a name change document and if that name doesn't match your legal name, it will be considered an error and fixed on the naturalization certificate.

So if the name you want is the name on your birth certificate, make sure you have a translated copy with you at the interview. If that same name is on your passport, even better; it should make things easier. You can change the SSN when you get your Nat. Certificate.

Edited March 31, 2016 by JimmyHou

[almost_umrican 54]

The name on your birth certificate is your legal name unless it's been changed through a name change order or through marriage.

It doesn't matter what's on your green card, your naturalization certificate will state your birth name unless you provide a document that proves otherwise or request a name change through the N400. That's why the N400 has one entry for "Legal Name" and one for "Name on Green Card". Many applicants in this situation who actually wanted to keep the green card name were informed that they would have to fill out a name change form. This is because a green card isn't a name change document and if that name doesn't match your legal name, it will be considered an error and fixed on the naturalization certificate.

So if the name you want is the name on your birth certificate, make sure you have a translated copy with you at the interview. If that same name is on your passport, even better; it should make things easier. You can change the SSN when you get your Nat. Certificate.

Unbelievable but a fact, BC's of certain places do not list the name of the child (just the gender) but the names of the parents,as in some of the cultures it is not a norm to name a child before or at the time of birth. they usually add a name to the BC after a name is actually given to the child.

[npatel22526 0]

Thank you Jimmy,

Great !! it is much clear from your answer, I really appreciate that. I have birth certificate , marriage certificate and passport , all in English loudly shouting my real name , will take it to interview.
However, my concern is , will I be allowed to appear in the interview without a state ID (or Driver's license), because I have asked few people who went through interview recently and they all were asked for that .

The name on your birth certificate is your legal name unless it's been changed through a name change order or through marriage.

It doesn't matter what's on your green card, your naturalization certificate will state your birth name unless you provide a document that proves otherwise or request a name change through the N400. That's why the N400 has one entry for "Legal Name" and one for "Name on Green Card". Many applicants in this situation who actually wanted to keep the green card name were informed that they would have to fill out a name change form. This is because a green card isn't a name change document and if that name doesn't match your legal name, it will be considered an error and fixed on the naturalization certificate.

So if the name you want is the name on your birth certificate, make sure you have a translated copy with you at the interview. If that same name is on your passport, even better; it should make things easier. You can change the SSN when you get your Nat. Certificate.

Edited March 31, 2016 by npatel22526

[squareleg 69]

So the concern is not the name but driver's license?