FNU

[MrsRana 4]

This post is for anyone that is preparing to file any kind of visa petition really... but especially for I-30 for the CR-1 Visa. 

 

Please be sure to check your spouses passport and make sure that their name is on two different lines as per United States standard. If it is on one line, then you must request a new passport that reflects the appropriate entry:

 

ex) Correct entry----> Given: John    Surname (Family Name): Smith

Incorrect---> Given:________________ Surname: John Smith

Incorrect---> Given: John Smith  Surname:____________

**Please! Split the name and put the appropriate Given name and Surname in their respectful lines. It is a big deal actually! Mostly a big deal when you arrive in the USA and have to get your documents such as Social Security and Driver's License. 

 

This will save you trouble in the long run. My spouse and I did not know about this, naturally, and filed all of our paperwork correctly with Given/Surname separated...however, my spouse's passport had full name on one line. The CR-1 visa was issued to my spouse after completion of the Interview at the US Consulate in India, and the name of my spouse now says Given: FNU Surname: John Smith

 

Now my spouse is delayed to come to America, even though the visa is ok for travelling, because a new passport must be issued with "name bifurcation" as requested. They will split the name into Given and Surname... But the headache doesn't end there! After arriving to the US, the green card will reflect the name FNU John Smith and we will then have to file more paperwork to correct the name on the green card to reflect the name split in his new passport. This can take weeks to months from what I am reading... and spouse will not be able to get his Social Security until the green card is amended and reissued. Then we have to apply for SS and this can take 2-6 weeks depending on the area... then after SS is obtained we are in the clear for Driver's License.

 

Please! Update your passports BEFORE filing the petition with USCIS in America.  Ladies, if you want to take your husband's name then by all means please do-but know that this snafoo applies to you as well. If you don't want any more complications after "case complete" and interview goes well and you are granted a visa-then definitely check that your passport reflects Given and Surname separately or else this minor detail may cost you more time waiting for immigration in order to update your passport and then change all your documents when you arrive in America.

 

I have also read that if you do not correct your passport in your country and decide to immigrate to America, which you totally can because the CR-1 visa is a valid travel document, but then when you arrive in the USA you will face more trouble correcting this and employees do not like to deal with this kind of thing. 

So if you decide to come to the USA without getting the name bifurcation in your passport then you have to still do this only from American soil and it is much more time consuming and costlier. This is not economic and there are even more complications involved. Basically you will have to go before a judge and request a name change (even though you are just splitting your name on your passport into Given and Surname, and I understand that you will have to make a notice in the newspaper at home and abroad that announces your name change for one month without objections. 

 

Hopefully this helps anyone in the starting stages who hasn't yet filed their petition and noticed that their name is not split up in their passport. Get that fixed asap!

Edited March 22, 2017 by MrsRana