Middle name from origin country different from US name

[Daji 0]

Hello. I moved to the US with a K1 visa a few years ago and my removal of conditions is coming up. I’m from the Philippines, where the law is that when a woman gets married, whatever their last name is becomes their middle name. Prior to marriage, our middle name is our mom’s maiden surname. However, when I got married in the US, I opted to keep my mom’s surname as my middle name. My Philippine passport reflects that (my mom’s maiden name = my middle name and my husband’s surname = my surname). My problem is that it might somehow cause an issue when I send in my docs for removal of conditions, since my name in the Philippines is legally different from my name in the US. Could this cause an issue? If so, what should I do?

 

Hope that wasn’t too convoluted of an explanation lol. Thanks.

[K1visaHopeful 2,845]

Non issue.

Fill out your I751 in the same name that you applied for I485 in and received your GC in.

 

Input any other names in other names used.

 

You don't need to provide your passport at any point for I751.

[Daji 0]

2 minutes ago, K1visaHopeful said:

Non issue.

Fill out your I751 in the same name that you applied for I485 in and received your GC in.

 

Input any other names in other names used.

 

You don't need to provide your passport at any point for I751.

Thank you!

[Chancy 6,241]

*** Moved from AOS from K1 Visas forum to ROC General Discussion -- OP already completed AOS ***

 

On 4/21/2022 at 5:35 PM, Daji said:

I’m from the Philippines, where the law is that when a woman gets married, whatever their last name is becomes their middle name.

 

That's not actually the law.  Philippine law says a married woman has the option, but not the obligation, to use her husband's surname as her married name.  Using your maiden name or hyphenating your surname are also valid options under PH law, both of which retain your maiden middle name.  In any case, USCIS won't care, as long as you list your other names, including your maiden name, under the "Other Names Used" section of the I-751.

 

[Daji 0]

17 hours ago, Chancy said:

*** Moved from AOS from K1 Visas forum to ROC General Discussion -- OP already completed AOS ***

 

 

That's not actually the law.  Philippine law says a married woman has the option, but not the obligation, to use her husband's surname as her married name.  Using your maiden name or hyphenating your surname are also valid options under PH law, both of which retain your maiden middle name.  In any case, USCIS won't care, as long as you list your other names, including your maiden name, under the "Other Names Used" section of the I-751.

 

I see. Thanks for the clarification. I thought that was the case because when I went to renew my passport in the PH Consulate, they insisted that my middle name is supposed to be my maiden surname (father’s surname) even though it’s my maiden middle name on all of my US IDs.

[Chancy 6,241]

2 hours ago, Daji said:

I thought that was the case because when I went to renew my passport in the PH Consulate, they insisted that my middle name is supposed to be my maiden surname (father’s surname) even though it’s my maiden middle name on all of my US IDs.

 

If you choose to use your husband's surname as your only surname, then yes, on your PH passport, your new middle name must be your father's surname.  Basically, these are the valid name options for married women, under PH law --

1. Retain maiden full name
2. Use: <First name> <Father's surname> <Husband's surname>
3. Hyphenate: <First name> <Mother's surname> <Father's surname-Husband's surname>
4. Prefix: Mrs. <Husband's first name> <Husband's surname>

The US naming format "<First name> <Maiden middle name> <Husband's surname>" is not allowed under PH law.  But of course, USCIS will have no issue if you choose the US format for your name in your US IDs and documents.