Green Card and Social Security card have different name order.

[808Bryan 4]

My wife's green card came in a couple days ago and we noticed the name order is not how we've been inputing it on all the forms we have filled out previously(i-130,ds-260, etc.)

We looked at her immigration visa and noticed that it is in the same order as the green card.

My wife is from Vietnam and has four parts to her name: example; Nguyen Thi Bao Chau; last(nguyen), middle 1(thi), middle 2(bao), and Given Name(Chau) This is the order in her VN passport.

 

The Visa and Green Card List:

Last Name: Nguyen

Given Name Thi Bao Chau

 

All the forms we've filled out, even for her SSN

Last Name: Nguyen

First Name: Chau

Middle Name: Thi Bao

 

So on her SSN Card it says:

Chau Thi Bao Nguyen

 

I read we could file an i-90 form to correct the name order, but it would cost about $500.  As well, I've read most if not all VN immigrants just live with the naming order on the green card, at least until they've become naturalized.

 

My question is should we change the naming order on the SSN Card to match the green card or Just leave it? Also if we change it, do we just write "Thi Bao Chau" under first name and leave middle name blank, or "Thi" for first name and "Bao Chau" for middle name?

[Ontarkie 14,070]

~~Moved to General Immigration Discussion, from IR1/CR1 Progress Reports- as the OP's spouse is now in the US with questions about SSC and GC name order.~~

[Liam2021 570]

33 minutes ago, 808Bryan said:

My wife's green card came in a couple days ago and we noticed the name order is not how we've been inputing it on all the forms we have filled out previously(i-130,ds-260, etc.)

We looked at her immigration visa and noticed that it is in the same order as the green card.

My wife is from Vietnam and has four parts to her name: example; Nguyen Thi Bao Chau; last(nguyen), middle 1(thi), middle 2(bao), and Given Name(Chau) This is the order in her VN passport.

 

The Visa and Green Card List:

Last Name: Nguyen

Given Name Thi Bao Chau

 

All the forms we've filled out, even for her SSN

Last Name: Nguyen

First Name: Chau

Middle Name: Thi Bao

 

So on her SSN Card it says:

Chau Thi Bao Nguyen

 

I read we could file an i-90 form to correct the name order, but it would cost about $500.  As well, I've read most if not all VN immigrants just live with the naming order on the green card, at least until they've become naturalized.

 

My question is should we change the naming order on the SSN Card to match the green card or Just leave it? Also if we change it, do we just write "Thi Bao Chau" under first name and leave middle name blank, or "Thi" for first name and "Bao Chau" for middle name?

The name on GC is correct since it based on name order of the passport. Anyone from VN with a long name like that will having same issue. Just go to SSN office and changed it like the GC, then correct the name order when eligible for N-400.

[TVQT1993 20]

My wife's GC has the same issue with Thi listed as her first name, except her SSN card name is also wrong. SS office won't fix it without a correct GC. If it was just the GC, we'd probably leave it alone.

 

We decided to submit I-90 due to DHS error so there is no charge, along with her birth certificate with translation showing her correct name order. Here's our timeline:

 

4/24/2024: Received green card. Submitted I-90 with supporting docs and green card to USCIS.

4/26/2024: We received your Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card, and sent you a receipt notice.

5/10/2024: We scheduled you for a biometrics appointment. (Appointment scheduled for 5/28)

5/22/2024: Card Was Destroyed

5/28/2024. Had biometrics appointment. Status updated to Case Is Being Actively Reviewed By USCIS

 

We're ok with waiting for the GC but others may not. This is such a common problem with Vietnamese immigrants, I wish there was a memo that DHS/USCIS could use that explains Vietnam's passport name convention and how to issue the GC according to US convention.