Couple of more questions about Surname in passport not matching with name in certificates and documents. I have posted several articles in the same topic, but I keep getting email related to the same problem.
Mostly people panic after reading single blog post about potential problem they can face when names mismatch (or empty surname) in passport. and send an email or post a comment right away. I received couple questions this week
Read the following blog post on How to Change Name in Passport while in US (and how life gets complicated) before proceeding below. It will give an idea of problems you will face while in US with empty surname in the passport.
Arun Asks
My name is Arun M V. I came to know that last name is important in US. So, did Indian passport will be issued in name format Arun M VXXX. Because the full name Arun MXXX VXXX is too much long. I have all the records as Arun M V. Is the name in GRE,TOEFL should be same as in the University application.
I have seen many people, University Faculty in US of Indian origin have their names in format Arun M VXXX. If the Indian Passport does’nt allow this,how it can be possible?
Or can I give my name as Arun VXXX eliminating my Middle name.
Pankil Asks
I have a problem/confusion. My name is mentioned as
Given Names: Pankil DXXX
Last Name: SXXX in passport.My degrees have it as SXXX Pankil DXXX. I am already in US and working on H1B. So I have SSN which has my first name Last name. Should I be worried about having different names on these documents? I plan to take GMAT by end of 2010. Any information you can provide will be very helpful.
Surname – Passport vs Certificates
In India, we are used to have names with initials, instead of using Full Name. When applying for passport, well those dang travel agents mess up the things, don’t they? Most of us unaware of potential problems that one can run into while applying for GRE Exam, TOEFL, F1 Visa, SSN, Driving License, etc.
Possible Name Combination’s
- Certificates – Arun MV
- Birth Certificate – MV Arun
- College Marksheets – MV Arun
- Documents – Arun V (or MXXX Arun VXXX)
You have to remember this – Name mismatch between passport and certificates not a major problem at all. Thats something that can be will fixed. Don’t worry about changing names in your certificates and documents.
Names in Passport
Having cleared one problem above, lets talk about name’s in the passport. I can think of possible variations
Combination 1 :
- Given Name – Arun
- Middle Name – MXXX
- Surname – VXXX
Combination 2:
- Given Name – Arun MXXX
- Middle Name – Empty
- Surname – VXXX
Combination 3:
- Given Name – Arun M V
- Middle Name – Empty
- Surname – Empty
Of all the above 3 possibilities, the last one is the problematic. As long as you have Surname in your passport, you will not have MAJOR problems. If there is no surname in your passport, stop right here and get your name changes in your passport first before going forward with any application or study abroad process.
Empty (or blank) Surname in Passport equals TROUBLE.
If you already applied (or received) passport without surname, get that fixed. Talk to local passport office to find out passport name chnage procedure and get it done. NOW. You may have additional if’s and buts like
I already booked dates for GRE Exam? What shall I do?
Answer is the same, change the name in passport, rebook GRE again. If you try to save GRE exam fees, you have bigger problems awaiting you.
GRE, TOEFL and College Application
Now, we have cleared 2 issues related to names (documents and passport). Now, lets assume you have passport with surname that doesn’t match with names on your documents.
- GRE, TOEFL, GMAT (or other exams) – Book dates based on name in passport, not documents. Use the name as provided in the passport.
- College Application – Use the name as per passport. Remember that name in your passport will be your identity.
Going forward use the name “as-is” from your passport. It’s absolutely ok to have different names from your degree certificates. Only university is going to use your certificates, but every other department is going to use your passport. Thats one of the reason, you have to include a copy of passport front page with your application documents.
While filling out college application, you will see a question (or similar)
- List other names used in your application documents.
You would have to enter various names used in your documents. If there is no such question, attach additional page to list the various names in different documents. That document must clearly state that documents submitted along with application will have following names, which will be different from the name in the passport.
Make sure you read how Praveen added surname in passport after getting his I-20 due to name mismatch.
Bottom line is this
1) Your passport must contain surname (last name); 2) Name in GRE score report should match with name in passport.
Over to you?
If you have additional questions, read related articles to this topic. I’m sure many will post a comment tho this article asking the same question again. That always make me smile and wonder, how can some one be so ignorant, when above artilce gives the answer to their problem, but they still ask the same question.
About Raghuram Sukumar
Dear HSB
It is actually not a different name…In my passport, in the place of surname it is mentioned as "Hadya Ananda" which is actually the expansion of my Initials ..H.A. My query is, instead of using both "Hadya" & "Ananda" as my surname, is it possible to use only "Hadya" as my surname which sounds more meaningful.
Dear HSB
I had put a question on 23rd and a reminder on 24th. THANKS FOR NOT BOTHERING TO REPLY TO MY QUERY…
Dear HSB
Sorry….I just saw your reply…Thanks…I have replied to your doubt just now…
Dear HSB,
My passport name is MD. AXXXX-AX-BXXXX
in my gre registration, i have used like this MDAXXXXAX BXXXX. Due to difficulties with "." and "-" i couldn't register my name according to my passport.Will it be a problem? How can i resolve this?I have already given GRE Exam.
Dear HSB
I am still awaiting your response to my query dated 23rd Feb 2011. I have already checked all the listed queries and there is no relevant query similar to mine. Hence your reply is greatly appreciated. Thank you.
I have applied for the passport at Pune office. My name in school certificates is PARESHKUMAR while in other documents driving license, bank etc it is PARESH. With this reason my application is not being processed. This is very common thing in India that the person's name is being suffixed by BHAI, KUMAR, RAO etc. Please advise me what needs to be done in this case? Should I change my name PARESHKUMAR in all the documents?
Paresh – I afraid I can't advise with respect to name in passport and supporting documents.
Sir,
I am applying to study in UK this year. My name is Prabhushankar H.A where 'H' stands for 'Hadya' which is my native place & 'A' stands for 'Ananda' which is my father's name. Hence my passport is showing my surname as 'HADYA ANANDA' & my given name as ' Prabhushankar'. But I want to use only 'Hadya' as my surname instead of 'Hadya Ananda' . Can I do it without applying for a change of name in passport at this stage?
I don't understand your question. But, how can you use different name without official changing the name in the passport.
Hi,
This is Anil applied for graduate studies for Fall 2011 to US. In my GRE and TOEFL accounts I have my Surname: Rxxxxx and First name: Pxxxxx. But, I have applied for the universities as Surname: Pxxxxx and First name: Rxxxxx. And even my certificates are having my name as P. Rxxxxx. Even though, I have applied for the universities and send all the official documents to the universities well before the deadlines, my online status still shows "the application is incomplete". When I mailed the graduate officials about my application status, they informed that due to the reverse of the name and surname they were unable to match my scorecards with my application. Now, what should I do? Should I inform all the University graduate officials which I have applied about my situation and ask them to match my GRE, TOEFL scores to my application properly. I am waiting for the best replies…..
Hi ,
I have an issue with My Passport and Visa Surname and Given Name .
My Old Passport : Surname : ABC Last Name : XYZ ( Which is correct )
New passport : Surname : XYZ and Last Name : ABC .
Got My new visa with surnames and lastnames as it is in New passport.
Can you let me know what can be done .
Any Comments is truley appreciated.
I have issue of surname.
My first name and middle name is same in my passport and academic certificates.
My surname is different in passport and certificates,as follows:
In passport S***
In certificates M*****
Is this difference a problem?If yes how could one make it proper
Hello
I applied for my gre on 1st june 2011
In the name column of the application i typed
first name: sowmya ramya
middle name : vyjayanthi
surname : vemuganti
The confirmation mail i got from the prometric site states my name as
sowmya ramya vemuganti
where as in my passport and birth certificate it is written as sowmya ramya vyjayanthi vemuganti
How can i resolve the above problem?
REPLY ASAP plz!
hi
my name in the passport is garikapati uma bhavani
but in my ger registration i gav uma as first bhavani as middle and garikapati as last name do i hav any problem?
Dear HSB
I went through the posts related to the above ‘surname issue’ .But my query is that I have registered Gre as First name: Mahesh and last name:N . but in the passport it is Mahesh with surname:Natarajan (i'e while registering for Gre i have given only the initial). Will there be any problem while applying for universities and if that is the case what is the remedy
waiting for your reply
Thanks
Dear HSB Admin,
I went through all the posts related to the above 'surname issue' in Indian passports.But still I have got this strange issue.
In my passport,
First Name: Mohan
Surname: -BLANK-
I have given GRE with the name Mohan Mohan. As the score was not satisfactory, I am planning to give it once again. Should I have to add the surname in my passport and book the dates for the second attempt? (All my documents till date just has Mohan, without the surname.) Will this create issue as I have taken GRE once, as Mohan Mohan?
Also I had been to US , during B.Tech for my internship. I was issued VISA with the name: FNU Mohan. The university documents had the entry as: Mohan Mohan. I have the SSN with the name: FNU Mohan (There, they have also mentioned the other combination, Mohan Mohan ). I am planning to apply for other universities also.
I am puzzled. Please give me inputs in this regard.
Thanks
Dear Sir,
Thank you for article. I have my name in passport as Surname=Origanti and Given names="Damodar Rakesh". I applied for higher studies in Australia and received a letter from Australian Higher commission in that the Surname=Origanti and Given names="Rakesh Damodar". This letter I need to submit for visa application. So, will this be a problem in applying for a visa?
Hi HSB, I went through the above article. It was helpful.
Let me just summarize the above article so as to make sure I got it
right. You said, "Last Name missing in the passport accounts for
trouble" Thats true..because when you register for TOEFL or GRE or
anyother exam, you got to enter your surname. It is not an optional
field, if you register online. I have been worried about that.
Since, I did not use my last name in my passport. So, when I
registered for TOEFL I had to enter my last name. Another thing,
When I went on to fill an application form in any university, I had
to enter the last name there too. That is the US system, as you
mentioned. In US, last names are important. All my documents from
school or bith certificates etc. DO NOT have last name. But now, My
TOEFL score card and Application form HAVE last name. When I filled
my application form, there was a field: Other names my records may
be listed: In this field I entered my first name only. To avoid
problem during visa, I must change my name in the passport, that
means include my last name too. So, To sum it up: ->You must
have a last name in your passport. ->TOEFL and University
Application forms ask for your last name. ->Don’t worry
about changing names in your certificates and documents. If they do
not have your last name, it is not a problem.
You hot it right. Make sure when you change the name, it has same surname that you used for application, gre and toefl.
Thanks HSB! I will do that..
Hello Friends
First of all I just want to appreciate you for your work.Thank you so much for the work you people are doing.
I have done one mistake while signing in passport application form i have signed it like this
my name : A.Santhi
but i have signed it as A.santhi(here i have given " s " as cursive "s" )and in all my certificates ,pan card every where i have capital "s" only ,will that become problem to me for my higher studies or joining a job .If you can help me out it will be great relief for me .
Sir, still i am in little bit confusion,the problem is
that……my name in : 10th certificate=Vishnu 12th
certificate=Vishnu Birth certificate=Vishnu voters Identity=Vishnu
so my question is whether it will create some kinda problem while i
apply for a passport naming Vishnu Pankajakshan… Most of ém say
that in US universities they will accept only names given in birth
certificate…and also we must submit birth certificates in
respective university.
Sir,
I have applied for passport with my name Abhishek srujan it seems that my passport will be arriving bit late in march hence i request you to suggest if i can register for gre straight away for i fear i may not be able to take gre in the current format . I greatly need your assistance.kindly oblige.
Hii,
My passport name: Kambalia Nancy K
and my other documents, certificates, marksheets even TOEFL scores have name as: Kambaliya Nancy K
In surname of passport there is missing letter "y" in kambalia, so would there be problem in future, because it is just matter of one missing letter in surname?
Do i need to change my passport name?
thank you in advance
Most likely yes. Your I-20 will have Kambalia Nancy K which will be different in passport. So, you might run into problems.
my wife name is R.SHOPANA RUDHRAJU (in bank,all certificates) WHERE
R-stands for RAMALINGARAJU (fathername)
SHOPANA-her name (firstname)
RUDHRAJU-actually her family name.
So in passport i am going to fill like this.just guide me please.
first name-SHOPANA
middle name-RUDHRAJU
last name-RAMALINGARAJU
my doubt is in US they call with last name but here my wife's last name is RAMALINGARAJU.
hii HSB
this is Naveen
i want to change the candidate address which was given during GRE registration
how can i change that address .. please give me reply
thanks in advance…….
Hello
I applied for my gre on 1st june 2011
In the name column of the application i typed
first name: sowmya ramya
middle name : vyjayanthi
surname : vemuganti
The confirmation mail i got from the prometric site states my name as
sowmya ramya vemuganti
where as in my passport and birth certificate it is written as sowmya ramya vyjayanthi vemuganti
How can i resolve the above problem?
REPLY ASAP plz!
hey ramya i am also having the same problem ,,, i am having my test date on 22feb. please do help me if u had any replies …. please
Hello,
Your blog Answers all the Haunting Ghostly Doubts that leads to stress.Its wonderful to know as an Indian with no Surname,[in our case denotes the caste order in society which has been barred in my daughters name,]Passport application will be done following your advice.First name and Surname as in Venkat for my girl.Her academic records have the name as AAAA Venkat.
hi…
today i registered for gre test.
My name: Bargavi
My Father's name: krishnamoorthy
My Family name: chinni
i typed my last name as krishnamoorthy instead of chinni krishnamoorthy. will it be a problem? and how can i change my name now?
pls reply me..
thanks in advance…
hai,
I am bharathi. my name in my marks registers is M.C.BHARATHI. but for appplying passport name should not be in initials and with documentary proof. Actually my name is M.chaitanya bharathi. In documents it is M.C.bharathi. how can i fill my name in passport application. Please inform me to my mail