Foreign Passport Name Change?
Sep 9th 2006, 1:55 pm
#1
Guest
Posts: n/a
Foreign Passport Name Change?
Hi everyone. I am a US citizen. My wife and I were married in her country
(Hungary). She changed her last name (hyphenated, her maiden name followed by
my last name) and obtained a new Hungarian passport. About a year later we
moved back to the US. Somewhere along the way we used her name in the format
of maiden name as her middle name, then my last name, and in fact, we'd like
to change her name to be this way exactly. We had a problem with the IRS
because her name was submitted that way when we filed our taxes, but their
info on her from Social Security showed her last name as "maiden name then my
last name - with NO hyphen" [two last names]... Yes, this is messy...
We need to get this straightened out before the end of the year and W-2's are
cut - don't want another problem with the IRS. We need to apply for a name
change through DHS and obtain a new green card (right?). Once we get that, we
can have her name updated with Social Security and, through them, with the
IRS also. Then we can make sure her employer has the info to create her 2006
W-2 with the correct name. But one of our major concerns is if we change the
format of her name, what will that mean for the validity of her Hungarian
passport? If she travels on that, the last things we'd need is to have a
problem because her green card name was different from her passport name.
Might she have to return to Hungary to obtain a new passport? Would / should
she need to complete all name changes here before travelling back there (I'm
thinking about her re-entering the US here)? Any thoughts? Thanks much, in
advance...
(Hungary). She changed her last name (hyphenated, her maiden name followed by
my last name) and obtained a new Hungarian passport. About a year later we
moved back to the US. Somewhere along the way we used her name in the format
of maiden name as her middle name, then my last name, and in fact, we'd like
to change her name to be this way exactly. We had a problem with the IRS
because her name was submitted that way when we filed our taxes, but their
info on her from Social Security showed her last name as "maiden name then my
last name - with NO hyphen" [two last names]... Yes, this is messy...
We need to get this straightened out before the end of the year and W-2's are
cut - don't want another problem with the IRS. We need to apply for a name
change through DHS and obtain a new green card (right?). Once we get that, we
can have her name updated with Social Security and, through them, with the
IRS also. Then we can make sure her employer has the info to create her 2006
W-2 with the correct name. But one of our major concerns is if we change the
format of her name, what will that mean for the validity of her Hungarian
passport? If she travels on that, the last things we'd need is to have a
problem because her green card name was different from her passport name.
Might she have to return to Hungary to obtain a new passport? Would / should
she need to complete all name changes here before travelling back there (I'm
thinking about her re-entering the US here)? Any thoughts? Thanks much, in
advance...
Sep 9th 2006, 3:56 pm
#2
Account Closed
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 16,266
Re: Foreign Passport Name Change?
Originally Posted by Phlashlite
Hi everyone. I am a US citizen. My wife and I were married in her country
(Hungary). She changed her last name (hyphenated, her maiden name followed by
my last name) and obtained a new Hungarian passport. About a year later we
moved back to the US. Somewhere along the way we used her name in the format
of maiden name as her middle name, then my last name, and in fact, we'd like
to change her name to be this way exactly. We had a problem with the IRS
because her name was submitted that way when we filed our taxes, but their
info on her from Social Security showed her last name as "maiden name then my
last name - with NO hyphen" [two last names]... Yes, this is messy...
We need to get this straightened out before the end of the year and W-2's are
cut - don't want another problem with the IRS. We need to apply for a name
change through DHS and obtain a new green card (right?). Once we get that, we
can have her name updated with Social Security and, through them, with the
IRS also. Then we can make sure her employer has the info to create her 2006
W-2 with the correct name. But one of our major concerns is if we change the
format of her name, what will that mean for the validity of her Hungarian
passport? If she travels on that, the last things we'd need is to have a
problem because her green card name was different from her passport name.
Might she have to return to Hungary to obtain a new passport? Would / should
she need to complete all name changes here before travelling back there (I'm
thinking about her re-entering the US here)? Any thoughts? Thanks much, in
advance...
(Hungary). She changed her last name (hyphenated, her maiden name followed by
my last name) and obtained a new Hungarian passport. About a year later we
moved back to the US. Somewhere along the way we used her name in the format
of maiden name as her middle name, then my last name, and in fact, we'd like
to change her name to be this way exactly. We had a problem with the IRS
because her name was submitted that way when we filed our taxes, but their
info on her from Social Security showed her last name as "maiden name then my
last name - with NO hyphen" [two last names]... Yes, this is messy...
We need to get this straightened out before the end of the year and W-2's are
cut - don't want another problem with the IRS. We need to apply for a name
change through DHS and obtain a new green card (right?). Once we get that, we
can have her name updated with Social Security and, through them, with the
IRS also. Then we can make sure her employer has the info to create her 2006
W-2 with the correct name. But one of our major concerns is if we change the
format of her name, what will that mean for the validity of her Hungarian
passport? If she travels on that, the last things we'd need is to have a
problem because her green card name was different from her passport name.
Might she have to return to Hungary to obtain a new passport? Would / should
she need to complete all name changes here before travelling back there (I'm
thinking about her re-entering the US here)? Any thoughts? Thanks much, in
advance...
This is really no "problem" with IRS -- you just repsond to the notice -- after a few years they have their records set up for the "alias" involved -- it is more common than you might think.
Sep 10th 2006, 1:57 am
#3
Concierge
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 46,477
Re: Foreign Passport Name Change?
Originally Posted by Folinskyinla
Hi:
This is really no "problem" with IRS -- you just repsond to the notice -- after a few years they have their records set up for the "alias" involved -- it is more common than you might think.
This is really no "problem" with IRS -- you just repsond to the notice -- after a few years they have their records set up for the "alias" involved -- it is more common than you might think.
Don't see any problem with the IRS either. Just go to the employer and have them change the name to one without the hypen as shown on the social security card. That should take care of the IRS issue now and in the future.
As for the passport, if the green card is with a hypen and her passport is with a hypen, what is the problem?????
When or if she naturalizes she can do the name without the hypen.
Sep 10th 2006, 2:17 pm
#4
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Foreign Passport Name Change?
Rete wrote:
>> Hi:
>> This is really no "problem" with IRS -- you just repsond to the notice
>> -- after a few years they have their records set up for the "alias"
>> involved -- it is more common than you might think.
>Don't see any problem with the IRS either. Just go to the employer and
>have them change the name to one without the hypen as shown on the
>social security card. That should take care of the IRS issue now and in
>the future.
>As for the passport, if the green card is with a hypen and her passport
>is with a hypen, what is the problem?????
>When or if she naturalizes she can do the name without the hypen.
Thank you for the replies. Actually (and unfortunately - [sorry!]) I was
incorrect about the hyphen situation. On my wife's passport her name IS
hyphenated. On her Green Card and her Social Security card her Last Name is
formatted as her maiden name followed by my last name, unhyphenated - in
effect, two last names. The issue is that we'd like to have her maiden name
be designated as her Middle Name, then my last name as the only one in that
field. She already has a couple of bank accounts in this format (using the
initial of her maiden name for the middle name initial), as well as her pay
stub from her employer. As I stated, I believe we have to go to USCIS first
and change her name on her Green Card, then go to Social Security to update
their information. SS's records will then update to the IRS. This would make
the W-2 and W-4's issued for 2006 match up. But I am concerned about what
effect making this name change might have on the validity of her Hungarian
passport (not wanting to have a problem if she/we left the country and
returned), because that shows her name with the hyphenation.
Again, thank you very much for your insights...
--
Message posted via http://www.immigrationkb.com
>> Hi:
>> This is really no "problem" with IRS -- you just repsond to the notice
>> -- after a few years they have their records set up for the "alias"
>> involved -- it is more common than you might think.
>Don't see any problem with the IRS either. Just go to the employer and
>have them change the name to one without the hypen as shown on the
>social security card. That should take care of the IRS issue now and in
>the future.
>As for the passport, if the green card is with a hypen and her passport
>is with a hypen, what is the problem?????
>When or if she naturalizes she can do the name without the hypen.
Thank you for the replies. Actually (and unfortunately - [sorry!]) I was
incorrect about the hyphen situation. On my wife's passport her name IS
hyphenated. On her Green Card and her Social Security card her Last Name is
formatted as her maiden name followed by my last name, unhyphenated - in
effect, two last names. The issue is that we'd like to have her maiden name
be designated as her Middle Name, then my last name as the only one in that
field. She already has a couple of bank accounts in this format (using the
initial of her maiden name for the middle name initial), as well as her pay
stub from her employer. As I stated, I believe we have to go to USCIS first
and change her name on her Green Card, then go to Social Security to update
their information. SS's records will then update to the IRS. This would make
the W-2 and W-4's issued for 2006 match up. But I am concerned about what
effect making this name change might have on the validity of her Hungarian
passport (not wanting to have a problem if she/we left the country and
returned), because that shows her name with the hyphenation.
Again, thank you very much for your insights...
--
Message posted via http://www.immigrationkb.com
Sep 10th 2006, 2:47 pm
#5
Concierge
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 46,477
Re: Foreign Passport Name Change?
Now I am completely confused. Her name is unhypenated on the green card and the social security card and that is WHAT SHE WANTS. So why do you have to change the green card and the social security card??????
The issue is only with the passport which is hypenated. Why will that be a problem with travel? They are both her names with or without the hypen. The green card supports that and she will not have a problem re-entering the US that way. She does not re-enter the US with her passport but with her green card.
The issue is only with the passport which is hypenated. Why will that be a problem with travel? They are both her names with or without the hypen. The green card supports that and she will not have a problem re-entering the US that way. She does not re-enter the US with her passport but with her green card.
Originally Posted by phlashlite via ImmigrationKB.com
Rete wrote:
>> Hi:
>> This is really no "problem" with IRS -- you just repsond to the notice
>> -- after a few years they have their records set up for the "alias"
>> involved -- it is more common than you might think.
>Don't see any problem with the IRS either. Just go to the employer and
>have them change the name to one without the hypen as shown on the
>social security card. That should take care of the IRS issue now and in
>the future.
>As for the passport, if the green card is with a hypen and her passport
>is with a hypen, what is the problem?????
>When or if she naturalizes she can do the name without the hypen.
Thank you for the replies. Actually (and unfortunately - [sorry!]) I was
incorrect about the hyphen situation. On my wife's passport her name IS
hyphenated. On her Green Card and her Social Security card her Last Name is
formatted as her maiden name followed by my last name, unhyphenated - in
effect, two last names. The issue is that we'd like to have her maiden name
be designated as her Middle Name, then my last name as the only one in that
field. She already has a couple of bank accounts in this format (using the
initial of her maiden name for the middle name initial), as well as her pay
stub from her employer. As I stated, I believe we have to go to USCIS first
and change her name on her Green Card, then go to Social Security to update
their information. SS's records will then update to the IRS. This would make
the W-2 and W-4's issued for 2006 match up. But I am concerned about what
effect making this name change might have on the validity of her Hungarian
passport (not wanting to have a problem if she/we left the country and
returned), because that shows her name with the hyphenation.
Again, thank you very much for your insights...
--
Message posted via http://www.immigrationkb.com
>> Hi:
>> This is really no "problem" with IRS -- you just repsond to the notice
>> -- after a few years they have their records set up for the "alias"
>> involved -- it is more common than you might think.
>Don't see any problem with the IRS either. Just go to the employer and
>have them change the name to one without the hypen as shown on the
>social security card. That should take care of the IRS issue now and in
>the future.
>As for the passport, if the green card is with a hypen and her passport
>is with a hypen, what is the problem?????
>When or if she naturalizes she can do the name without the hypen.
Thank you for the replies. Actually (and unfortunately - [sorry!]) I was
incorrect about the hyphen situation. On my wife's passport her name IS
hyphenated. On her Green Card and her Social Security card her Last Name is
formatted as her maiden name followed by my last name, unhyphenated - in
effect, two last names. The issue is that we'd like to have her maiden name
be designated as her Middle Name, then my last name as the only one in that
field. She already has a couple of bank accounts in this format (using the
initial of her maiden name for the middle name initial), as well as her pay
stub from her employer. As I stated, I believe we have to go to USCIS first
and change her name on her Green Card, then go to Social Security to update
their information. SS's records will then update to the IRS. This would make
the W-2 and W-4's issued for 2006 match up. But I am concerned about what
effect making this name change might have on the validity of her Hungarian
passport (not wanting to have a problem if she/we left the country and
returned), because that shows her name with the hyphenation.
Again, thank you very much for your insights...
--
Message posted via http://www.immigrationkb.com
Sep 10th 2006, 3:53 pm
#6
Homebody
Joined: Jan 2005
Location: HOME
Posts: 23,182
Re: Foreign Passport Name Change?
Originally Posted by Rete
Now I am completely confused. Her name is unhypenated on the green card and the social security card and that is WHAT SHE WANTS. So why do you have to change the green card and the social security card??????
The issue is only with the passport which is hypenated. Why will that be a problem with travel? They are both her names with or without the hypen. The green card supports that and she will not have a problem re-entering the US that way. She does not re-enter the US with her passport but with her green card.
The issue is only with the passport which is hypenated. Why will that be a problem with travel? They are both her names with or without the hypen. The green card supports that and she will not have a problem re-entering the US that way. She does not re-enter the US with her passport but with her green card.
I don't know why people get their knickers in a twist about these name issues.
I have a double-barrelled name, though in everyday life I stick to one name only. My passport, driver's licence and SS card have various combinations of said names. My credit card only has one of them, and that's the one I use when I book airline travel. I have never, ever had a problem - anywhere!
Sep 11th 2006, 12:32 am
#7
Account Closed
Joined: Aug 2002
Location: Kentucky
Posts: 38,865
Re: Foreign Passport Name Change?
Originally Posted by phlashlite via ImmigrationKB.com
I believe we have to go to USCIS first and change her name on her Green Card, then go to Social Security to update their information.
Seriously, you need to switch to decaf!
Ian
Sep 11th 2006, 2:39 am
#8
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Foreign Passport Name Change?
ian-mstm wrote:
>> >> Hi:
>> >> This is really no "problem" with IRS -- you just repsond to the
>[quoted text clipped - 45 lines]
>> --
>> Message posted via http://www.immigrationkb.com
>She doesn't have to do anything. She can continue to use her name(s) as
>she sees fit. If she eventually naturalizes, she can *then* change her
>name to whatever she wants... but until that time there is absolutely
>*no* need for her to do anything. The Hungarian government doesn't care
>what she calls herself in the US, and the US government doesn't care
>that her married name isn't on her passport.
>Seriously, you need to switch to decaf!
>Ian
*LOL* Maybe you're right about the decaf... but thanks for the information.
I'll take your advice, at least the part that's not about coffee, :-) My
wife and I both have full plates right now. There's a lot going on and I've
been meaning to address this for a couple of months already. Guess that's why
I've been stressing about it. Glad I finally found a place to get some
helpful advice. And I want to thank everyone else who voiced their ideas in
response to my post. Much appreciated.
--
Message posted via http://www.immigrationkb.com
>> >> Hi:
>> >> This is really no "problem" with IRS -- you just repsond to the
>[quoted text clipped - 45 lines]
>> --
>> Message posted via http://www.immigrationkb.com
>She doesn't have to do anything. She can continue to use her name(s) as
>she sees fit. If she eventually naturalizes, she can *then* change her
>name to whatever she wants... but until that time there is absolutely
>*no* need for her to do anything. The Hungarian government doesn't care
>what she calls herself in the US, and the US government doesn't care
>that her married name isn't on her passport.
>Seriously, you need to switch to decaf!
>Ian
*LOL* Maybe you're right about the decaf... but thanks for the information.
I'll take your advice, at least the part that's not about coffee, :-) My
wife and I both have full plates right now. There's a lot going on and I've
been meaning to address this for a couple of months already. Guess that's why
I've been stressing about it. Glad I finally found a place to get some
helpful advice. And I want to thank everyone else who voiced their ideas in
response to my post. Much appreciated.
--
Message posted via http://www.immigrationkb.com
