Hi All,
This name glitch is taking its toll, now I was trying to fill the sponsorship application for my spouse.
My wife's passport has the following details:
Given Name: AAA BBBB
Surname: <blank>
What do I write in the column for "Family Name", in the application. Can I write "BBBB" in the family name column, and "Given Name" as "AAA" or do I have to write my "Family Name" for the same.
All her educational certificates and marriage certificate has her name as "AAA BBBB" ....no concept of family name and first name.
Appreciate your response.
The best bet is to get your family name added to her passport. Something I did also. You can file the application with her complete name as a first name and leave the family name as blank. Your application will be accepted with the same. While the application is under processing, please go ahead and have her add your last name in her passport. For that, you would require to submit your passport to the regional passport office. This process takes about 2-3 weeks. So, when you will be asked for the passport by CHC, you can provide the passport and a letter explaining that you have added the last name to it.
I had the same issue as my wife had only one name. She advertised in the paper, and prepared an affidavit - attached with the addition of name application to the Passport office. We actually did it after we receive the passport request from the High commission. This delayed our process by one month. But, if you initiate while your file is in process, this would be done by the time you will get a request from High Commission.
I hope I explained properly. Let's see what the experts say in this regard.
Good luck man!! 
Take care
Also, I forgot to tell you that your family name will eventually be required even once she arrives in Canada. As you must be well aware, here in Canada family name/surname is required everywhere, espcially if you're married it should match with that your spouse.
So, it will certainly be beneficial to you if you get your surname added to her passport. This would ease you out as all her paperwork will follow the same name and you will not require to change her legal name (to add last name) once she is in Canada. This is what my understanding is. Well, what can I say - Been there done that.
Good luck to you brother.
Thanks Febpreet,
I am currently in USA and my wife is on H4 here. I was browsing the Indian consulate site, they are saying that you need to fill out a new passport application for change/endorsing surname after marriage. How does this works? Do I need to apply for a fresh passport for her or what? I will try to find more information about name change tomorrow by calling the consulate.
I forgot to mention, that in her passport, in the column which asks "Name of spouse" my name is mentioned but the column for her surname is <blank> (as I mentioned in the above post).
Do I also need to advertise the addition of surname?
Seems to be a lengthy process....As i said earlier ''All in a name...."
Thanks once more.....
IC
Location: Western Hemisphere
Posted on: 28-08-07 21:12:27
Quote:
Originally posted by febpreet
As you must be well aware, here in Canada family name/surname is required everywhere, espcially if you're married it should match with that your spouse.
Family name may be a must (or at least it makes it easier), but spouses' last names need not match. There is no legal requirement to that effect. Me and spouse have had different last names all these years.
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Dimple2001
Dimple, I completely agree, but it certainly helps in the long run to have same last names.
Icecube, I am not sure about which form my wife filled out, but it was certainly not the new passport request. We only underwent it a month ago, so it's still fresh in my memory. She advertised in the paper (although, it might not be required if you're in US/Canada), prepared an affidavit, and submitted the form with the Passport. She didn't even mentioned in the advertisement that due to the marriage she was changing her name. It was just that 'I 'ABC', changing my name from 'ABC' to 'ABC 'my surname'' with effect from dd/mm/yyyy'.
The passport office took only 2.5 weeks to stamp her passport as 'Addition of surname 'XYZ' on page 1'. We submitted the passport to the High Commission in Delhi with a letter explaining about the same. They then issued the visa in her new complete name within a month. No hassles at all.
I would recommend you to please contact the Indian Consulate in your area. They will let you know further.
I hope it all works out well for you.
Good luck and take care
Thanks Febpreet,
Thanks a lot.
