QUESTION
Should I apply for citizenship or fix my green card first?
Asked on Nov 09th, 2013 on Immigration - Florida
More details to this question:
My mother's name on her greencard is different from her name on her passport and social security card. Her passport and social security card have the common suffix 'ben' attached to her first name (ben is a common suffix which is added to a lot of indian names as a show of respect). We are thinking about applying for citizenship, but we've heard that the names on the passport, greencard, and social security should be exactly alike. so, should we first send in her greencard to USCIS (which we already did once, and they said the error was not on their account) or can we go ahead and apply for citizenship despite the greencard name not having the suffix? and would she also have an issue reentering the US if she traveled out of the country because of the passport and greencard name not being exactly alike?
1 ANSWER
Immigration and Nationality Law Attorney serving New York, NY
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Alan Lee & Arthur Lee, Attorneys at Law
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With the proper explanation, your mother should be able to apply straight for citizenship without asking for a new green card. She can also explain her situation if she is traveling in and out of the country. If you have some documentary proof (outside of Wikipedia) that the suffix is only a name added as a sign of respect, that might help an immigration officer to understand the situation more quickly. Due to the limitations of the Lawyers.com Forums, Alan Lee, Esq.'s (the "Firm") participation in responding to questions posted herein does not constitute legal advice, nor legal representation of the person or entity posting a question. No Attorney/Client relationship is or shall be construed to be created hereby. The information provided herein by the Firm is general, and requires that the poster obtain specific legal advice from an attorney. The poster shall not rely upon the information provided herein as legal advice nor as the basis for making any decisions of legal consequence.
Answered on Nov 14th, 2013 at 4:30 PM