I recently received my Canadian passport ,I have to travel India within 6 months and for that I am going to apply for surrender certificate and OCI.I have few question regarding filling up these applications.My Canadian passport and all other documents over here has my full name under surname and given name section blank but when I was filling the applications ,they have mandatory given name which I don't have on my Canadian passport. Please let me know how to proceed with the applications as I have to apply for surrender certificate and than for OCI as soon as possible,I looked at couple of threads where people were talking about getting name split or legal name change but that process will take long ,I dont have much time.
Given Name-Surname Issue /Surrender Certificate/OCI application
- Thread starter Sunpreet142
- Start date
Looks like empty given name wont work - https://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/threads/oci-application-xxx-in-canadian-passport-given-name.822122/post-10750729
Check with BLS International, they are the ones who deal with MEA/Indian Consulate applications. Indian embassies here in Canada know that it's very common. Even my Indian passport is the same, sirname section is empty. And IRCC writes my whole name in last name section. I had no trouble obtaining PCC from Indian embassy for my PR application. I don't think it's going to be a huge deal. I suggest that you should talk to BLS International. Sometimes, all you need to do is, provide the embassy with an affidavit. So, don't worry too much.
I have the same issue, my full name appears in my last name field empty and first name is blank. the same error appears since my COPR. I want to change it because my correct name should be split in proper fields. Does anyone of you have tried to get it changed as this was not a clerical error made by IRCC. please provide me any link for the process to get it changed. Also does it create any trouble while travelling and booking tickets.
It is not an error. This is very normal for Indian passport Holders. The people working at Indian embassy should already know all this, and they should help applicants. But, they do the easiest thing possible for a bureaucracy to do: THEY DON'T CARE.
Hi,
I am exactly in a same situation as you were or are , I don't know could you please tell me if you have got the OCI card and if yes could you tell me what did you put in the given name section of the obi application
Same here bro, did you find the answers? I have read they can approve it if you write XXX in given name. Also, a lady on YouTube said she left it even blank and it got approved (the video was 2-3yrs old and she was Australian citizen )
I do not have a given name on my Canadian passport. I applied for an e-visa with everything in Given name and last name field blank. They approved my ETA and I visited India without any issues. Now I want to apply for OCI and facing same issue. I am planning to put my whole name in the Given name field. I hope it works.
Hi everyone,
I recently changed my name and got a new passport. Previously, my name was listed as:
Thanks for your help!
I recently changed my name and got a new passport. Previously, my name was listed as:
- First Name: XXX
- Last Name: John Smith
- First Name: John
- Last Name: Smith
- First Name: John
- Last Name: Smith
Thanks for your help!
Hi, my Indian passport has only given name and no last name. But my Canadian documents all have last name but no given name. I am now applying for Canadian citizenship: should I follow my Indian passport name or PR card name for citizenship application? (In other words should I put my full name in given name or last name in the citizen form)? Thank you for your help.
Hey, when you were applying for citizenship, did you follow your Indian passport style for your name (i.e., full name as first name and blank for the last name) OR did you follow the Canadian documents style (i.e., only last name and no first name)? Thanks for your help.
Hello everyone, so I have the tried and tested solution to the last name problem. I do not have a given name on my Canadian Passport. I tried submitting my OCI application by filling my name in the Given Name field and leaving the surname column blank. I went to the local BLS center in Winnipeg and they did not accept my form as it did not match with my passport. They asked me to put my name in the Surname field and XXX in the given name column. I asked them to fill a new form for me as I didnt want to wait and go back for another appointment. They charged me CA$60 for filing the form. I hope it helps someone with similar issue. I will post once I receive my OCI card.
How long did it take you for the name split?
Legal name change
Was the process easy?