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Express Entry - First Name / Last Name. Help!

sadiyarehman

Full Member
Jun 19, 2018
42
1
Hi,
I have created a profile (well almost) but I am stuck at one point only.

My passport ( as well as my husband's) has only a given name. It contains no Last name/ Surname. Now, everywhere in the Express Entry profile, right from creating an account the last name is a required field.
I searched a lot of FAQs and found this

What do you mean by surname?
Your surname is your family name. It is also called your “last name.” When filling out applications, type your surname as it appears on your passport, travel or identity document.

Do not use initials.

If you do not have a family name on your passport, travel or identity document, enter all your given name(s) in the surname field and leave the given name field blank. Do not enter “Not applicable,” “*” or “NA.”

reference:
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/helpcentre/answer.asp?qnum=014&top=4

It quite clearly states that is a person has only Given name then add all of it in the last name and leave the given name field blank.

But, somewhere in the the express entry profile, both the details, i.e., First name and last name are required. What should I do there? This is where a help would really be appreciated.

The question mark at the end of Given Name field says that I should enter the Given Name as mentioned in the passport.
The question mark at the end of Last Name says that if I have a single line name, then enter all in Last name and leave Given Name field Blank.

These two answers are contradictory. Sadly i Cannot find any email address where I can write to IRCC and clarify this.

If I enter my name in both Fields it appears as a double.

example : Assuming my Given Name in Passport is "Lisa Ray" (no last name), entering "Lisa Ray" in both First name and last name appears as - "Lisa Ray Lisa Ray"!
 

santhkum90

Hero Member
Oct 17, 2017
700
170
Canada
Category........
FSW
Visa Office......
Ottawa
NOC Code......
2133
App. Filed.......
15-09-2017
AOR Received.
15-09-2017
Passport Req..
16-10-2017
VISA ISSUED...
25-10-2017
LANDED..........
28-03-2018
Hi,
I have created a profile (well almost) but I am stuck at one point only.

My passport ( as well as my husband's) has only a given name. It contains no Last name/ Surname. Now, everywhere in the Express Entry profile, right from creating an account the last name is a required field.
I searched a lot of FAQs and found this

What do you mean by surname?
Your surname is your family name. It is also called your “last name.” When filling out applications, type your surname as it appears on your passport, travel or identity document.

Do not use initials.

If you do not have a family name on your passport, travel or identity document, enter all your given name(s) in the surname field and leave the given name field blank. Do not enter “Not applicable,” “*” or “NA.”

reference:
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/helpcentre/answer.asp?qnum=014&top=4

It quite clearly states that is a person has only Given name then add all of it in the last name and leave the given name field blank.

But, somewhere in the the express entry profile, both the details, i.e., First name and last name are required. What should I do there? This is where a help would really be appreciated.

The question mark at the end of Given Name field says that I should enter the Given Name as mentioned in the passport.
The question mark at the end of Last Name says that if I have a single line name, then enter all in Last name and leave Given Name field Blank.

These two answers are contradictory. Sadly i Cannot find any email address where I can write to IRCC and clarify this.

If I enter my name in both Fields it appears as a double.

example : Assuming my Given Name in Passport is "Lisa Ray" (no last name), entering "Lisa Ray" in both First name and last name appears as - "Lisa Ray Lisa Ray"!
As far as I know, you have to enter the name in the last name, as last name is the main one used for processing in the western countries. Also it clearly states so in the help centre.
 

sadiyarehman

Full Member
Jun 19, 2018
42
1
As far as I know, you have to enter the name in the last name, as last name is the main one used for processing in the western countries. Also it clearly states so in the help centre.
Thanks for the response. I think the same, but since both are required fields in the Family History section, it got me perplexed.

I have now also written an email to them asking for clarification on the same. NO RESPONSE YET.
I just wanted to send in the application before the next draw!
 

ankit0912

Member
Nov 1, 2018
14
2
Thanks for the response. I think the same, but since both are required fields in the Family History section, it got me perplexed.

I have now also written an email to them asking for clarification on the same. NO RESPONSE YET.
I just wanted to send in the application before the next draw!
@sadiyarehman Did you get a reply from CIC about the clarifications regarding names in the family history page? I only have a Given name in my passport and does not have a Surname. Since both the first name and last name are mandatory in the Family history section, I want to know what should I enter for first name and the last name.
 

sadiyarehman

Full Member
Jun 19, 2018
42
1
@sadiyarehman Did you get a reply from CIC about the clarifications regarding names in the family history page? I only have a Given name in my passport and does not have a Surname. Since both the first name and last name are mandatory in the Family history section, I want to know what should I enter for first name and the last name.
You know what? I actually took the other route!

Since I was advised by a lot of people that not having a last name can give a headache later (its like testing the systems of a foreign land) I decided to get my name split on the passport.
I had that amount of time between ITA and AOR, I got my passport redone in Tatkal.
 

harnav sra

Hero Member
Nov 3, 2018
598
309
Hi,
I have created a profile (well almost) but I am stuck at one point only.

My passport ( as well as my husband's) has only a given name. It contains no Last name/ Surname. Now, everywhere in the Express Entry profile, right from creating an account the last name is a required field.
I searched a lot of FAQs and found this

What do you mean by surname?
Your surname is your family name. It is also called your “last name.” When filling out applications, type your surname as it appears on your passport, travel or identity document.

Do not use initials.

If you do not have a family name on your passport, travel or identity document, enter all your given name(s) in the surname field and leave the given name field blank. Do not enter “Not applicable,” “*” or “NA.”

reference:
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/helpcentre/answer.asp?qnum=014&top=4

It quite clearly states that is a person has only Given name then add all of it in the last name and leave the given name field blank.

But, somewhere in the the express entry profile, both the details, i.e., First name and last name are required. What should I do there? This is where a help would really be appreciated.

The question mark at the end of Given Name field says that I should enter the Given Name as mentioned in the passport.
The question mark at the end of Last Name says that if I have a single line name, then enter all in Last name and leave Given Name field Blank.

These two answers are contradictory. Sadly i Cannot find any email address where I can write to IRCC and clarify this.

If I enter my name in both Fields it appears as a double.

example : Assuming my Given Name in Passport is "Lisa Ray" (no last name), entering "Lisa Ray" in both First name and last name appears as - "Lisa Ray Lisa Ray"![/QUOu
Hi,
I have created a profile (well almost) but I am stuck at one point only.

My passport ( as well as my husband's) has only a given name. It contains no Last name/ Surname. Now, everywhere in the Express Entry profile, right from creating an account the last name is a required field.
I searched a lot of FAQs and found this

What do you mean by surname?
Your surname is your family name. It is also called your “last name.” When filling out applications, type your surname as it appears on your passport, travel or identity document.

Do not use initials.

If you do not have a family name on your passport, travel or identity document, enter all your given name(s) in the surname field and leave the given name field blank. Do not enter “Not applicable,” “*” or “NA.”

reference:
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/helpcentre/answer.asp?qnum=014&top=4

It quite clearly states that is a person has only Given name then add all of it in the last name and leave the given name field blank.

But, somewhere in the the express entry profile, both the details, i.e., First name and last name are required. What should I do there? This is where a help would really be appreciated.

The question mark at the end of Given Name field says that I should enter the Given Name as mentioned in the passport.
The question mark at the end of Last Name says that if I have a single line name, then enter all in Last name and leave Given Name field Blank.

These two answers are contradictory. Sadly i Cannot find any email address where I can write to IRCC and clarify this.

If I enter my name in both Fields it appears as a double.

example : Assuming my Given Name in Passport is "Lisa Ray" (no last name), entering "Lisa Ray" in both First name and last name appears as - "Lisa Ray Lisa Ray"![/QUOTE
Due to this issue I had to withdraw my EE on 1 Nov and submitted again on 2 Nov. My husband name is X Singh everwhere,..no surname.. but IRCC requite surname. Searched everywhere. Nd came to conclusion.I left blank the given name column through it's written required ..Nd filled his X Singh name in surname column. And it came all correct. If u split name like x in given name and Singh in surname it wilk cause troubles because surname in passport is blank..on contrary if leave blank surname column it shows error. .all this wasted our 1 day.. but finally we came to solution. Hope it clear ur query
 

harnav sra

Hero Member
Nov 3, 2018
598
309
Due to this issue I had to withdraw my EE on 1 Nov and submitted again on 2 Nov. My husband name is X Singh everwhere,..no surname.. but IRCC requite surname. Searched everywhere. Nd came to conclusion.I left blank the given name column through it's written required ..Nd filled his X Singh name in surname column. And it came all correct. If u split name like x in given name and Singh in surname it wilk cause troubles because surname in passport is blank..on contrary if leave blank surname column it shows error. .all this wasted our 1 day.. but finally we came to solution. Hope it clear ur query
 
  • Like
Reactions: Ogunwemida
Feb 12, 2020
2
0
Thanks for the response. I think the same, but since both are required fields in the Family History section, it got me perplexed.

I have now also written an email to them asking for clarification on the same. NO RESPONSE YET.
I just wanted to send in the application before the next draw!
Did you get response?
 
Feb 12, 2020
2
0
I need to submit my family details in Express entry application my mother only have surname in her passport but Express entry profile require me to submit first name and last name both. Can someone help in this platform
 

Sohal IR

Newbie
Apr 22, 2024
3
0
I have same issue as my father and mother’s entire name is in given name. What to write in first name and last name in family history?