Name Change Considerations - Need Advice

[redhilltree]

I am a permanent resident in Canada and hold an Indian passport.

I have a relatively unpronounceable Indian name and am considering changing it to a simpler (Indian) name that people can call and I too am more comfortable with

I understand the process is relatively straightforward here in Canada. Once I go through that and change my name on my PR card, I imagine problems arising when I travel to India with my Indian passport that has my old name, can I get through with a name change certificate? Or do you suggest I change my name in the Indian passport as well? (I prefer having one name in both countries but I want to know if it is going to be insanely difficult to get it done)

Is there anything else I am missing?

 

[PMM]

Hi

I am a permanent resident in Canada and hold an Indian passport.

I have a relatively unpronounceable Indian name and am considering changing it to a simpler (Indian) name that people can call and I too am more comfortable with

I understand the process is relatively straightforward here in Canada. Once I go through that and change my name on my PR card, I imagine problems arising when I travel to India with my Indian passport that has my old name, can I get through with a name change certificate? Or do you suggest I change my name in the Indian passport as well? (I prefer having one name in both countries but I want to know if it is going to be insanely difficult to get it done)

Is there anything else I am missing?

1. You will have to change the name on your passport as well, since your passport and PR card should match, carrying your name change certificate, probably won't work in a lot of countries to explain the dependency
2. For the name change on the passport http://www.blsindia-canada.com/name_chan.php

".In all other cases of change of name/surname in the passport, inserting advertisements in two English newspapers – one in local area where the applicant is residing and another in the area of permanent residence in India – is compulsory."

 

[redhilltree]

Hi



1. You will have to change the name on your passport as well, since your passport and PR card should match, carrying your name change certificate, probably won't work in a lot of countries to explain the dependency
2. For the name change on the passport http://www.blsindia-canada.com/name_chan.php

".In all other cases of change of name/surname in the passport, inserting advertisements in two English newspapers – one in local area where the applicant is residing and another in the area of permanent residence in India – is compulsory."

Thanks PMM. Am a bit confused about the local newspaper ad in India. Newspapers might need an affidavit - Is it something I can fill and send from Canada?

 

[redhilltree]

Just to make sure, is the below the right order to go about doing this

1. Change legal name as per process of the province in Canada (via Dept of Vital Statistics)
2. After receipt of name change certificate, put an ad in Canadian local newspaper and a newspaper in India
3. After a month from the ad, apply via BLS for new passport (The BLS application needs my PR card, which will be in my new name since that would be changed during step 1)

Does that sound right?

 

[HAchar]

Hey redhilltree,

Did you make progress? Im thinking of getting the same thing done. I too have a name which is difficult to pronounce .

What is the order of steps I need to take to have the same names in both countries? It would be super helpful of you if you could provide this information.

Just to make sure, is the below the right order to go about doing this

1. Change legal name as per process of the province in Canada (via Dept of Vital Statistics)
2. After receipt of name change certificate, put an ad in Canadian local newspaper and a newspaper in India
3. After a month from the ad, apply via BLS for new passport (The BLS application needs my PR card, which will be in my new name since that would be changed during step 1)

Does that sound right?

 

[the.tq.guy]

Anyone progressed and changed their name?

 

[roxster]

I applied for name correction in Indian passport. Basically removed the middle name from Given name in passport as aadhar, pan and other India documents have only First name and Last name.

Needed one ad in Indian newspaper (applied when I went to India few months back - need affidavit to post ad) and one in Canada. Need 2 ID proofs either in India or Canada with exact name you are applying for passport.
Passport application currently in progress.

I was under the assumption that PR card can be updated with new name based on Indian passport after it is updated.
Looks like we need to apply for Legal name change certificate in Canada to update PR card as per this link.

Submit any of these documents issued by a civil authority in a province or territory of Canada:

• a copy of a legal change of name document, court order, adoption order, or
• one of the following documents (unless you were married in Quebec on or after April 2, 1981 and are now a resident of this province). The document must show your new name:
  • a marriage certificate;
  • divorce decree;
  • registration;
  • declaration of union;
  • revocation of declaration or annulment of union.

If you are a permanent resident and changed your name outside of Canada, submit:

• a foreign passport or other national authoritative document that shows your new name; and
• an official document linking the old and new names.

Can foreign passport be used as proof of name change for PR card update since it has reference to old passport with old name? Has anybody done this?

Since I am inside Canada, would this process be valid for me? I was planning to provide letter of explanation with Indian ID proof my correct name and affidavit I used for newspaper ad in India.

 

[armoured]

Can foreign passport be used as proof of name change for PR card update since it has reference to old passport with old name? Has anybody done this?

Since I am inside Canada, would this process be valid for me? I was planning to provide letter of explanation with Indian ID proof my correct name and affidavit I used for newspaper ad in India.

I do not know. Does the process you followed in India produce a name change/correction confirmation? Court decision? Anything that clearly states Person formerly known as X is now known as person Y? If so, apply and include those docs.

If it's just the new passport with different name, not sure if that will work.

 

[roxster]

I do not know. Does the process you followed in India produce a name change/correction confirmation? Court decision? Anything that clearly states Person formerly known as X is now known as person Y? If so, apply and include those docs.

If it's just the new passport with different name, not sure if that will work.

Thank you! It is affidavit by me (which states my current name is X and new name Y to be used legally for future purposes) is notarized by lawyer with judicial stamp and this NOT a decree issued by court.

If I apply pr card with above details and if IRCC needs legal name change certificate as well,
then would they refuse my pr card replacement application
or
request for additional documents and keep application on hold?

 

[armoured]

Thank you! It is affidavit by me (which states my current name is X and new name Y to be used legally for future purposes) is notarized by lawyer with judicial stamp and this NOT a decree issued by court.

If I apply pr card with above details and if IRCC needs legal name change certificate as well,
then would they refuse my pr card replacement application
or
request for additional documents and keep application on hold?

I do not know. I also don't know what a 'judicial stamp' means. I'm only familiar with systems where some official body notifies that name change has been done, either by extract from civil registry or court order or in official publication (like the Gazetting system used in Canada/Cdn provinces/etc). In principle they should recognize one done abroad, if the system is known and can be shown to be legally valid - but then in principle a Canadian resident (arguably) should go through Canadian name change process.

All I can say is try it and see.

 

[roxster]

I do not know. I also don't know what a 'judicial stamp' means. I'm only familiar with systems where some official body notifies that name change has been done, either by extract from civil registry or court order or in official publication (like the Gazetting system used in Canada/Cdn provinces/etc). In principle they should recognize one done abroad, if the system is known and can be shown to be legally valid - but then in principle a Canadian resident (arguably) should go through Canadian name change process.

All I can say is try it and see.

Thank you, that makes sense..

Does IRCC refuse the PR card application if they need additional documentation or put the application on hold until required documentation is submitted?

 

[armoured]

Don't know.