Name issue when filling application form (Section 3A, 3B)

[thecoolguysam]

My COPR/landing document has the name without surname and same was on my old PR card. I went through legal name change in canada and now my new PR card, passport, drivers license, sin card has full name including my surname.

I went through Instruction guide and this is what it states:

Section 3

Question 3A
Write your last name (surname/family name) and given name(s) exactly as they appear on your immigration document. If your name was shortened (truncated), write the name that appears in the “Remarks” section of your immigration document. The name in the “Remarks” section will have precedence over the name in the surname/family name section. Immigration documents include your:

Record of landing (IMM 1000)
Confirmation of Permanent Residence (IMM 5292 or IMM 5688)
Permanent resident card (PR card)

So, when I filled the application section 3A, I filled my complete name including surname. I did not enter the name as on COPR because it has my old name. I entered my name as on my new PR card because it is also a immigration document as per the instruction guide mentioned above. As my PR' card's name has already changed, I thought to enter new name as per my new PR card.

Now I have attached my legal name change certificate's copy along with cover note stating about name change.

OPTION 2:
I could have also done the following but i thought that it is inappropriate to do so because I have already got my name on PR card changed and using old name as per COPR makes no sense:

3A Enter name as per COPR
3B Enter name as per new PR card/name change certificate.

I could have chosen OPTION 2 in case, my PR card had the old name and was never renewed with my new name . As I have already updated my PR card with new name and it is also a immigration document as per the instruction manual, I thought to enter my new PR card's name.

What do you guys suggest?

 

[sapguru]

I would go for name as indicated in PR Card. It would be good if you can talk to CIC about it as well.

Does your passport has no last name as well? My wife has a similar case. However, we were thinking to opt for "assume husband's last name" option instead of legally changing it as we think she does not need to change her name but to add last name and she is willing to assume my last name.

Can you share the steps took to change/add the last name in various documents?

Thanks!

 

[hoping_canadian]

My COPR/landing document has the name without surname and same was on my old PR card. I went through legal name change in canada and now my new PR card, passport, drivers license, sin card has full name including my surname.

I went through Instruction guide and this is what it states:

Section 3

Question 3A
Write your last name (surname/family name) and given name(s) exactly as they appear on your immigration document. If your name was shortened (truncated), write the name that appears in the “Remarks” section of your immigration document. The name in the “Remarks” section will have precedence over the name in the surname/family name section. Immigration documents include your:

Record of landing (IMM 1000)
Confirmation of Permanent Residence (IMM 5292 or IMM 5688)
Permanent resident card (PR card)

So, when I filled the application section 3A, I filled my complete name including surname. I did not enter the name as on COPR because it has my old name. I entered my name as on my new PR card because it is also a immigration document as per the instruction guide mentioned above. As my PR' card's name has already changed, I thought to enter new name as per my new PR card.

Now I have attached my legal name change certificate's copy along with cover note stating about name change.

OPTION 2:
I could have also done the following but i thought that it is inappropriate to do so because I have already got my name on PR card changed and using old name as per COPR makes no sense:

3A Enter name as per COPR
3B Enter name as per new PR card/name change certificate.

I could have chosen OPTION 2 in case, my PR card had the old name and was never renewed with my new name . As I have already updated my PR card with new name and it is also a immigration document as per the instruction manual, I thought to enter my new PR card's name.

What do you guys suggest?

just write you name and surname if they asked you the middle name then write it as well. at the end of the end CIC will only use you NAME and SURNAME in the CITIZENSHIP CERT and PASSPORT

 

[thecoolguysam]

I would go for name as indicated in PR Card. It would be good if you can talk to CIC about it as well.

Does your passport has no last name as well? My wife has a similar case. However, we were thinking to opt for "assume husband's last name" option instead of legally changing it as we think she does not need to change her name but to add last name and she is willing to assume my last name.

Can you share the steps took to change/add the last name in various documents?

Thanks!

Thank you for the reply. I will contact CIC to see what they say.

For your wife, you don't need legal name change. She can use your last name. You can take your marriage certificate and go to various agencies like Driver's License authority, SIN card office and get it changed.

My old PP did not have surname however when I went through name change, I got my PP changed with updated surname and now all my IDs have new updated name.

In BC, we have to go through vital statistics agency and they ask us to submit RCMP/police fingerprints and after verification, name change certificate is issue and after that you take your name change certificate to various agencies and get your corresponding IDs changed with new name.

 

[sapguru]

Thanks thecoolguysam. Would the authorities accept non-Canadian (international) marriage certificate issued in English?

 

[thecoolguysam]

Thanks thecoolguysam. Would the authorities accept non-Canadian (international) marriage certificate issued in English?

Yes, they accepted mine.

 

[sapguru]

My wife went to two Service Ontario (SO) to assume last name. The first SO refused to change mentioning that her marriage certificate is laminated. In the second SO, the officer agreed to add last name after reviewing the documents. Then he complained that in the system, her first name was moved to last name as their system required a last name. Since in the system, she does not have first name, she need to seek a change in her first name and last name i.e. has to legally change her name now. She may try another SO location tomorrow. So painful!

 

[thecoolguysam]

My wife went to two Service Ontario (SO) to assume last name. The first SO refused to change mentioning that her marriage certificate is laminated. In the second SO, the officer agreed to add last name after reviewing the documents. Then he complained that in the system, her first name was moved to last name as their system required a last name. Since in the system, she does not have first name, she need to seek a change in her first name and last name i.e. has to legally change her name now. She may try another SO location tomorrow. So painful!

I think your wife does not have a surname in passport correct.? Her COPR will also have first name blank and her given name in last name section. Correct?

In that case, her canadian legal name is what is on the COPR.

If you are from India, then get your surname added to her passport.

I am not sure whether she has to go through name change in canada or not.

 

[sapguru]

I think your wife does not have a surname in passport correct.? Her COPR will also have first name blank and her given name in last name section. Correct?

>>> CORRECT for both Q.

Based on my understanding, the best option to change the name:
Change the legal name in Canada and then change it in DL, OHIP, etc. Then use the new legal name in Citizenship application, followed by Canadian passport.

Changing name in original country's passport is a big pain and I think it can be avoided if followed above steps. I am also hoping it does not create any issue on international travel during the period when legal name is changed in Canada but she is not a Canadian Citizen yet. i.e. traveling on original country passport.

 

[thecoolguysam]

>>> CORRECT for both Q.

Based on my understanding, the best option to change the name:
Change the legal name in Canada and then change it in DL, OHIP, etc. Then use the new legal name in Citizenship application, followed by Canadian passport.

Changing name in original country's passport is a big pain and I think it can be avoided if followed above steps. I am also hoping it does not create any issue on international travel during the period when legal name is changed in Canada but she is not a Canadian Citizen yet. i.e. traveling on original country passport.

Just to confim, she has the a Indian passport, correct? If yes, then read the following:

You can go for her legal name change in Canada as per norms here. However, you don't need to replace indian passport with the new name. You just have to go to nearest consulate office and add your last name and they will stamp your last name stating that she would be called "ABC XYZ" (where XYZ is your surname) on some page stating the new name.

If they don't do it that way then the passport has to be renewed with Indian norms by giving advertisement in newspaper and going through all paperwork.

Then you have to get all canadian IDs by canadian norms and Indian passport by indian norms. You can't have canadian ids changed and travel using old indian name. All IDs have to match


There is a catch: If she wants to apply for citizenship after name change, then yes, she can apply and don't renew indian passport unless she wants to travel to India or outside canada. If she does not want to travel anywhere outside canada then you can skip renewing her indian passport and wait till she gets her citizenship of canada and then directly apply canadian passport. If she wants to travel then Canada ID will have different name and Indian passport will have different name and it will create travel issues.

 

[sapguru]

Thanks thecoolguysam. Yes, she has an Indian passport. I agree with your statement and with the catch part too. We want to avoid last name addition in Indian passport. It will all depend if she does not get an RQ in her Canadian Citizenship as the regular goes in a year where as RQ timing is unpredictable.

 

[thecoolguysam]

Thanks thecoolguysam. Yes, she has an Indian passport. I agree with your statement and with the catch part too. We want to avoid last name addition in Indian passport. It will all depend if she does not get an RQ in her Canadian Citizenship as the regular goes in a year where as RQ timing is unpredictable.

You're most welcome.



I will tell you my scenario.

I had same scenario like your wife except that I am a male and didn't have a surname. I live in BC.
I went to Vital Statistics Agency and got my name changed after fingerprinting and all other paperwork. Then I got my SIN card, Driver's license, health card changed. Then I filled application to change my name on my PR card and got my PR card changed.

Then I went to indian consulate and and went through their procedure of getting passport changed by giving advertisement in newspaper and then my passport was changed. You can avoid this step for your wife. Getting last name added to the Indian passport is not big deal. You can take her existing passport with your marriage certificate and they will add your surname in her passport and that's it.
If that process does not work, then renewing Indian passport will be a hectic job and will take time. Also renewing passport, she will get a new passport and existing passport has to be cancelled and all the visas on existing passports will be void.

 

[sapguru]

Thanks again! I live in Ontario and here we have to submit an application to change name which also comes with $137 fee.

I will find out addition of last name in Indian passport. It is the process and people that are difficult to work with at BLS or Consulate. I think addition of last name will require issue of new passport booklet, not sure if it also comes with a new passport number.

 

[thecoolguysam]

Thanks again! I live in Ontario and here we have to submit an application to change name which also comes with $137 fee.

I will find out addition of last name in Indian passport. It is the process and people that are difficult to work with at BLS or Consulate. I think addition of last name will require issue of new passport booklet, not sure if it also comes with a new passport number.

One of my know friend's got his last name added to his wife's passport on one of the pages. She didn't have to go through getting a new booklet. It was 5-7 years ago. I don't know today's rules. You can check with BLS to see if there is a possibility

 

[Masrawy]

Hi future citizens, I have few questions for you !

1- If we checked a 3.B name truncated, do we need to check name change or birth date change on the Checklist !
2- I already photocopied passport and PR visa under the section of travel documents , do I need to make other copies as proof of truncated name !
3- Where in the COPR can I find if the truncated name was remarked or not !

Thanks for your reply, getting ready to send my application very shortly and will appreciate your help !