FNU in First or Last name in US VISA -The Story

FNU - The case of Family Name Unknown...

If you are one of the those that have ended up having a Visa stamped with FNU in your first or last name, welcome to the club!

To explain this problem and solution, I will assume my name to be Adithya Vikram (not my real name:-))

My earlier passport had;

Given Names: Adithya Vikram

Surname:

So my US VISA was issued with;

Surname: Adithya Vikram

First Name: FNU (By the way, this does not expand to First Name Unknown, it is Family Name Unknown)

It all started when the great Indian Babu at the friendly Passport Office forgot to distinguish my first and last names in my Passport (Or was it my mistake? Don't remember, but it is easier to blame others, isn't it:))

Those were the good old days when I cared less about names or their order. All I wanted to do was watch Doordarshan and hang out with friends and play cricket...

Cut to a few years later, I got a chance through work to visit the greatest country in the world! All excited, I submitted my documents and after reviewing them and realizing that I had no last name in my passport, our US HR warned me about problems I could face in the US of A.

I pretty much ignored them as I had a valid Visa to come to the United States and did not want to go through the process of updating the records. Lazy me.

I had enjoyed every minute of my stay in the US (and still do:)) until I decided to apply for a DL. 
The DMV rejected my application outright because they couldn't find a match in their Systems. To them, I did not exist:(.  So, started my tale of woes, and multiple visits to government offices, though I must admit that offices here are far better than our own back in India. 


DMV asked me to get an acknowledgement from the SSA with my full name spelled out correctly.

To compound the issue, I realized that the SSA apparently had clubbed my first name and last name (without a space) and entered that as my first name in their records (apparently, there is a 16-character limit for that field), and FNU as the last name. 

So, my name in the SSN was AdithyaVikram FNU

When I went to the SSA office, they told me that I had entered the US as AdithyaVikram FNU and they could do nothing about it, unless USCIS changed it in their records.

The USCIS adviced that I change my name in my passport and then contact them or live as AdithyaVikram FNU.

As I wanted to desperately drive around in the US, I was too impatient to wait to get all this mess sorted out, so I just went ahead and got my DL, but not before a few more trips between the DMV and SSA office.

The Car Insurance lady used to sweetly address me as Mr. PhhhNuu! (FNU)

After reading a few articles online about possible issues I could face in future if I decide to stay in the US (another irritating point of being addressed as Mr. FNU), I decided to set the records straight once and for all, and boy was it boring! 

The following is a summary of the steps. 


(Each step is explained in detail in the post here:

http://vikramayana.blogspot.com/2009/09/fnu-in-first-or-last-name-in-us-visa_17.html )

1) Change your name in your Indian Passport

http://www.cgisf.org/passport/onlineapplication.htm ((link for SFO only, check your consulate website for your link)

US consulates information: http://www.cgisf.org/contact/consulates.html

2) Schedule an appointment with USCIS to update your records after getting your updated passport.

https://infopass.uscis.gov/infopass.php

3) Update SSA Card


Go to your local SSA office two weeks after USCIS office visit.

Find your local office here: https://secure.ssa.gov/apps6z/FOLO/fo001.jsp

I got my updated SSA Card in less than 10 days after my visit to their office.


 Next I have an appointment with the DMV to update my license and car title. Hopefully it should all be over. 


( I have since obtained my DL with my corrected name and the Insurance lady now has a tough time pronouncing my real last name!)

Finally I got my name back.

If only I had not been lazy back in India and gotten it corrected as adviced by the HR lady, this adventure would not have come about.

-VikRamayana