Passport alias name

Passport Alias Name, sometimes called an a.k.a. Name is a more easily pronounceable name allowed on a passport by some countries, in addition to the official name. The alias may not accepted or recognized by many agencies, which may cause problems for visitors trying to use their alias names.

The pronunciation of a name that comes from a non-English speaking country could really sound weird or be difficult for people to say it right. To make live easier, some countries offer the ability to display an alternative name which people prefer to be called when traveling on the passport. However, even thought this name is listed on the passport, some of the U. S. agencies do not allow it to be used on any legal documents. This issue has caused problems for a considerable portion of foreign travelers and immigrants in the United States.

Does the statement "All requesters should provide all possible name variations or spellings." documented on the USCIS website imply that the alias name is actually a legal name? If the answer is yes, why do people still have problems to use alias name on some legal documents such as the married licence and the driver's licence? Well, one of the possible answer to this question may be due to the reason that most of the US agencies are not even aware of the AKA Name listed on the first page of a passport.

It is very common that the US agencies only focus on the information listed on the Visa page when processing aliens' requests for any documents or certificates for the use in the US. Once in a blue moon, some agencies will accept the alias name by asking for the proof of the alias name used in other formal US documents. However, it doesn't actually work and it causes a deadlock as a result. What does this deadlock mean? For example, DMV requests that alias name should be listed on the marriage licence for a name change on the driver's licence using the alias name while state municipality's asking that the name should be displayed on the driver's licence for adopting it on the marriage licence. In the end, no one is willing to issue the alias name on the document.

Workaround: Legal Name Change

Before every US agencies in each state synchronizes the database with USCIS, the best bet of using the alias name as the legal name is to actually make the alias name official through the "Name Change" process. Well...it's pain in the butt. However, this is a much better way to get the problem fixed rather than wasting time to fight those US agencies who do not take any information aside from the VISA page.