Hyphen and Last Name Issues

Hi guys. I tried reading the posts, so sorry if this is already posted but it would be of big help if someone could advise because this is hold back my application.

A non-profit is helping me fill the form out. I noticed that they started to hyphenate my Paternal Last Name and my Maternal Last Name. This is incorrect. I have never used my maternal last name in ANY of my legal documents other than my passport and matricula. The organization insisted that because someone had hyphenated my name on my matricula (ID) that they had to write down my last name that way. I don't want to use two last names. It's always been one. It's never been 2 and I don't want to have to explain to employers or anyone else why my last name has changed all of a sudden.

Someone at the organization told me that if I didn't like that, that I could change my name legally AFTER I received everything. Wouldn't this be redundant? And much harder to correct after the fact?

I called my embassy to see if they could remove the hyphen, they said yes. I also asked if I could drop my maternal name all together. They said yes as well, but I have a feeling she wasn't 100% confident when she gave me the answer.


1. Anyone else having this hyphen issue?
2. Can I just drop my maternal last name? Or would that require a name change?
3. I read someone here that you can write your form as you want your name to be legally. Is this true?

Keep it hyphenated as it is in your official documents. I recall someone getting RFE'd for only using one name.

The reason they ask you to keep it hyphenated is because your ID documents are supposed to supersede everything. For most of my stuff here, I've only used one of my last names just out of consideration for how it is here but technically, my whole name with my maternal name IS my legal name.

However, in the app, there's a section where you can note the variations of your name you've used, so I strongly suggest you fill that in, specially if you have evidence where only one last name is present.

^This I did the exact same thing just in case.

yeah, that is what I did too. So, I will second that. But, I think if you want only first name and last name put that on the first page. Or the second option is there is a back portion where you can add information. Maybe you can write them a note in there that explains things to them and what your name preference is.

Is it hyphenated on your birth certificate? If not, then they messed up on your passport and matricula.

On the applications I put one last name as the main and on the I-765 I put both last names under other names used.
My EAD came in with both last names. :-/

I would think your birth certificate would supersede an id and I'm sure they aren't hyphenated on it. I just used my paternal last name on all the applications and where it says to list others names I wrote my full name. I was approved with only my paternal name and I'm glad because my mom uses both and they always mess them up all the time, sometimes they hyphenate them or just put them the together as one long last name. Smh

OP here.

My name is NOT hyphenated in my birth certificate. My name was hyphenated by mistake on my matricula but on my passport it just say last names and both are listed; one underneath the other. I am sending a pdf with all my cards and checking account so that they can clearly see that all my financial and legal documents only have my paternal. On the additional document page I am writing along the lines "I request all documents be written out to FIRST NAME LAST NAME henceforth. I have never used my maternal last name nor do I plan to. My maternal name is NOT part of my last name; please do not hyphenate."

What do you guys think? Do you think this would work? Or that I would need to get my matricula and/or passport undated? (appointments are available until January 2013! yikes!)

The odds are that if you are from latin america, you do have two last names and it is part of your legal name.
So what if they put both last names, just tell them not to hyphenate it. I had the same problem, I told the paralegal to put just my first last name, she told me that once everything was accepted we could do that, but for now since all ID's, passport and birth certificates are with both, she wants me to have both on paper so I don't run in to problems when getting SSN or DL.

and really, should it freaking matter what is says on your EAD, you are getting a work permit, stop looking at the small stuff and look at the bigger picture.

Pretty much what happened to me....I don't think there's anything you can do because your legal name is technically as it is listed on your birth certificate and everything else you might have, hence USCIS will included it. I did try to reason with USCIS to only use my paternal sur name since that's the one I've used all my life but they flat out told me NO!!!

The SSC agent and the Biometrics agent both told me that from now on I AM REQUIRED to list my name as it comes on my EAD card which includes both maternal and paternal sur names. Sorry, but you gotta live with it.....besides what's the big deal? I got used to it already, as long as I can keep my EAD without any issues, Im all gravy....


You gotta think ahead, when go to renew your EAD in two years, you don't want to have caused so much confusion that they might deny because you've changed what they were originally handed.