Avoid Common Passport Naming Convention Mistakes When Aspiring to Study Abroad
A valid passport and a visa are two essential documents you will need while traveling abroad – whether it is for work, studies, or leisure purposes. If you are an overseas education aspirant, you need to take a closer look at the front and back pages of your passport. You have to do this diligently because the information on these pages will be referred to and replicated as-is to populate crucial documents across various stages of your study abroad journey.
More importantly, your passport will be the most important document determining your eligibility for the following:
- To appear for competitive and language proficiency tests such as the GRE and TOEFL, respectively, at designated centers.
- To attend the visa interview and procure the student visa after securing admission to a foreign university.
- Finally, to travel to your desired study abroad destination.
What You Need to Check on the Front Page of Your Passport?
These two fields may seem like the easiest thing to fill when you apply for a passport.
Surname : This is your family name or the last name
Given Names : This is your name followed by your father’s name
However, how you fill the two fields will impact your entire study abroad journey right from the application and student visa processing to your post study documentation requirements such as applying for a work visa, opening a back account, etc.
For your benefit we have cited two common scenarios under which the two fields are usually represented on a passport
Scenario 1 Both the fields (Surname and Given Names) are populated For e.g. Dinesh Krishnakumar Menon | |
Student’s name | Dinesh |
Student’s father’s name | Krishnakumar |
Student’s surname | Menon |
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Surname | Menon |
Given Names | Dinesh Krishnakumar |
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Scenario 2 Only one field is populated and the other field remains unfilled due to lack of information For e.g. Ryan Bosco | |
Student’s name | Ryan |
Student’s father’s name | Bosco |
Student’s surname |
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Surname |
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Given Names | Ryan Bosco |
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Let us understand why this happens :
- Most families in India have a surname (while)
- Some families do not have a surname
In case 1, the student Dinesh has a surname: Menon
Surname | Menon |
In case 2, the student Ryan does not have a surname
Surname |
|
The Impact of Missing Personal Information on Your Visa Application
As per international visa guidelines surname is a mandatory field. It simply means the field cannot be left blank.
So, the representation of
- Surname
- Given Names
will be as follows for the above referred names during visa processing
Dinesh Krishnakumar Menon | |
Student’s name | Dinesh |
Student’s father’s name | Krishnakumar |
Student’s surname | Menon |
| |
Name on Passport | |
1 Surname | Menon |
2 Given Names | Dinesh Krishnakumar |
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|
Name on Visa Stamp | |
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|
1 Surname | Menon |
2 Given Names | Dinesh Krishnakumar |
Ryan Bosco | |
Student’s name | Ryan |
Student’s father’s name | Bosco |
Student’s surname |
|
Name On Passport | |
1 Surname |
|
2 Given Names | Ryan Bosco |
Name on Visa Stamp | |
1 Surname | Ryan Bosco |
2 Given Names | FNU (First Name Unknown) |
Since there is no surname
| |
How to Avoid FNU Issues During Visa Application?
Remember, that wrongly printed information on your passport will have to be changed through a formal application, which might take time.
If you do not have a surname on your passport, you need to update your passport promptly. You can apply for a change of name at the passport office by doing the following:
- Use a fresh passport application form and fill up your surname using your father’s name, apart from providing other requisite details
- After securing university admit, ensure that the personal information on your passport aligns with the information on your visa stamp, as shown here
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Ryan Bosco |
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Student’s name |
Ryan |
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Student’s father’s name |
Bosco |
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Student’s surname |
Bosco |
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Name on Revised Passport |
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|
1 Surname |
Bosco |
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2 Given Names |
Ryan Bosco |
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Name on Visa Stamp |
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1 Surname |
Bosco |
|
2 Given Names |
Ryan Bosco |
it is important to note here that merely aligning your personal information on your passport and visa is not enough.
You need to ensure that :
- The personal information on your passport matches with those on the documents that you submitted during passport application such as Aadhaar, Ration Card and Birth Certificate
For e.g.
Name in the birth certificate | SUNITHA |
Name in the passport | SUNITA |
Though the name in the passport appears similar to the one in the birth certificate, it is spelled incorrectly. Such minor errors can take place due to oversight on the part of passport processing and verification personnel. Information mismatch or incorrect representation of information can lead to unwanted delays and problems in your study abroad application process.
Passport Check Upon Receiving an Admit
- Ensure that your passport has adequate validity to accommodate your visa appointment and subsequent departure. It would be ideal to have more than 12-18 months of validity from the date of receiving admit
Passport Check Before Going for the Visa Interview
In case you have missed checking your passport upon receiving an admit ,you need to do the following :
- Ensure that your passport validity exceeds your visa interview date by 6 months
- It is better to renew your passport if your validity period is less than 12 months
What You Need to Check on the Back Page of Your Passport?
Name of Father / Legal Guardian
Name of Mother
These two self-descriptive fields need to be compared with original documents and scrutinized for name mismatch/ spelling mistakes as indicated here
Father’s name as per birth certificate | Sachinkumar |
Father’s name on the passport | Sachin |
Mother’ name as per birth certificate | Meena |
Mother’s name on the passport | Meenaben |
Name difference or name mismatch can lead to avoidable regulatory and compliance issues that can offset your planned study abroad schedule. You may incur loss of time and money to get your passport in order.
How to Correct the Naming Discrepancies?
There are two ways to align your personal particulars and that of your parents/guardian on your passport with the original documents
- Update your passport to incorporate the naming discrepancies (or)
- Rectify the source documents such as birth certificate/school leaving etc.
Logistically speaking, it would be much easier to update your passport than requesting changes to the source documents.
Here is a quick recap of ‘passport due diligence’ you must do before and after you commence your study abroad application process
Before applying for a passport :
- Ensure that you have duly filled the First Name and Surname column in the application form in accordance to the information in the source documents (Aadhaar/Birth certificate)
- If you do not have a Surname, please provide your father’s name
- Never leave the First Name and Surname blank
Upon receiving your passport
- Ensure that the Surname and Given Names fields are duly filled. Compare the details in the two fields with the source documents
- Ensure that Name of Father / Guardian and Name of Mother fields are duly filled. Compare the details in the two fields with the source documents
- Make immediate note of any discrepancy you observe such as blank Surname, incorrect representation of Name of Father / Guardian, Name of Mother
- Get your passport updated promptly to correct the name difference or name mismatch
Upon Receiving University Admit
- Assuming you have got admit from an US university, you need to check the personal information on the i20 and ensure that the information matches with the details on your passport.
Upon Receiving the Visa Stamp
- You need to ensure that the information on your visa stamp matches with that on your passport. You will receive the visa stamp after clearing the visa interview.
Instances That Do Not Require Passport Update
- If the address field on your passport is not updated
It is common for people to change residence due to redevelopment or other reasons. Therefore, it is not necessary to update your passport address to reflect your current place of stay
- If there is an Emigration Clearance Required (ECR ) stamp on your passport
It is ok if you have ECR stamp on your passport as long as you are not travelling to any of the Gulf nations. ECR is applicable to Gulf countries. It is basically for people with low level qualifications looking for employment opportunities in the Gulf region. Assuming you intend to study in the US , you will be able to apply for your US visa with an ECR stamp.
To conclude, accurate information on your documents can prevent information mismatches, regulatory and compliance issues, and potential delays in your application process, ultimately ensuring a smoother journey towards your study abroad aspirations, both as a student and a future working professional.
With over two decades of experience in the study abroad domain, Counsellors at Collegepond have accumulated a wealth of knowledge and expertise across all facets of the application process. To ensure you receive the highest level of guidance and support, don’t hesitate to reach out to us today and schedule a free consultation!
