What to do about FNU? Some people come to the United States from places in the world where only one name is used. If that name is their given name, then their immigration documentation – and maybe their drivers’ license as well will have FNU for their first name. First Name Unknown. Or if the name is their first name, then they might get GNU – nothing to do with the free software foundation – but Given Name Unknown. They live their lives as FNU or GNU.<\/p>\n
I looked through an N-400 for a FNU person. What to do about FNU? If that’s the name on the green card, that’s what has to go on the form. But there is a tempting extra section on page 1 for the name you want to use. Maybe that would let FNU start life as a citizen with a real name.<\/p>\n
Maybe. But only if the place that FNU lives in allows for judicial oath ceremonies. A judge can take the oath and change your name at the same time. Northern California doesn’t do these ceremonies, so at least here, filling out that extra section doesn’t help. I’ve been asking immigration lawyers about FNU at every opportunity. What to do about FNU? But when I have to explain what FNU is, I’m not going to get the answer. All I could find out was that USCIS has not been given any authority by Congress to change anyone’s name. So if someone wants to drop their FNU, it has to be done in state court.<\/p>\n
At the end of my own naturalization interview, the officer asked if I had any questions. She knew I was a (baby) lawyer. So she didn’t seem to mind when I asked her *the question*. What do you do about FNU? At last. Someone who knows about FNU and GNU. And had the answer. You start the name change process before you send in the N-400. And you complete the extra section. And if you bring the name-change certificate to the interview, they will honor it. No big deal. Really. No big deal.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
What to do about FNU? Some people come to the United States from places in the world where only one name is used. If that name is their given name, then their immigration documentation – and maybe their drivers’ license as well will have FNU for their first name. First Name Unknown. Or if the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[8],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n