(a) Use of Full Legal Name on USCIS Issued Documents .

Any USCIS document is to be issued to the individual in his or her full legal name. Regulations that support using full legal names rather than names selected due to personal preference include: 8 CFR 204.2 , 320.3 , 322.3 ; 32 CFR Part 270, Appendix A. For example, the instructions for completing Form I-90 explicitly states:

Correction or change in biographic data . If you are applying to replace a card because of a name change, you must submit a copy of a court order or marriage certificate reflecting the new name. To replace a card due to a change in any other biographic data, you must submit copies of documentation to prove that this new data is correct.

A married woman may choose a legal married name (husband’s surname), a legal pre-marriage name (retention of maiden name), or any form of either (e.g., hyphenated name, maiden name and husband’s surname) on Form I-551 and corresponding Form I-90 (Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card.) Legal documentation, such as that listed below, must be provided to support the choice.

·     Civil Marriage Certificate

·     Divorce Decree

·     Family Registry

·     Country Identity Document

·     Foreign Birth Certificate

·     Certificate of Naming

·     Court Order

·     Se e Foreign Affairs Manual for Country Specific Guidelines

(b) Construction of Foreign Names .

Construction of foreign names varies from culture to culture. The U.S. State Department's Foreign Affairs Manual (FAM) provides guidance regarding construction of foreign names. See generally 7 FAM 1300, Appendix C, Names to Be Used in Passports. Also see:

• 7 FAM 1367e. (Foreign Naming Conventions)
• 7 FAM 1391-1394 Appendix C (Slavic, Asian, Arabic, Hispanic names)

(c ) Related Subjects .

For information pertaining to use of full legal name see Chapter 52 , Reentry Permits; Chapter 53 , Refugee Travel Documents; Chapter 54 , Advance Parole Documents and Boarding Letters; Chapter 55 , Employment Authorization Documents; and Chapter 56 , Other USCIS and DHS Documents, of this manual.