What's in a name

LegacyUser

A while ago, I applied for one of the US diversity visas. It basically entitles you to become a US citizen for life, so even if you didnt want to go straight away (there's some recession on somewhere I understand), it's pretty valuable long term.

I got notice there that I've moved onto the next stage (basically getting past the first stage is like a 1 in 50 random lottery shot). However, the name on my application is Paddy whereas I've discovered that the name on my birth certificate is Pat (I didnt know - my passport is Paddy, all my bank accounts, job name etc too). They ask to bring your birth cert to the interview stage (where they ask if you're a terror1st etc). Like 50% of people get through this stage (people opt out, dont supply proper photographs etc). My worry, is that if I contact them and say "oh I have the wrong name on my app", they'll think it's fraud and deny it. I'm afraid to contact them to ask as I dont want to get rejected without being able to try something else.

So my options seem to be:
- I could contact them and say "oh I discovered my birth cert name is different", but only 50% of applications get to the end of stage 2, and that could be a quick reason for denial.
- Another alternative is I could just go to the interview, hope they dont notice, and if they do act surprised, explain that its a colloqial Irish form of the name and ask can the formal name be added to my app as an alternate name
- I could ask for my birth cert here and request it for my non formal name, and hope to game the system here in Ireland (low chance methinks)
- I could get my formal name changed to my common name. Im not sure what's involved here, and how thats reflected in your birth cert (presumably it will show my name was something else at the date of application)

Any advice, or anyone experienced in any of the systems have anything to offer? I messed this up without knowing, and this really could make a big difference in my life.

shellyboo

Unregistered wrote: »

So my options seem to be:
- I could contact them and say "oh I discovered my birth cert name is different", but only 50% of applications get to the end of stage 2, and that could be a quick reason for denial.
- Another alternative is I could just go to the interview, hope they dont notice, and if they do act surprised, explain that its a colloqial Irish form of the name and ask can the formal name be added to my app as an alternate name
- I could ask for my birth cert here and request it for my non formal name, and hope to game the system here in Ireland (low chance methinks)
- I could get my formal name changed to my common name. Im not sure what's involved here, and how thats reflected in your birth cert (presumably it will show my name was something else at the date of application)

This. Pat = Patrick = Paddy. It's the same name essentially. Running around changing stuff makes it look like you were trying to defraud them - it's a simple mistake, no need to go covering it up. If you're calm and honest with them, there shouldn't be any issues.

moco

Your name on your birth cert will stay the same regardless of whether you change your name or apply for it in your common name, the only one you get will say Pat.

One option is to get a new passport in paddy but with an observation on it saying 'The bearer of this passport was registered at birth as Pat' then that will show you are one and the same person?