Misspelled name on passport/visas
In my Indonesian passport, my last name is missing a letter so I sent it back to the consulate to be corrected. The consulate made the correction on the next page but they didn't make a new passport and just wrote my full name with the correct last name in ink, stamped and signed it. Before I go ahead and explain my whole situation, I will be traveling to the UK and several countries (16 to be exact) in the Schengen area soon.
I just received my UK visa last month with the correct last name. When I filled out my application, I put in the correct last name according to the correction that was made on the other page in my passport (not the original page). So when I arrived at my biometrics appointment, the USCIS officer looked at my passport and asked why my last name is different than the one in the application, so I told her to go to the next page and said I was good to go.
And this morning I received my Schengen visa with the 'wrong' last name (they basically just followed the same exact name as the one that is stated in the passport instead of the other page) but when I filled out my Schengen application, I put in the correct last name.
When I got to my VFS appointment for the Schengen visa, the agent told me they have been trained to follow the passport page because it is the page that will be scanned -- not the other page. I showed her my UK visa with the corrected last name so she and a couple other agents made me take two biometrics (one with the correct last name and one with the incorrect last name) and then told me the French embassy in DC would decide which last name they would use for the visa. I was honestly surprised when I got my visa today because I thought the visa officer would choose the corrected last name just because that's what I put in my application as well as all of my reservations and other documents.
Immediately after receiving my Schengen visa, I called the French Visa Application Center about it. They suggested that when I travel to and within the Schengen area, I should book my flights and other transportations with the name that is indicated in the Schengen visa but when I travel to/in the UK, I should use the exact same name that is in the UK visa. To make sure, I called the Indonesian consulate and spoke to a consultant about it. He also said the same thing and he added that I shouldn't worry because both my correct and incorrect last name are indicated in the passport officially.
I will be traveling to the UK first and I have booked my flight to London (a short layover in Reykjavik) with the correct last name because that is what it says in my UK visa. All of my other reservations to/in the Schengen area are in the last name that is indicated in the Schengen visa. To add to that, the consultant from the Indonesian consulate says when I return back to the United States, I have to use the correct last name because it has to be the same as my green card.
What do you think about my situation? Will I get in trouble?
Best Answer
You for sure will not get into trouble. But this all depends on the immigrations officers you run into. You might get pulled aside and looked at harder but it is hard to believe you will be denied entry. If I were you i would use my correct last name for everything. The last thing you want is some airline not letting you fly because your name is not correct.
When flying to the US, always use the name that is on your green card. The US is the strictest about everything and cause the most problems.
I wouldn't worry, your not going to jail over a misspelled name as long as all your other documents are in order.
Pictures about "Misspelled name on passport/visas"
Does the name on my ticket need to match my passport?
Answer: As part of the TSA's Secure Flight Program, the names on airline tickets must match the name on passports.How do I fix an error on my passport?
Correct a Data or Printing Error can be corrected at no charge if the passport is still valid. To correct a data or printing error: Complete Form DS-5504. Submit form by mail with your passport, one color photo, and evidence of the error (e.g. your U.S. birth certificate showing the correct spelling of your last name).What happens to my US visa if I change my name?
A change of name will not affect the validity of the visa. We recommend that when traveling, you carry a copy of the document showing the name change. It is not possible to 'transfer' a visa.VISAS: Why misspelling a name in documents is more of a problem than you realize
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Images: RODNAE Productions, Angela Roma, Monstera, Tara Winstead