Name Change

[Shikyo]

I have been thinking about having my name changed official for rather long now. In my case, I do not think the problem to have the name changed is going to be the biggest one, but more so the circumstances around it.

As some of you probably know, I am married. The marriage is not an issue, but the fact that we are not citizens of the same country, I am a citizen of Finland and she's a citizen of United States of America. The real problem is, we would like to move to the United States, having my name changed before we would move there would be a big advantage, as I am planning to live as a women all the time.
The name change would bring a lot of advantage for starting the new life in United States, as having a feminine name on my ID and other documents would be very helpful. However, the problem is getting the residency permit itself. We are indeed married, but I really wonder how problematic it would become, if I'd have an feminine name on the petition and later on the visa application.

My reasoning states, that the name itself should not change anything as our marriage is not a fraud, which has already been in a test twice, once for the Visa in German and second time for the Visa in Finland. I am still physically "male", so I cannot see a reason why they'd have a problem with it. However, my paranoia just keeps me telling me that if I'd change my name, there's no way I'd be able to get the residency permit, which would mean we couldn't move to the United States.

I have already discussed this matter with my wife, she's fine with my name change and everything else and give the decision of it all to myself, which I thank her for. I would still like to hear other people's opinion about this or maybe even their own experience.

If I cannot decide, I guess I would have to ask the United States Embassy about the matter themselves, but before that I'd like to get as much information as possible.

Thank you for reading this.

[Mean Green Irene]

A name change is a serious issue. I was able to live as a woman for 5 months without changing my name. During that time I made business trips, flying and renting cars. Yes there were questions but nobody really cared they just wondered why a woman would be using a man's name. My drivers license had my Fem picture on it with the male name. Once anyone looked at the ID there were no problems. After five months I decided to return to living as a man and just CD when I could. I am very happy that I did not change my name. Those that worked with me used my Fem name but the records always reflected my male name.

Irene

[Shikyo]

A name change is a serious issue. I was able to live as a woman for 5 months without changing my name. During that time I made business trips, flying and renting cars. Yes there were questions but nobody really cared they just wondered why a woman would be using a man's name. My drivers license had my Fem picture on it with the male name. Once anyone looked at the ID there were no problems. After five months I decided to return to living as a man and just CD when I could. I am very happy that I did not change my name. Those that worked with me used my Fem name but the records always reflected my male name.

Irene

You do have a point. There is just one factor, that makes me want to change the name, no matter what. Since I was small, I've could not stand my name. After I had moved to Germany, this hatred just got bigger and bigger, for the simple fact that no one could pronounce or write my name correctly. It did not matter if I spelled it for them or not, after several times they might have gotten it correctly, but the game started over again on the next time. In Japan it was not as bad, as I could use my last name all the time, which they had no trouble of pronouncing.

I have decided to change my name, be it even just a guys name, but I really would prefer to have a feminine name if I already go around it and change my name.

[deja true]

Well, Shikyo...

I think if you changed your Finnish first name to a Finnish girls name, very few in the States(or the Embassy for that matter) would even realize it!

Change your name to one that gives you comfort...don't worry about anyone else!

(That way, depending on the state you move to, you won't have to go through all that name-change hassle in the States...)

:)

[Shikyo]

Well, Shikyo...

I think if you changed your Finnish first name to a Finnish girls name, very few in the States(or the Embassy for that matter) would even realize it!

Change your name to one that gives you comfort...don't worry about anyone else!

(That way, depending on the state you move to, you won't have to go through all that name-change hassle in the States...)

:)

Oh well, I was planning on taking the name "Lulu" a nice simple one, and I've always liked it. It is not really that much of a finnish name. But it has actually been given four guys in the past.
You do have a point though, they should not really care about the name. I was always going to go a for a name, I like; would bring comfort to me.

Technically speaking, I am rather sure I could have my name changed in Finland, despite of living in the United States. Though the process would not be as easy as it is now: Fill the paper, with all the changes to your names. When its your first time, you do not need to give a reason for your name change or why you want that specific name. Pay the fee(not sure if the first time is still free, it used to be anyway) wait and hopefully your name change is inside the Finnish name law, if not the name will not be changed.

Thank you for your help. Now I think I should contact the place, to ask would they also need the statement from the doctor for the name change(as giving a male a female name is against the name law). But as the name has been giving to male people before, so I should be able to get it done without a doctors statement.