Name issue for citizenship
Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2018 11:11 pm
Hello all
sorry to drag up an older thread but hopefully some advice. I've read so much and so many differing comments.
My wife is Greek, I am british. Her Greek documents are in her maiden name, she has a right to remain card in her maiden name. Her UK documents (bank, bills etc) all go under her married name
She has applied for the life in the UK test in her married name - all her UK documents are in her married name so we had no choice. Thats in a week.
I now gather we will run into trouble when we apply for the citizenship. We have a marriage certificate (greek) certified and translated which has done us fine in the past. I have contacted the Greek embassy who said no, HMPO knows that in Greece women keep their maiden names, so they wont issue a letter, and besides she can technically petition a judge in Greece (because that doesnt take forever) to change her ID there if she really wants. Of course the judge may say no.
SO - am I better getting an affidavit sworn about her names, or is it easier to get a deed poll change back to match her maiden name (and greek passport) and adjust all her UK documents (bank accounts, license etc)? With the deed poll change, would the life in the uk test be invalid? Would she still need to declare she has been known by other names? Deed poll seems like the simple solution really, it would only take a few weeks to come through, and worst case she has to re-take her life in the UK test under her maiden name?
I dont understand how the residency is fine, but citizenship does not qualify, despite nothing changing between the 2 applications!!!
sorry to drag up an older thread but hopefully some advice. I've read so much and so many differing comments.
My wife is Greek, I am british. Her Greek documents are in her maiden name, she has a right to remain card in her maiden name. Her UK documents (bank, bills etc) all go under her married name
She has applied for the life in the UK test in her married name - all her UK documents are in her married name so we had no choice. Thats in a week.
I now gather we will run into trouble when we apply for the citizenship. We have a marriage certificate (greek) certified and translated which has done us fine in the past. I have contacted the Greek embassy who said no, HMPO knows that in Greece women keep their maiden names, so they wont issue a letter, and besides she can technically petition a judge in Greece (because that doesnt take forever) to change her ID there if she really wants. Of course the judge may say no.
SO - am I better getting an affidavit sworn about her names, or is it easier to get a deed poll change back to match her maiden name (and greek passport) and adjust all her UK documents (bank accounts, license etc)? With the deed poll change, would the life in the uk test be invalid? Would she still need to declare she has been known by other names? Deed poll seems like the simple solution really, it would only take a few weeks to come through, and worst case she has to re-take her life in the UK test under her maiden name?
I dont understand how the residency is fine, but citizenship does not qualify, despite nothing changing between the 2 applications!!!