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First name change and PR card

Printed From: Canada Immigration and Visa Discussion Forum
Category: Canada Immigration Topics
Forum Name: Preserving Permanent Residence Status
Forum Description: How long can a permanent resident remain outside of Canada? Commentaries on preserving permanent residence.
URL: https://secure.immigration.ca/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=403
Printed Date: 27 Apr 2024 at 2:41pm


Topic: First name change and PR card
Posted By: TimberRosa
Subject: First name change and PR card
Date Posted: 15 Dec 2009 at 1:19am

I have been living in Canada for a few months now and have noticed that my first name is pronounced very wrong. It doesn't sound anything like it should be pronounced and sounds very weird and ugly. I am thinking about having my first name changed. BC Vital Statistics has a procedure for this, but I think I might have a problem if I change my first name, change my PR card but still travel with my old passport which has my old first name in it.

My home country does not allow name change easily. Only in case of protection or if the name is a big burden because of its meaning. I was happy to read about the chance to change my name legally, but I am bit worried about traveling with a passport and a pr card which do not carry the same name... On the other hand, a few weeks ago I was traveling back from the US and the border didn't want to see my passport; they said that in the future I should only give them my PR card.
What to do? I have to be sure that i can travel, but BC Statistics and the border are unable to answer this question for me... Thanks for your reply.  


Replies:
Posted By: canvis2006
Date Posted: 15 Dec 2009 at 10:25am
It will be a big problem at airports if names on passport and PR card are different......specially in a security-phobia world now.

So don't take a risk. Name on both documents should be the same.

Posted By: pmm
Date Posted: 15 Dec 2009 at 1:34pm
Hi

Originally posted by TimberRosa TimberRosa wrote:

<FONT style=": #f8f8e0">I have been living in Canada for a few months now and have noticed that my first name is pronounced very wrong. It doesn't sound anything like it should be pronounced and sounds very weird and ugly. I am thinking about having my first name changed. BC Vital Statistics has a procedure for this, but I think I might have a problem if I change my first name, change my PR card but still travel with my old passport which has my old first name in it.


My home country does not allow name change easily. Only in case of protection or if the name is a big burden because of its meaning. I was happy to read about the chance to change my name legally, but I am bit worried about traveling with a passport and a pr card which do not carry the same name... On the other hand, a few weeks ago I was traveling back from the US and the border didn't want to see my passport; they said that in the future I should only give them my PR card.








What to do? I have to be sure that i can travel, but BC Statistics and the border are unable to answer this question for me... Thanks for your reply.  


1. You can do it, but you would have to carry proof of the name change with your passport if the name is not changed on the passport. see: http://www.vs.gov.bc.ca/name/eligible.html

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PMM


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