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Original poster

Passport office won’t issue my passport,help pls

369 replies

Christmaspug · 17/02/2020 07:41

I’ve never really used my first name ,always used my middle name ,.on my wedding certificate the registrar put my middle name first as that’s what everyone calls me.
Passport office want proof of a name change from first name to middle name

Obviously I’ve not got that ,lots of people use their second name when they don’t like their first name,why would I change it officially as they are both my name.
I’m about to loose my £80 fee ,as this has been has been going backwards and forwards for some time ,
I’ve simply not got the proof they want ,
What on Earth can I do
I’m 46 always lived in uk and never had a passport before

OP posts:
CuriousaboutSamphire · 17/02/2020 08:14

Crikey! What a fuss. Many people don't use their officially recorded name, I don't. But all my legal documents have my legal name on them... just get your passport issued in what is your legal name.

And do check your marriage certificate and the register as that could come back and cause issues too!

tabletray · 17/02/2020 08:15

on my wedding certificate the registrar put my middle name first as that’s what everyone calls me.

The registrar has no idea what everyone calls you. If the registrar put your middle name first that must have been how you filled in the form.

ClappyFlappy · 17/02/2020 08:15

What a total eejit the registrar was, why on earth would they do that?

Can something be done to remedy the marriage certificate? Either that or a deed poll as others have suggested.

adaline · 17/02/2020 08:15

@PineappleDanish but you need to submit proof of ID to get married eg. Birth certificate. Your marriage certificate needs to be written in your legal name, not your nickname!

Registrar messed up and should have known better. You can call yourself whatever you want on a daily basis but legal documents are just that - you can't just write whatever you fancy on them!

ClappyFlappy · 17/02/2020 08:16

The registrar has no idea what everyone calls you. If the registrar put your middle name first that must have been how you filled in the form

Unless you did this of course

KaptenKrusty · 17/02/2020 08:16

can't you just change the name on the passport to be your first name and then use your birth cert as proof? don't need to use the marriage cert then as proof of name??

SnuggyBuggy · 17/02/2020 08:18

Sounds like the registrar messed up

Oblomov20 · 17/02/2020 08:18

Are you being deliberately obtuse? Your name is as it is on your birth certificate.

Irrespective of what you want, or what anyone calls you.

If they recorded your marriage certificate with the names in the wrong order, then that is their mistake.

NeverTalksToStrangers · 17/02/2020 08:19

I think the problem here is that she has applied for a passport in her married name.

Abigail brenda Carrol

But the marriage certificate says Brenda Abigail Dudley married Mr Carrol.

And her birth certificate says Abigail brenda Dudley.

Am I right?

Ask the passport office if they'll issue it in your maiden name. You'll have to change the name on your tickets though.

Or change name by deed poll to brenda Abigail dudley as per your 18th birthday.

JudyCoolibar · 17/02/2020 08:19

My brother has used his third name all his life. His passport still shows all three names as they appear on the birth certificate. It's never been a problem for him.

Seventyone72seventy3 · 17/02/2020 08:19

Why would you ask the registrar to put down your name incorrectly? Surely you could see this was going to cause problems?

Quartz2208 · 17/02/2020 08:19

Yes it’s the registrar for the marriage cert who was wrong

Yes many people do use middle names as first names but most still have passports in the legal name way unless they have changed it

It’s the same as full name nicknames. Everyone knows me as my shorten name form all legal documents have my full name

Oblomov20 · 17/02/2020 08:19

Loads of people use their middle name.

It doesn't make it their actual name! Hmm

Disfordarkchocolate · 17/02/2020 08:20

Sorry if this has been suggested but do you have any official letters with you middle name first? I was thinking of a job offer, a letter from your GP or MP, something like that.

IceCreamAndCandyfloss · 17/02/2020 08:22

The name on my marriage certificate didn’t match the one I go by but it’s a legal document so has to be factually correct. You can’t get a passport in a name you prefer rather than your legal one.

Seventyone72seventy3 · 17/02/2020 08:22

Anyway, it looks like you can correct the marriage certificate seeing as a mistake was made:
www.gov.uk/correct-marriage-registration

TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross · 17/02/2020 08:22

What an absolute drama. The passport office doesn't give a shit what you call yourself. You apply for your passport using the name on your birth certificate. There are questions on the actual form about name changes - did you just not read those? Confused

I can't believe you're expecting them to issue a passport ignoring your legal name, tbh.

NaturalBornWoman · 17/02/2020 08:22

I've been known by my middle name since birth. All of my legal and official documents match my birth certificate. This does mean that sometimes in an official situation I'm called by the first name. It's possible to live with it and I don't get into it. Occasionally someone will say oh I didn't know your real name is.....and I feel the need to explain this is not my affectation but a strange decision by my parents, but actually it isn't an issue.

I don't know how this can have happened re marriage certificate. The registrar has made an error and it needs to be corrected.

LizzieBananas · 17/02/2020 08:22

@purered73 You’ll need to start your own thread

PineappleDanish · 17/02/2020 08:22

@PineappleDanish but you need to submit proof of ID to get married eg. Birth certificate. Your marriage certificate needs to be written in your legal name, not your nickname!

I know - but you do that months ahead of time. When we got married we pitched up at the registry office with our proof of ID and gave notice of intention to marry. We didn't bring our birth certificates with us on our wedding day. We don't know why the registrar recorded the names incorrectly but she/he did.

The OP needs to disentangle the whole mess by firstly getting her marriage certificate corrected, then applying for a deed poll to change her name to the one she uses every day.

Having birth certificate in one name and a marriage certificate in another is going to cause issues for her entire life if she doesn't.

Andtwomakesix · 17/02/2020 08:23

Deed poll is very easy. I changed my name once and am currently changing back. The gov deed poll site advised I technically didn't need to but that for passport purposes I may find it easier so I am busy doing that to avoid problems. Download the form, get a couple of people to sign and send them off.

TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross · 17/02/2020 08:23

Sorry if this has been suggested but do you have any official letters with you middle name first? I was thinking of a job offer, a letter from your GP or MP, something like that.

How is that going to help, if her middle name isn't first on her birth certificate and she hasn't legally changed it?

NeverTalksToStrangers · 17/02/2020 08:24

My dh actually had an Irish passport issued with his second name first. About 18 years ago. I couldn't believe it when we went to renew. I made him put the names the right way and they issued it no problem. Their mistake back then (but he shouldn't have applied for it that way either).

TamiTaylor · 17/02/2020 08:24

@SouthernComforts similar happened with my uncle. After he died his siblings, His only relatives, had a nightmare because he had bank accounts in the wrong name and they were not able to access the money.

@CalleighDoodle I've been in this exact situation, am still sorting my uncle's estate now, it's just been a complete nightmare.

SimonJT · 17/02/2020 08:24

So you gave the registrar the incorrect name.

You need to do a deedpoll if you want official documents to carry the name you go by.

Or have a new marriage certificate issued in the correct name.