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Original poster

Passport name woes

18 replies

youdialwetile · 04/06/2022 00:58

Just got back DDs passport - her family name has been printed as MC DONALD. I've been held up one time before and almost denied boarding because her name on the ticket (MCDONALD) did not match the passport.

Was I just really unlucky to get held up? I'm trying to figure out if we should have it corrected - we did with the old one - but we fly in 5 weeks. She does have another passport we could use but might be awkward leaving on a different passport to everyone else.

Thoughts?

OP posts:
RoomOfRequirement · 04/06/2022 01:09

I'd get it changed. I'm also not sure why it'd be awkward leaving on a 'different' passport - what does that mean?

BreadAndWater · 04/06/2022 01:13

Get it changed
She cant have two active passports surely thats not how it works?
My understanding is once you have a new one the old one is invalid but someone may correct me

Original poster
youdialwetile · 04/06/2022 01:14

One US and one UK. US one is wrong and they get a bit funny if you try to leave on a passport that is not US if you are a citizen.

OP posts:
user1477249785 · 04/06/2022 01:15

I'd get it changed. In the long run it'll be worth the hassle now. And it won't be a problem her using a different passport to you. We do it often.

(To the poster above, it's perfectly possible to have several active passports at once!)

Namechange12334 · 04/06/2022 01:15

I’ve travelled recently with newborn where the passports of mum, dad and baby were all from different countries and it caused no issue at all.

Namechange12334 · 04/06/2022 01:18

Ah - yes see what you mean OP, different to our situation. Seems like you’ll need to get ot changed

BreadAndWater · 04/06/2022 01:29

Thought OP meant two British passports and thats not possible im sure

Original poster
youdialwetile · 04/06/2022 01:33

I will get it changed. Probably have to pay to get it expedited.

Kind of annoying because I asked the passport person in the post office if they could put in a reminder to not add a space and they looked at me like I was crazy.

OP posts:
AfroBrit · 04/06/2022 01:48

It'll likely be quicker to get a travel exemption from US embassy and change passport afterwards. Basically an official document you carry whilst you travel saying its the same person.

Obviously extra cost, but may be worth the risk rather than not getting passport back in time for your journey! No standard process for this so you'll need to contact Embassy to see if possible, but I got one same day when I needed. Just something I had to do a few years back, but admittedly not US so they may not offer the same.

Original poster
youdialwetile · 04/06/2022 02:10

Ack! Can't get it changed because I don't her birth certificate has not been returned yet - website says it can be up to 4 weeks behind the passport.

I'm going to book her tickets with a space and the rest of them without and hope all is well.

I'll get it changed when we all get home after summer.

OP posts:
GoodThinkingMax · 04/06/2022 02:36

She cant have two active passports surely thats not how it works?

Of course you can. Goodness some people have limited experience of the world.

sashh · 04/06/2022 05:35

BreadAndWater · 04/06/2022 01:13

Get it changed
She cant have two active passports surely thats not how it works?
My understanding is once you have a new one the old one is invalid but someone may correct me

You can have up to 3 UK passports, many people have multiple passports if they have nationality of more than one country.

I was at uni with someone who had a choice of 5 different passports.

Snoken · 04/06/2022 06:05

BreadAndWater · 04/06/2022 01:29

Thought OP meant two British passports and thats not possible im sure

No, it is. My DH has two active British passports as he travels a lot and has to apply for visas, so if one passport is held by an embassy he can still travel on the second one.

ClaryFairchild · 04/06/2022 07:05

Just be aware that you need to both enter and leave the US on the same passport. They don't just get "a bit funny", it causes all sorts of problems as they record who goes in and out and the passports have to match. Do it on 2 different passports that aren't US and you're likely to spend hours if not days in the custody of their immigration officers that NEXT time you visit the US......

GoodThinkingMax · 04/06/2022 11:55

Thought OP meant two British passports and thats not possible im sure

@BreadAndWater its not particularly useful for you to comment on something you know nothing about. Of course it’s possible to have 2 active UK passports for people who travel a lot, especially for business (and particularly if one is travelling for business in say, Israel and Jordan).

Twizbe · 04/06/2022 12:05

You might have just been unlucky. We have a hyphen in our name and that never appears on boarding passes instead the names are just squashed together. We've never had an issue that it doesn't match the passports.

BreadAndWater · 04/06/2022 12:08

@GoodThinkingMax

Anyone can post and respond.

so pipe down

GoodThinkingMax · 04/06/2022 12:15

@BreadAndWater stop saying things which are wrong.They’re of no help to the OP.

(And you might want to pipe down yourself because your ignorance shows).

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