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whistler

Jan 22, 2009, 9:26 PM

Post #1 of 10 (2476 views)

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How to convert first, middle, last name to nombre, primer apellido, segundo apellido?

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The FM3 application form asks for Primer Apellido, Segundo Apellido, Nombre. I have a first, middle, and last name.

I understand:

primer apellido = first name
nombre = first name

But, for segundo apellido, that is the mothers maiden name. Dont have that in my name. But it seems an FM3 document ought to include a middle name. Should the middle name be used as the segundo apellido, or is it best to just go with first and last name, leaving out middle name and segundo apellido?

sioux4noff

Jan 22, 2009, 9:35 PM

Post #2 of 10 (2470 views)

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Re: [whistler] How to convert first, middle, last name to nombre, primer apellido, segundo apellido?

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I have a first name and a last name. No middle name. I have had no problems with my FM3. When I fill out official forms, like at the bank, they do question it at times, but so far no problem.
My husband's FM3 shows his name - first middle and last.

Ed and Fran

Jan 22, 2009, 9:39 PM

Post #3 of 10 (2469 views)

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Re: [whistler] How to convert first, middle, last name to nombre, primer apellido, segundo apellido?

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Use your first and middle names in the space for "nombre".

Leave "segundo apellido" blank if you don't want to use your mother's maiden name.

My FM3 has my first name, middle name and (one) last name.

Regards

Ed

whistler

Jan 22, 2009, 9:39 PM

Post #4 of 10 (2468 views)

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Re: [sioux4noff] How to convert first, middle, last name to nombre, primer apellido, segundo apellid

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That makes sense. John James Smith would be....

primer apellido Smith

segundo apellido blank

Nombre John James

and the douments would read...

John James Smith

(This post was edited by whistler on Jan 22, 2009, 9:44 PM)

Carol_Wheeler

Jan 22, 2009, 11:10 PM

Post #5 of 10 (2457 views)

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Re: [whistler] How to convert first, middle, last name to nombre, primer apellido, segundo apellid

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Hmmm.

I always understood the middle name to be optional, but the two surnames (maternal and paternal) to be mandatory, and these can be obtained from our birth certificates whether we like it or not.

That said, I know a gal whose child's father never stepped forward, and the little girl is registered as (example) Maria (first name) Guadalupe (middle name) Lopez (mother's surname) Lopez (mother's surname).

Let's say the dad's last name was Sanchez. Had the birth certificate included his name, the child would be known as Maria Guadalupe Sanchez Lopez.

Since he didn't step forward, as it were, and the mother didn't name him as father, the little girl is Maria Guadalupe Lopez Lopez.

A caveat -- the same maternal and paternal surname doesn't necessarily indicate an unwed mother. People with common surnames (the equivalent of "Jones") marry all the time.

And I know a lovely single mom whose partner abandoned them. She decided to register their daughter with her surname as both his and hers, as otherwise, she'd need his permission for emergency medical treatment in Houston for the child, for example, and who knows where the man is? Or for the child's passport. Etc. By registering the baby as hers alone, she's got her bases covered as far as government paperwork is concerned.

morgaine7

Jan 23, 2009, 7:22 AM

Post #6 of 10 (2428 views)

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Re: [Carol_Wheeler] How to convert first, middle, last name to nombre, primer apellido, segundo apel

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My understanding was that the visa should match the passport. The INM office didn't ask for a birth certificate, although they may do so if the applicant is a child. On the application, I did exactly as Ed suggests, and my FM2 has my last name, first name, and two middle names in correct order.

Kate

jennifer rose

Jan 23, 2009, 7:39 AM

Post #7 of 10 (2418 views)

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Re: [Carol_Wheeler] How to convert first, middle, last name to nombre, primer apellido, segundo apel

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The two surnames are NOT mandatory. Not at all.

Simply hold your ground, advising whomever asks that FirstNameMiddleName Surname is your legal name. And use that name consistently. Foreigners can really screw up things by playing around with the mother's surname, particularly when they don't use the same arrangement of names consistently.

DavidMcL

Jan 23, 2009, 8:18 AM

Post #8 of 10 (2411 views)

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Re: [Ed and Fran] How to convert first, middle, last name to nombre, primer apellido, segundo apelli

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An example of a possible complication (and not knowing all this 15 years ago when I could have benefited form this exchange!)
My Mother's maiden name is Hamilton. I was also given that name as my middle name,
My formal Mexican papers now read David Hamilton McLaughlin Hamilton.
Hasn't caused too much trouble, but it does raise questions often when I have to submit formal papers.
David McL
WebJefe

bournemouth

Jan 23, 2009, 8:53 AM

Post #9 of 10 (2401 views)

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Re: [jennifer rose] How to convert first, middle, last name to nombre, primer apellido, segundo apel

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I always just use the names that appear on my passport. I first ran into this problem years ago in Chile when applying for a residency visa. I held out, telling the people dealing with me that it was not my custom to use another last name. They went along with it and I had no further problems. However, friends with one set of names on their visa, and another in their passport and credit cards occasionally did have trouble.

Georgia

Jan 24, 2009, 6:23 PM

Post #10 of 10 (2317 views)

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Re: [jennifer rose] How to convert first, middle, last name to nombre, primer apellido, segundo apel

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I agree, Jennifer. However, for non-official matters I've often used my last name twice, as first and second apellido. The electric company and the phone company have enough trouble without trying to decipher my middle name use. You end up having your middle name listed as your last name in the telephone directory and on your bill.

I have a city apartment, and there they seem to be able to manage all of this just fine. But here in Jocotepec, nope. Everything gets complicated.