Jul, 2013
After I got my learner driver's license, I tried booking an appointment for driver's test (for actual DL), trust me its really hard to get an appointment in any closer dates. I got a date after 3 months (Oct, 2014). Check out my Learner driver's license without last name story.
Oct, 2013
After such a long wait when I was at DMV office for the test, officials again got confused with my name and refused to take my test.
They said, it's an exceptional case and they need to verify my lawful presence from homeland security. And as they mentioned about verification, they did sent a letter to homeland security, to which I got a response after 2 weeks stating, "Your lawful presence is not verified". WHAT???
That was quite frustrating. We requested DMV officers to re-send the request to homeland security for verification. And luckily this time, I got a verification letter approving my lawful presence after 2 weeks.
Nov, 2013
By now, I had a verification letter from homeland security but I also got my visa renewed and it had altogether a different name again. MURPHY's law justified!! :( :(
Now in my renewed visa, my first name is "No Name Given" instead of "FNU". On querying on this with USCIS, I got a response that both of them means the same and USCIS database doesn't understand FNU. Fewww... is there anything more frustrating than loosing your own special name, given by your parent?
This is what happens when your systems are not synched well.
Dec, 2013
With this response, I again went to DMV office. But the problem was yet to come. They again denied to take my test and said the names are totally different on both of my documents i.e visa and learner license and they wanted to again verify my lawful presence with homeland security.
Jan, 2014
I tried contacting USCIS again but wait, this time I heard a different response from them. They said it's a mistake from their side and I need to raise a request to get it corrected. But I decided to call them again the next day and I was told that it's the same thing again... Gosh.. They were not at all cooperative.
Anyways, luckily I got a response from homeland security through mail, verifying my presence this time. I guess it's because their system understands that FNU and "No Name Given" are the same things.
I again booked an appointment for the test. I got a date for Mar, 2014.
Mar, 2014
And this time they did allowed me to go through driving test, which I off course cleared and I got the driver's license finally.
So folks, if you don't have a last name and you are planning to visit/enter Unites States pull up your socks and be prepared to go through many difficulties. You can't even book a flight ticket / travel within US through any airline if you don't have a last name. But FNU added to your name does allow you to do so. But when it comes to international travel (from US to any other country), you are in trouble again.
A better advice would be to get your name updated in your passport (add last name) before you leave your respective countries.
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