Posts filed under 'Name Change'
I am still in the process of converting some of my accounts over to my new name. I’ve been planning to change my passport last, after everything else was done. That is, until I read this article about the plan to incorporate RFID tags into US passports starting in late August. The new technology will speed up processing at customs and make counterfeiting passport more difficult. Unfortunately, there are many security problems that have yet to be solved. Also, some security experts claim there is only one reason to use RFID technology instead of a chip that requires contact: the State Department wants to be able to identify Americans and foreigners in a crowd, something that it insists, despite demonstrations to the contrary, is not possible.
So I hurried out before lunch, took passport pictures, and sent out my application for a new passport. I’m hoping that I’ll have the last of the traditional (non-RFID) passports. If I do get a RFID passport, my options are:
- Microwave the passport to destroy the RFID chip.
- Buy an metal/aluminum pouch to hold my passport.
- Don’t worry, be happy.
My inclination is to go with the aluminum pouch, since a broken RFID chip could cause all sorts of problems. Who knows what the hassles the immigration officials will give you for having a passport with a non-working chip.
July 13th, 2006
| Updated: August 7, 2006
This process is turning out to be longer and more expensive than I imagined.
First, the 11am court appointment. I initially began describing (in great detail) the pain and boredom of waiting in the courtroom. Here’s the summary version instead. I waited for over an hour. At the end of the wait, the assistant to the judge announced to the group that the judge signed all the name change cases and we were to go downstairs for further instructions. Our instructions downstairs were to wait for the court orders to arrive from upstairs. This took another 30 minutes. Finally, when we received the packet, I found out that we had to publish our name change in the NY Post. Ouch!
I heard the last time I was here that they required publication in a newspaper with at least 50,000 readers. I was hoping to pick the cheapest one. Like, say, the NY Beacon. Please?? Alas, I was stuck with the Post. Having the third-largest paid circulation around meant high fees. It wasn’t pretty. $140 for this small ugly thing you see on the left. Will this be read by anyone? No. At least, I hope not. In any case, I’m convinced it’s just part of a kickback program to help send someone’s kids to private school. :/
In addition, I had to mail copies of the court order to the Social Security Administration and the NY Passport Agency. Now, in order to officially change your name, you must send or bring in person official documents to the SS Administration. Copies are not allowed. For passports, you have to send your original passport and other original documents, along with the $67 dollar fee to a national processing center in Pittsburgh. So, mailing the copies to the SS Administration and the NY Passport Agency really does nothing except cost me money. And certificate of mailing costs extra, yes!
Next week, I should receive the Affidavit from the NY Post. I then submit that along with the two certificates of mailing and move to the next stage of my name change. Can’t wait…
April 5th, 2006
| Updated: September 5, 2006
I began the legal procedure to change my name yesterday. It was a little more complicated logistically than I had assumed, but it wasn’t as bad as it could have been. I brought my name change form down to the Civil Court for New York county. It has two entrances, one at 111 Centre Street and the other at 75 Lafayette Street. The building, exterior and interior, reminded me of 1984 (the book, never got around to watching the movie). The security guys at the metal detectors were friendly enough. Once I made it through, I spent a few minutes near the elevator banks looking for directions to room 118 before giving up and asking the information desk. I forgot government buildings don’t have logical building designs (or good signs).When I enter room 118, there was no one in the name change line. Yes! Apparently, Friday after lunch is a good time to go. I gave my form to the lady behind the window and she promptly informed me that my form wasn’t notarized. Oops. I didn’t look carefully at the verification section (which had no instructions), assuming that the name change lady would do the verifying. At least she pointed me in the direction of the nearest place to get the form notarized: the Supreme Court down the street at 60 Centre Street.
Ok, so I made my way to the Supreme Court, do the metal detector security song & dance, and asked for directions instead of looking for signs (I’m learning!). I made my way to 141B in the basement and as soon as I walk in, I see a very useful sign that directed me to the right area. Unfortunately, this place had a line and it moved very slowly. I had enough time to notice that the cashier took Visa and Mastercard. Nice.
Now, the instructions at the counter stressed the importance of providing a photo ID, which I had. However, as I was standing there, I realized that my driver’s license did not have my middle name, and the name change form did. The whole point of the notarization was to validate the identity, but since I was including a copy of the passport with the name change form, not my driver’s license, I figured this would be a problem. When I got to the counter, the lady pointed out exactly that (I hate it when I’m right), but was nice enough to sign the form anyway. I guess the very low odds of two people named Andy Chiu with the same birthday and face was enough for her. Phew.
Back to the Civil Court. When I got there, I noticed the couple in line was the same couple that had been in front of me at the Supreme Court. They were changing the name of their baby, whom they named something very embarrassing (I couldn’t hear the actual name). Why would they do this? They heard it on a Hispanic soap opera and didn’t realize it was a joke. Wow. I wish I could make this stuff up.
Anyway, I got my form processed this time but when I got to the cashier’s window, I noticed a small sign on the window that said “Exact Change Required”. Great. Not only do they not take Visa and Mastercard like the nice people over at the Supreme Court, they couldn’t even give you change. Of course, I only had twenty dollar bills on me. One more hoop to jump through, I guess. I left the building, got my change, came back, no lines, and finally got a court date to see the judge. April 5 at 11am.
March 25th, 2006
| Updated: September 5, 2006
So, I guess I should get around to changing my name. It’s still currently Andy Chiu, and I’ve had the desire to change it to Andy Cho since sometime in college. Why? Well my middle name and my last name were translated from my original Chinese name when I first immigrated. Of course, the official translation for my name sounded nothing like my Chinese name. I want to fix that. Plus, my name is misspelled a couple times a year. I get Chin the most, followed by Chui, Chu, and Chew. I think it’ll be hard to mess up Cho. My middle name will change from Chun-Chia to JinJa.
I first looked into the procedure for a name change in Massachusetts, while I was living in Williamstown. It cost almost $200, and required me to drive down to the courthouse in Pittsfield on two separate occasions. I thought at the time that it would be easier to wait until I got married. With a marriage certificate, I could change my name much more easily.
Well, it looks like I shouldn’t put it off much longer. I’m meeting a lot of new people in business school, and everytime I meet someone new, it’s an extra person I’ll have to confuse when I change my name. Some of the people who have known me longer know about my plan, but it’ll still be massively confusing. Better get it done sooner rather than later. Plus, this website is called andycho.com, so…
Looks like the process for a name change in New York City is a little cheaper. Still have to make multiple trips and put an ad in the newspaper, though. And change my driver’s license, social security card, credit cards, banks, employer/student ID, the list goes on and on.
March 23rd, 2006
| Updated: September 5, 2006