Name change in two countries?

[sarah1972]

Now that I am pretty much out to the world I start thinking about my next steps. One logical one would be a legal name change. For me that comes with a few complications:
I have to do it in two countries (USA and Germany).
Has anyone experience with this special situation? Where would I start?

[sarah1972]

Argh. This could get really complicated... I would have to do Germany first, which seems to require a court order and two court approved therapists with several sessions each to confirm the change. Given I have not been living in Germany for almost 12 years, this would be a nightmare to do.
Without that: no changed birth certificate and no name change in the US. Ouch.

Guess I have to hope for a change in the German procedures (basically getting rid of the TSG) which are currently being discussed.

[KathyLauren]

I hear you.  Hassling with government bureaucracies is one of my least favourite things.

I was born in the UK and now live in Canada, so I have the two-country thing going, too.  My situation is a tad less complicated than yours, because the Brits will accept my Canadian name change (if I can ever get it completed - that's a whole other story).  But the government here will not change my gender unless the Brits change my birth certificate first.  So I have to follow British rules, which require two years of RLE before I can apply for the change. 

Right now, I am hassling with my name change.  They want my immigration records.  Well, I was a little kid at the time, so I don't have any records.  I don't think my parents kept theirs, and they are both dead, so I can't ask them.  So now I have to go to the feds to get my immigration status confirmed.

Advice to new folks: stay in one place until you get your paperwork sorted out!

[Sarah.VanDistel]

My situation is... hum hum... "a bit" more complicated. 😅 I was born in an very poor African country which doesn't even bear the same name as when I was born. My original birth certificate is from there. In that country, name change for a transgendered person is... well... probably unheard of. The good news is: because of its dangerousness, it's also a country where I will never set foot again in my remaining life. Fortunately, I happen to be also officially registered in Portugal (from which I bear the citizenship), but I presently live in Belgium. This means that I will have to get my name changed in Portugal, which according to its laws will imply having a letter of recommendation from both a recognized psychologist and a recognized physician. Since my transition is happening in Belgium, I will first try to submit a letter from the gender team in Ghent, which may or may not be accepted by the portuguese authorities. If declined, I would have to go to appointments with portuguese professionals (there's an official list of recognized psychologists and physicians) to get said letter (yes, totally kafkian, but again, it's a very bureaucratic country...). When my gender is corrected in my birth registry in Portugal, I will request the same change in the national registry in Belgium, which should be quite straightforward. So yeah... Not really simple. I'd suggest contacting the registry services of both countries (they probably have the info online if you know where to look). Good luck!
Hugs, Sarah

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[Sarah.VanDistel]

Argh. This could get really complicated... I would have to do Germany first, which seems to require a court order and two court approved therapists with several sessions each to confirm the change. Given I have not been living in Germany for almost 12 years, this would be a nightmare to do.
Without that: no changed birth certificate and no name change in the US. Ouch.

Guess I have to hope for a change in the German procedures (basically getting rid of the TSG) which are currently being discussed.

Could it be eventually done via the local German consulate? Also, some European countries (in my case Portugal) do accept foreign letters of recommendation as long as they're issued by recognized entities (I would guess a gender clinic in an university hospital would qualify, for example). In my personal case, in the very worst case scenario, I suppose I can afford some sessions in Portugal, as same-day round-trips airfares from Belgium to Portugal could be quite low (in the 30's or 40's euros), but it would really be a nuisance. In your case, I can understand the difficulty. 😕
Just brainstorming, here... Would a first face-to-face session with the German therapists, followed by an as-needed number of consultations through Skype (eventually with a last face-to-face) be workable? This would imply only one or two short trips to Germany. Probably a dum idea, but just trying to help. [emoji56]

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[elkie-t]

I don't know your legal status in USA, but for most practical matters you can easily change your name in USA first through a court order, and if you're lucky(to live in the right state, or could temporarily relocate into such) - you can change your gender marker on your driver license. That would cover your day-to-day life, and when you go further down the road - you will be able to change the marker on your SSA record, get your us passport in your new name and gender. Unless you travel a lot to Germany, you won't really need your German papers to be updated at all, and if you would need - it will be easier and less pressing to do after GCS via consulate.

[sarah1972]

Thanks everyone. Sorry to hear about the troubles everyone has in this situation.

I am right now permanent resident in the US. Maybe I can tie the name change into my citizenship application.

Germany right now is really an ugly process, the consulate cannot do anything for me, it has to go through a central court in Berlin which more or less has jurisdiction over all foreign living German citizens. (aside from it being a E3,000 process).

My only hope is the big regulative initiative in Germany to simplify the procedure to be a simple form and a processing fee. Then I should be able to do it through the consulate.

I am in Virginia and I could most likely change the Gender Marker on my VA drivers license. Simple form, a signature from my therapist and a 5 day wait.

Courts might not have any jurisdiction for a name change.

Guess I just have to be patient.

Just came up since I am out at work and our corporate travel office booked an airline ticket for Mrs. Sarah... had to ask them to re-book 

Good luck to everyone else on your paperwork dilemma...

[sarah1972]

this is also an awesome resource for dealing with USCIS:

http://www.transequality.org/know-your-rights/immigration-documents

Might be easier indeed to change it in the US first...

[elkie-t]

Thanks everyone. Sorry to hear about the troubles everyone has in this situation.

I am right now permanent resident in the US. Maybe I can tie the name change into my citizenship application.

I am in Virginia and I could most likely change the Gender Marker on my VA drivers license. Simple form, a signature from my therapist and a 5 day wait.

Courts might not have any jurisdiction for a name change.

Guess I just have to be patient.

Listen, I changed my name (first time) in court while being in USA on H1B visa. Obviously, this name change order means nothing in my birth country, but it's good enough for anyone in USA.
Go for it, don't think too much, it's very straightforward.

I'd not tie name change with citizenship application - if USCIS would decide to deny on your new female name, it might affect your citizenship application status. Imho, court route is more reliable.

[sarah1972]

Awesome! Thanks for letting me know, this is really good news!

Listen, I changed my name (first time) in court while being in USA on H1B visa. Obviously, this name change order means nothing in my birth country, but it's good enough for anyone in USA.
Go for it, don't think too much, it's very straightforward.

I'd not tie name change with citizenship application - if USCIS would decide to deny on your new female name, it might affect your citizenship application status. Imho, court route is more reliable.