How to Change Name in Passport After Taking the GRE Test? (Solution)

In the series of article about the how to register for GRE, What names to use while registering for GRE and how to change the name after registering for GRE, the next question is how to handle the name change after taking the GRE Test?

Question: I have read all your posts and I am happy to see that information on this crucial topic is available. But still my problem is little different. I have my name on the passport as Meenu and no surname. My father’s name is PXXXX RXX. I have already given GRE and TOEFL with the name MEENU MEENU. All my degree certificates my name, only MEENU is listed without surname or initials. If I get a new passport with surname, like MEENU MEENU or MEENU PXXXX RXX, would it be problematic? And what is the best solution to avoid further problems. I have already applied to 3 universities with name MEENU LNU and I got to know that I must provide a last name.

First, you made the mistake by using the Meenu Meenu to register for the GRE. Now it’s time to face problems, but there is always a solution.

Applying without Name Change in Passport

• Since you took GRE, it is not possible to change your name in GRE score report.
• You cannot apply to university with Meenu Meenu, because your I-20 will be issued with the Meenu Meenu.
• If the name in I-20 differs from Name in the passport, you can’t attend the student visa interview.

Now, do you see the impact of not reading the instructions about not using the name in the right wat while registering for the GRE?

The problems of a single and simple mistake are now amplified.

Even if you were allowed to attend the Visa Interview and get the Visa, your Visa stamp will have FNU

• First Name – FNU
• Last Name – Meenu

In this case, your I-20, the passport will have different names, which means you will run into problems while applying for Drivers License, SSN, rental, credit cards application, etc.

• Name Mismatch – Certificates, GRE Score Report and Passport (above question was posted as a comment in this link)

Solution – Change the Name in The Passport

And you have to deal with other consequence of requesting the university to match your name from GRE report to your old name.

To Universities Applied:

1. Contact the University and inform them about your name change in the Passport.
2. Send copies of old and new passport
3. Write a letter explaining what happened and why you got a new passport
4. Send them a copy of GRE Score Report (with the old name)
5. Ask them to match your GRE score with the old name, but process the application using the new name.
6. Ask them to update your name on the Application Portal.
7. Check the I-20 if the name matches the new passport.

To Universities Yet to Apply

1. Submit the application with the new name
2. Send copies of old and new passport
3. Send them a copy of GRE Score Report (with the old name)
4. Write a letter explaining what happened and why you got a new passport
5. Ask them to match your GRE score with the old name, but process the application using the new name.
6. Check the I-20 if the name matches the new passport.

What to Include in the Letter:

Sir/Mam,

I’m writing to you in regards to my name on the application and how to match my GRE Score report. The reason I had to change the name on the passport is that I did not have a Surname and I heard life would be complicated without a surname in the US.

Old Passport Name:

• First Name: Meenu
• Last Number: blank

Name on the College Application

• First Name: Meenu
• Last Name: LNU

New Passport

• First Name: Meenu
• Last Name: PXX RXX

Name on the GRE Score Report

• First Name: Meenu
• Last Name: Meenu

Here are the two requests:

1. Request 1: Please update my name on the application to match the name from my new passport.
2. Request 2: Please match my GRE Score with Meenu Meenu (attaching the GRE Score Report)

Please let me know if you need any other documentation from me.

Use the above letter and make edits as required to communicate with the Grad School.

This is the only option you have and I doubt you want to retake GRE with your new name just for the sake of getting the name corrected in the report. Maybe if you want to improve the scores, then you can try that as well.

Series: GRE Registration vs Names

1. What names to use when Registering for the GRE Test (this article)
2. How to Register for GRE with Multiple Names
3. How to Change the Name After GRE Registration (But Before the Test)
4. How to change the name after taking the GRE Test (this article)
5. Problems without Surname in the Passport, GRE, Transcripts and College Application
6. How to Change the Name in the Passport in the USA (& why you should change)
7. No Surname in the Passport. Apply to US Universities?
8. If Last Name Changes, Would GRE Scores Become invalid?
9. How to complete DS-160 without Surname in the Passport
10. I changed my name in the Passport to avoid problems