How to Change the Name After GRE Registration (But Before the Test)
Scenario: You have registered for GRE or TOEFL. And you realize that you made a mistake while you created the account at ETS and Registered for the GRE. So, you want to change your name after you have registered for GRE, but before sitting for the test. You are wondering if ETS would allow the Changing the Name after registering for the GRE, but before the test date?
I can think of following reasons why one has to change the name after registering for the GRE Test:
- Typo in the entered name
- Missed part of the name
- Name on the passport changed
The following scenario falls under the Option 1 or 2.
Question: I’ve registered for GRE with the following names:
- First Name: MXX
- Last name: N
But in the passport, my name is spelled as follows
- First Name: MXXX
- Last Name: NXXX.
My initial N is expanded in the passport. All my certificates and mark sheets use N. MXX. So, I figured that’s how I have to register for the GRE. I realized that the name on the passport have to exactly match the name on the Registration. Is it possible to change the name before I sit for the test.?
Incorrect Name Used for GRE Registration
Will you face problems?
Yes, 100%.
If your name in passport is MXX NXX, why do you have to register GRE with MXXX and N? Please read the instructions carefully, refer to the following articles:
I mean, if you don’t know what you are doing, then you should ask for help.
If you don’t read spend the time to read and understand the registration details from ETS/GRE site then you tend to commit such mistakes. Seriously, why do you want to assume that you can use a single character “N”, in the Surname field instead of NXX?
I’m upset because you are going to waste your money with the incorrect name used during GRE Registration.
Changing Name After Registering for GRE
ETS generally doesn’t allow the candidates to change their name after registering for the GRE Test. So, you really don’t have any good options. But, having said that you should try the following
- Contact the ETS help desk and say that you would be able to submit documentation.
- If they allow, then send the passport copy and they would update the name.
If they don’t allow you to change the name after registering for the GRE Test, you would have to do the following:
- Cancel your GRE registration
- Register again for the GRE test with the correct name.
Name on the Passport Changed After GRE Registration
Let’s say you registered for GRE Test with a name that you thought was good enough and then stumble upon this – What Names to Use when registering for the GRE Test.
And you decided to get a new Passport because you either had a long name or surname was empty.
In such instance, you can contact ETS and send copies of old and new passport. And they should be able to update the name on your test registration to match with your new passport.
If they don’t change the name on the GRE, then you would have to cancel and register for the test again.
Series: GRE Registration vs Names
- What names to use when Registering for the GRE Test
- How to Register for GRE with Multiple Names
- How to Change the Name After GRE Registration (But Before the Test) (This article)
- How to change the name after taking the GRE Test
- Problems without Surname in the Passport, GRE, Transcripts and College Application
- How to Change the Name in the Passport in the USA (& why you should change)
- No Surname in the Passport. Apply to US Universities?
- If Last Name Changes, Would GRE Scores Become invalid?
- How to complete DS-160 without Surname in the Passport
- I changed my name in the Passport to avoid problems
I did the same mistake. Can you please tell me what was the outcome?
I am facing problem in creation of ets account . As per passport my Given names :VENKATA PADMAVATHI POORN AKSHITA and Family name :MOGALI.
But while creating ets account the first/given name column is not accepting the entire name: VENKATA PADMAVATHI POORN AKSHITA and it is showing that there must be only 24 characters. So how should I fill my name so that after account creation the account name will be same as name mentioned in my passport.
I have a same problem, how did you resolve yours?
Hi. Were you able to resolve your problem?
I have given for GRE Test as
First Name:XXXX
Surname:YYYY
On Passport it is as
First Name :YYYY
Lat Name:XXXX
Will I face any problem??
Did you get it rectified I’ve done the same mistake please help me out.
I made a mistake while creating account. But on the day before my GRE General test I submitted a request for correction through mail. They immediately solved the issue within 12 hours. Good response from them. I personally thank this blog creators for proper guidance
What was your mistake? Could describe it?
what mail id have you used?…please respond asap i have my exam on 19th.
can i know the mail id you used?
I have the same problem sriraaman the problem is my exam is on Tuesday… today is Saturday and it’s a holiday for ets I’m freaking out right now whether I’ll be able to change my surname
My friends name on passport:
Given name: Lxxxx Rxxxx (where Rxxxx is his father’s name)
Surname: Dxxxx
So he rigistered for gre with first/ given name as ‘Lxxxx’ and last name as ‘Rxxxx’. He left out the middle name field as it was not mandatory. Now in the email conformation the name is printed as Lxxxx Dxxxx … Will this be a problem …. If so what’s the remedy
Thanks in advance
I did the same mistake. Can you please tell me what was the outcome?
Hi sir my name is prajwal ks I have slight problem with ets account the first name wht I have given is prajwal and middle initial had k and surname has S but account got created has prajwal about I don’t have k initial in tht
I need yo hlp as I registered in gre with
first name- Sharath
last name – Kumar
where as in my passport it is like
surname -Shivaraj
given name – Sharath Kumar
In toefl also I did a mistake where
first name – Sharath
middle name – s
last name – Kumar
What shld I do nw plz do hlp me I booked d slot too
Guys
I have a problem
In my passport it is like
Surname:XXX
Username:YYY
In my GRE i registered it as
Surname:YYY
Username: XXX
Will it be a problem
Yes. Rebook the GRE to fix this.
how did you solve it?
hi sir, i had my gre exam today…but in the exam centre they didnt allow me to write the exam because while registering for gre account i had given my middle name as last name.
I m really tensed and in confusion state,i called to ets customer care they told me to register again and even i will not get any refund or any reschedule…
Plzzzzzzzzz help me sir….i m in very trouble
They made it clear. You didn’t follow the instructions while registering for the test. There’s nothing you can do about getting refund.
Hi
My last name is my father’s name, in which my passport carries an extra letter ‘y’ but that makes no change to the name’s pronunciation . But my ets score cards contain my last name without the letter ‘y’. If i need to make changes possible can i do it now? Will ets agree to make changes. If yes, then how long would it take
hi sir , my surname and given are in small letters in gre registration form but in passport they are in caps , my registration is completed and i got conformation mail , now can i change small letters to caps , z it necessary , do the same (small letter words ) will go to the universites ,to which we apply ?
I am Umesh Kumar ,i have registered for the GRE test on November 1st 2015.i that appointment i have given my surname or lat name as Suddala but in my verification document (passport) the surname is just ‘s’ .so,while the exam or after the exam there will any problem about this mistake i have done.please let me know soon about this thank you(waiting for reply
I am Umesh Kumar ,i have registered for the GRE test on November 1st 2015.i that appointment i have given my surname or lat name as Suddala but in my verification document (passport) the surname is just ‘s’ .so,while the exam or after the exam there will any problem about this mistake i have done.please let me know soon about this thank you(waiting for reply)
plzzz help me fast feeling tenzzz thank u
You have to get new passport with full surname.
can u remove he above content p
hi sir,
my name is harish.Recentely i had created the gre account, in this account my name and surname’s are present in small letters.But in my passport letters are big(capitals).so any problemin exam center or future.
That’s shouldn’t be a problem.
hi Raghuram Sukumar,
i have my full name i this discussion can u please remove it , which is displaying in google search , can u please help me in remove it .
hi Raghuram Sukumar ,
can u please remove the posts of
September 2, 2012 ,,October 7, 2015 venku , October 7, 2015 Reply
venky , please reply me is that possible as soon as possible.
I have question with respect to TOEFL and GRE Registration
Name on my passport appears as
Given Na;me : AXX BXX
Last name CXXX
while registering for TOEFL I registered as
Given name : AXX-BXX and last name CXX
and for GRE Given name : AXXBXX last name :CXX
Will this cause any problem during my applications?
You should be alright. Make sure grad school knows you have used the above name format for GRE and TOEFL.
Heyy CJK
My name is AXX BYY (1st name)
CYY(2nd name)
As in passport
But in GRE I booked
AXX-BYY
CYY
WILL THERE BE ANY PROBLEM?
Refer to the guide. Read it again.
Hi all,
I’m Mounika but unfortunately i got registered as Mounisha.
Can i change my name?
If Yes, Please suggest me the process.
thanku
Sir,
I have entered first name as last name and last name as first name, i called to prometric centre,that said iam allowed to me for exam,and my main problem is while applying is it effect my admission…plz tell me iam in very much confusion….?what i want to do…?
There will be issue. See if you can get the name corrected at test center.
Hello sir,
In GRE account my name is Harsha Datla, while all of my documents have name as Sri Harsha Datla. I have the exam coming up next month. Will there be any problem. If yes, could you suggest me a solution?
dude i have given my first name with hyphens as sri-nitin . Is it a problem??
You should be Ok.
even am having the same problem please help me how to modify name after reistration
You can’t change name after registration unless there is a typo in a letter.
dude i have given my first name with hyphens as sri-nitin . Is it a problem?
I am facing the same problem.what should I do?
hii members i have a problem to register for gre my full name is Naga Venkata Durga Aditya Kumar which gre registration doesn’t support to accept this much name so how should i give my name excatly with middle initial and full name
hi
my name in passport:vivek dxxxx axxxx
while registering in gre my name is displayed as
vivek dxxxxaxxxx no space b/w the surname will be a problem please reply i am very scared about this can’t able read for gre test
hi :):) I would like to apply for GRE exam and my father’s name in passport is “SANKARA SUBBU” with a space in between but ETS website does not accept spaces in surname .What can i do now?
please reply me
Hi,
I have the same problem too. I have even registered with name without spaces.Please reply on this if you have got the solution / if any1 has the solution.
HEY BUYS don’t worry only thing u should remeber while filling your GRE reg is that YOUR NAME SHOULD BE SAME on both passport and GRE application.
MEANS GIVEN NAME on PASSPORT::: MXXX KXXX
SURNAME::: ZXXX
THEN you can fill like::::NAME:::MXXX
MIDDLE INITIAL::::K
SURNAME::::::::::::ZXXX
I MY self had ambiguity before giving my GRE ,but I had no problem there.
IF YOU CALL GRE HELPLINE THEN YOU are gonna get ONLY ONE ANSWER THAT “WE CAn’t CHANGE YOUR NAME SO YOU SHOULD CANCEL” but ACCORDING to indian passport the way I filled was correct because father’s name come with our name on passport if you had not applied from TATKAL.
SO guys CHILLAXXXXXXXX!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
hello.I had registered for Gre revised general test on 18th august 2016.I created gre account with the first name as Greta,middle intial as p,and last name as Parumati.so it is appearing as Greta Parumati.but my identification documents consists my name as Parumati Greta Reddy.will there be any problem?if yes tell me the solution please reply me.thank you
hey all!
This is an information for those of you who have problems related to the mismatch in the name in the passport and the ETS web portal(for GRE only,as such i don’t have any idea about TOEFL). But i wanted to share the information with all.
Well,I too had the same problem.I don’t have a middle name,but that is how its been registered in the ETS web portal.I wanted to delete my middle name,so that it would match up with my passport details.I tried to call ETS through phone lines. They didn’t seem to respond.So i sent a mail yesterday.I got a reply immediately today.And this is the mail i received.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Dear xyz,
Regarding your inquiry:
We recently reviewed your request to change the identifying information on your GRE file. In accordance with GRE policy, the information you provide when registering for a GRE test remains on your file. We suggest that you notify your score recipients about your identifying information and how it is listed on your GRE records.
Thank you for your inquiry. We appreciate the opportunity to assist you.
If you have additional questions, please contact our Customer Service team at 1-866-473-4373 (toll free for test takers in the United States, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands and Canada) or 1-609-771-7670 Monday – Friday 8 a.m. to 7:45 p.m. Eastern Time (New York), or visit http://www.ets.org/gre.. If you contact us via e-mail, please include all previous correspondence or a summary of information regarding your inquiry.
ETS is committed to improving your customer service experience. Please take a moment and complete a short Customer Service Survey at http://surveys1013.websurveyor.net/wsb.dll/bfried/VOTCE.htm?WSB36=GRE so that we may identify ways to improve our service to you. If you’re unable to access the survey by clicking on the link, please copy the entire link and paste it into the address bar of your web browser.
Thank you in advance for your participation.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
I HOPE THIS INFORMATION IS USEFUL. EVEN YOU CAN CONTACT ETS IN CASE YOU FACE ANY PROBLEM.
thank you for reading patiently! All the best 🙂
What is the email address to which you wrote ur email.
how to apply for scholarship and funding to do ms in america……
is there any test or so….
i have finished my toefl exam on 30-1-2011 but i didnt get corrected my name on the test day.only 'H' letter is missing in my name.
actual name is RAJASHEKHAR
misspelled name is RAJASHEKAR
what to do now? plz suggest me any gud solution.can i apply for the colleges with this name ,will i get any problem
my name is krishna teja thavidisety as on passport and my gre registration name was krishna thavidisetty and my middle name was minning on my gre registration form,,,,,, will there be any problems for me ? pls kindly help me…….
please send me all universities and colleges of US (UNITED STATES)for doing MS in electrical engineering in summer in-take in (April- may ) .please send details of universities and colleges WITH DEAD LINES
My friends name on passport:
First name: Lxxxx Rxxxx
Surname: Dxxxx
So he rigistered for gre as is. He left out the middle name field as it was not mandatory. Now in the email conformation the name is printed as Lxxxx Dxxxx … Will this be a problem …. If so what's th remedy
Thanks in advance
hey, am having the same problem. was this solved or not?
you can change your name at the test center on the day of the exam. Needn't cancel your test and re-register; beware of the cancellation charges.
How exactly do you change your name at the test site? I registered as Kathy K—– T—-on the site since Kathy is on my records and what I go by but K—— is my given name. I wasn’t allowed to take the exam because my driver’s license doesn’t show Kathy, just K—– T—–. The test administrator didn’t say anything else except that my exam would be forfeited. Period.
Kathy – this post was targeted towards international test takers who use passport to write GRE. They have long names and not enough space to split the names. In such cases test center will make small changes to the name.
Hi Shilpa,
My name is Somnath. My father’s name is Meignana Murthy.
In passport my name is given as
First Name: Somnath
Surname: Meignana Murthy
But during my GRE registration I have registered as
First Name: Somnath
Surname: Murthy
Will I be permitted to write the exam. Please help me by replying to this mail as soon as possible. Also I need to know what is the alternative for this.
Please suggest me a good solution.
Hey HSB,
I got my name split on the passport. Though all the cgi websites provide information,there is no proper information apart from the cgi new york website.
My Name is Man Kris. But my old passport Says
Given Name:-Man Kris
Surname:-
So my F1 visa was given as
Surname:- Man Kris
First Name:- FNU
I enquired in my school and they said that the passport is to be changed and i need to have a last name.
I wrote mails to all the embassies in the US.. Result :- No Reply
So i collected the information from all the websites and followed these steps:-
1 Determine which consulate is serving your state
Embassy of India, Washington, DC
(Consular Jurisdiction: Bermuda, Delaware, District of Columbia, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia
Consulate General of India – New York
(Consular Jurisdiction: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virgin Islands)
Consulate General of India – San Francisco
(Consular Jurisdiction: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming)
Consulate General of India – Chicago
(Consular Jurisdiction: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin)
Consulate General of India – Houston
(Consular Jurisdiction: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Texas)
2 Fill out the online application
https://passport.gov.in/nri/OnlineRegistration.js…
The service desired should be re-issue of passport.
3 Need the original passport,4 recently taken and identical colour photographs with light background of size 3.5×3.5 Photographs should show the front view of full face and should be in civil dress. Polaroid photographs, poor quality photographs and photographs taken in uniform or with dark glasses will be rejected( As mentioned on the website)
4 Court Order or Sworn affidavit in the prescribed form – Affidavit for Change of Name , giving both names, duly notarized by a Notary Public(Not Mandatory)
Proforma- http://www.cgihouston.org/affdvt.pdf
5 Fees of $ 40/- and $ 20 extra for express mail. $190 for tatkal.
If the name change is consent upon marriage or not consent upon marriage, follow the steps as mentioned in the following link. FAQ 'F'
http://www.cgihouston.org/passportfaqnew.html