Please help - Spouse having No surname. Unable to complete form.

[cyronn]

Hi guys,

I am facing an issue with my post ITA form. My wife (who is the co-applicant) doesn't have a surname. As per the CIC website instructions, while creating our Express Entry profile, I entered her given name (as per her passport) in the surname field, leaving the given name field empty. There was no issue then. However, now in the post ITA form I am not able to complete my personal details section, because in the marital status section her given name is empty and its throwing an error. Surprisingly, in her personal details section the given name is empty but that section shows as completed, without any errors!

I am not sure what to do. For now I have entered a '-' in the given name and the form takes it and shows as completed. Anyone else faced this? Should I leave the '-' in? Or should I enter her fullname in both fields? Any advice will help. Thanks.

 

[StAnger]

Hi guys,

I am facing an issue with my post ITA form. My wife (who is the co-applicant) doesn't have a surname. As per the CIC website instructions, while creating our Express Entry profile, I entered her given name (as per her passport) in the surname field, leaving the given name field empty. There was no issue then. However, now in the post ITA form I am not able to complete my personal details section, because in the marital status section her given name is empty and its throwing an error. Surprisingly, in her personal details section the given name is empty but that section shows as completed, without any errors!

I am not sure what to do. For now I have entered a '-' in the given name and the form takes it and shows as completed. Anyone else faced this? Should I leave the '-' in? Or should I enter her fullname in both fields? Any advice will help. Thanks.

Enter given names in surname section and write not applicable in given name section.

 

[india_user25]

Hi guys,

I am facing an issue with my post ITA form. My wife (who is the co-applicant) doesn't have a surname. As per the CIC website instructions, while creating our Express Entry profile, I entered her given name (as per her passport) in the surname field, leaving the given name field empty. There was no issue then. However, now in the post ITA form I am not able to complete my personal details section, because in the marital status section her given name is empty and its throwing an error. Surprisingly, in her personal details section the given name is empty but that section shows as completed, without any errors!

I am not sure what to do. For now I have entered a '-' in the given name and the form takes it and shows as completed. Anyone else faced this? Should I leave the '-' in? Or should I enter her fullname in both fields? Any advice will help. Thanks.

Enter given name in surname and leave first name blank.

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/helpcentre/answer.asp?q=014&t=4

 

[cyronn]

Thanks guys.
@india_user25, it is not letting me leave the Given name blank.
@StAnger, the CIC instructions http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/helpcentre/answer.asp?q=014&t=4 specifically mention not to write NA etc, which is why I am slightly apprehensive. In the end, if the issue persists I probably will have to put down something like NA etc. only I guess.

 

[cyronn]

Guys has anyone faced this situation before? It seems like a technical problem with the form, but I am unable to submit it without writing something in the given name. I really don't want this to become an issue with CIC so any pointers of how others worked around this one will help.

 

[Tikhe0001]

Guys has anyone faced this situation before? It seems like a technical problem with the form, but I am unable to submit it without writing something in the given name. I really don't want this to become an issue with CIC so any pointers of how others worked around this one will help.

hey cyronn,

did you get any response on the issue. i am waiting ITA and will hopefully get in coming few draws and I am also likely to face this issue.

 

[sumeshpunakkal]

hey cyronn,

did you get any response on the issue. i am waiting ITA and will hopefully get in coming few draws and I am also likely to face this issue.

I had the same problem with my spouse name. I gave Surname as Given Name in passport and first name as 'Not Applicable'. We got PR. I don't know whether they have changed the rules later (because the 'Do not enter' clause was not there initially)
You can attach a Letter Of Explanation stating this (I did that as well).

 

[cyronn]

I had the same problem with my spouse name. I gave Surname as Given Name in passport and first name as 'Not Applicable'. We got PR. I don't know whether they have changed the rules later (because the 'Do not enter' clause was not there initially)
You can attach a Letter Of Explanation stating this (I did that as well).

Thanks sumeshpunakkal. This is what I am going to do. As of now I've entered a '-' in my wife's Given Names. I raised a technical issue on the CIC site on this error. Did not get a response till date. Have also taken a screenshot of the issue that I raised. Will add it to a letter of explanation when I submit my documents.

 

[cyronn]

Guys I have a reply from CIC to the technical query I had raised on this issue. Pasting the same below verbatim.

My query

Hi, I am the primary applicant in my PR application. My wife is the co-applicant. My wife doesn't have a surname. While creating the Express Entry profile, we followed instructions in this website and entered her Given name (as per her Passport) in the Surname field and left Given name field blank. However, now in the post ITA form, I am not able to save my Personal Details because her given name field is blank. Please see attached error screenshot. We however don't get any errors on leaving her Given name blank in her personal details. For now, I have entered a '-' in the given name after which I see my personal details move to complete. Please let me know if this is fine, or should I enter her full name in both fields before submitting. Thanks.

CIC's reply

Please do not respond to this message.

Thank you for bringing this issue to our attention. Although Express Entry allowed you to enter your spouse without a first name, there is an issue in the Application for Permanent Residence that prevents you from submitting the application if your spouse’s first name is blank. We will be correcting this issue shortly. In order to submit your application, we suggest that you use one of your spouse’s names as the first name. Thank you for your understanding with this issue and please contact us should you have any other questions concerning your application.

Sincerely,

Citizenship and Immigration Canada
www.cic.gc.ca

 

[tokyo_123]

Guys I have a reply from CIC to the technical query I had raised on this issue. Pasting the same below verbatim.

My query



CIC's reply

Please do not respond to this message.

Thank you for bringing this issue to our attention. Although Express Entry allowed you to enter your spouse without a first name, there is an issue in the Application for Permanent Residence that prevents you from submitting the application if your spouse’s first name is blank. We will be correcting this issue shortly. In order to submit your application, we suggest that you use one of your spouse’s names as the first name. Thank you for your understanding with this issue and please contact us should you have any other questions concerning your application.

Sincerely,

Citizenship and Immigration Canada
www.cic.gc.ca

Hi! What email address did you contact them on? Thanks!