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Basically, I recently submitted an application for a standard uk visa and there was a section of the form that I initially answered, but eventually deleted from my application i.e."have you ever been known by any other name?". The question appeared ambiqious to me as I also interpreted it to mean if I had made older passports in any other names.

In reality on my previous applications, I always pled the fifth in this section, but because the new application wouldn't let me proceed to the next section, I filled that section, but eventually edited it out of my final application.

It is worthy of note that I have always ever maintained the same name on all my passports since inception in 2003, but at the same time, I also think I might at one point or another probably submitted school certificates in my original birth names during at least one of my previous 2 student visa applications.

Now, I am worried the ECO might interpret this as me purposely lying and wonder if I never had a maiden name etc. I would just like to know if it might affect my application. Hmm..I just did the below to save myself from heartache i.e.I wrote in (not free of charge though. It came with a charge) to cancel my application as it wasn't possible to make changes after submission.

Dear UKVI, Please, it just occurred to me that I misunderstood some of the questions asked or didn't notice they were changes in some of the questions asked as against the last time I applied. In view of these unintended errors therefore, I hereby write to cancel my current application and pray you to put the processing of my daughters' own on hold until I file in a new application, which will be as soon as possible.

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    Can you elaborate what your other names are for? – greatone Nov 12 '17 at 9:35
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    If your other names are only nicknames and are not recorded in your passport or other ID, there's nothing to worry about. The form is asking about other/previous legal names. – lambshaanxy Nov 12 '17 at 9:48
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    I am female, so it means I have a maiden name, qnd got another name ie my ex-huuby's surname after marriage. Unfortunately, I have an history with UK immigration kind of since I have been applying since 2003. The first application was for a student visa that was denied. Something tells me I might have indicated both my maiden name and married names on that visa application. It is been really long, so I can't remember. I know I have studk to the names on my passport with subsequent applications though (I can remember, since these are more recent). – Tomolababy Nov 12 '17 at 10:01
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    Incidentally "plead the fifth" does not mean "I forgot that" or "I didn't think it was important". It means "if I answer that question it will indicate I am guilty of a crime", so don't ever use the phrase with an immigration officer. – DJClayworth Nov 12 '17 at 20:27
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    Although this post originated a long time ago it's worth noting for other people, reading it that "pleading the fifth" is an American concept related to the 5th amendment of there Consitution. It has no legal meaning in the UK. – Sarriesfan Jan 7 '19 at 7:32
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1.3 Other names

(including any other names you are known by and/or any other names that you have been known by) Any other names by which you are or have been known, for example, maiden name, name at birth, if different.

Source: UKVI

Another explanation, also from the UKVI, is very specific to your case.

1.3 Other names

These are any other names by which you have been known, for example, your maiden name, name at birth, if different, professional name. If you are a married woman or were previously married and have used different names at any time please include these even if you have now reverted to an original name.

Source: UKVI

IMO You did have to provide the other names.

I can't predict the outcome of your application, but it is clear from those guidance notes to me that the name you had on your birth certificate was supposed to be listed on the application, even if it is different now.

It is worthy of note that I have always ever maintained the same name on all my passports since inception in 2003, but at the same time, I also think I might at one point or another probably submitted school certificates in my original birth names during at least one of my previous 2 student visa applications.

You absolutely have had multiple legal names. Passport is not the only identity document that a person can have. What about those people who have never had a passport? Birth certificates, National ID cards, Driving Licenses, Educational documents are all candidates of such an identity match review.

I would have listed the other name on my application with an explanation that i honestly missed mentioning this on my previous applications. Whether this is detrimental to your application we really don't know. It might not be very significant if the rest of your application is good. However only their decision can answer that part. Best of Luck!

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  • thanks so much for your useful explanation. Like I already edited in in my question above, I just wrote to witdraw my application and I intend sending in a new one as soon as possible as I don't want to jeopardise my daughters ' Xmas holiday dreams. Hopefully, I succeed with the new application. In the light of this, how do you advise I navigate round my having never written my other legal names in all of my previous applications in the new one I plan on sending? And thanks in advance! – Tomolababy Nov 13 '17 at 9:58
  • Im really not the right person to be able to suggest a course of action for a successful application. However if i was in this position I would apply with the correct facts and provide an explanation of why i did not provide the information before and try hard to dispel any suggestion that i was trying to hide something or game the system. – Hanky Panky Nov 13 '17 at 10:30
  • actually like I said in my original post, the question was always optional in the previous forms as I have never answered it before. The new form on the other hand is constructed in such a manner that one cannot skip any question as it wouldn't let you proceed without comitting to an answer. Once you are done filling the form though, it brings out all the form in a printable form and then gives you the ability to correct any mistakes before you click the final send button. I was able to edit that section out of my form like that. – Tomolababy Nov 13 '17 at 15:25
  • To my chagrin, even though I deleted that entire section from my form before pressing submit, I found out that when I eventually printed it out my form to take to the interview , it had automatically restored that section back and also selected a 'no' answer for me on its own. The old form was never like this. I was always able to ignore the question with the previous forms. – Tomolababy Nov 13 '17 at 15:28
  • Would Dwayne Johnson have to write "The Rock"? – the other one Jan 7 '19 at 11:39

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