TSA - Married name in parenthesis on passport
Sep 23, 2016, 8:00 am
#16
Join Date: Sep 2015
Programs: 1 thousand
Posts: 2,112
I think in most places LPRs and US citizens are in the same line. Regardless, you'd need one custom declaration since (I'm guessing) you live in the same place, in which case you should probably just use the same line. (CBP could be unhappy either way - i.e. splitting declarations vs using incorrect lines, but you both are guaranteed the right to enter the US, so you've got nothing to worry about.)
Sep 23, 2016, 9:59 am
#17
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Beantown! (BOS)
Programs: AA PtPro (2 MM); Hilton Diamond; Hertz President Cr; DL SkyMiles; UA MileagePlus
Posts: 3,435
), then upon arrival to the U.S. your wife can use same CBP lane with you to use those kiosks and get through CBP passport control fairly quick. And when using those kiosk you no longer have to fill those customs forms. 
In old days when everybody had to go through manned booth upon international arrival to the U.S., I think if one in a group was the U.S. citizen or permanent resident then entire group could go through citizen/permanent resident line. But now with those kiosks in use, I am not sure how it works currently if a group is mix of citizen, resident, and none of these.
Upon arrival into Japan…, do not know what if the official policy today. I think old days policy was that a group had to split and go to appropriate line for individual.
Sep 23, 2016, 10:32 am
#18
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 87
I think in most places LPRs and US citizens are in the same line. Regardless, you'd need one custom declaration since (I'm guessing) you live in the same place, in which case you should probably just use the same line. (CBP could be unhappy either way - i.e. splitting declarations vs using incorrect lines, but you both are guaranteed the right to enter the US, so you've got nothing to worry about.)
I think if your wife obtained the U.S. permanent residency (i.e. Green Card) through the marriage with you (or maybe your wife already had Green Card and did not need you for that ), then upon arrival to the U.S. your wife can use same CBP lane with you to use those kiosks and get through CBP passport control fairly quick. And when using those kiosk you no longer have to fill those customs forms.
In old days when everybody had to go through manned booth upon international arrival to the U.S., I think if one in a group was the U.S. citizen or permanent resident then entire group could go through citizen/permanent resident line. But now with those kiosks in use, I am not sure how it works currently if a group is mix of citizen, resident, and none of these.
), then upon arrival to the U.S. your wife can use same CBP lane with you to use those kiosks and get through CBP passport control fairly quick. And when using those kiosk you no longer have to fill those customs forms. In old days when everybody had to go through manned booth upon international arrival to the U.S., I think if one in a group was the U.S. citizen or permanent resident then entire group could go through citizen/permanent resident line. But now with those kiosks in use, I am not sure how it works currently if a group is mix of citizen, resident, and none of these.
Sep 23, 2016, 1:17 pm
#19
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 7
She definitely needed me for that.Thanks to everyone for all the help. Neither of us have flown since 2009. Maybe she'll be okay going through customs alone, since she somehow managed to do it when she first came here.
Sep 25, 2016, 8:47 pm
#21
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 456
If you're really paranoid/concerned you can go in the foreigner lane together, but it shouldn't be necessary.
edit:
I just read some other posts saying procedures have changed. However, I was just back in June with my family and my wife went through the same lane that I did, so it may depend on your port of entry. We had no issues at SFO, although she was also using a re-entry permit if that possibly makes a difference (or perhaps they were lenient because we were travelling with two small children). If you want to play it safe, as I said you should just go with her in the PR or foreigner line and/or bring your marriage certificate. They shouldn't hassle you if you stay together as a couple the entire way ie. don't walk up to the counter separately either, this is really when people have problems. My wife and I always stay together and hand them our 2-4 passports (depending on whether the kids are with us) and like I said, we have never had any problems, even going through the citizen line.
Last edited by baroqen; Sep 25, 2016 at 9:34 pm
Sep 26, 2016, 2:56 am
#23
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: TYO / WAS / NYC
Programs: American Express got a hit man lookin' for me
Posts: 4,595
In my experience:
No issue using the citizen line in the US when spouse is using ESTA, although the last time I experienced this was in the summer of 2015. At that time, all APC kiosks were set up to handle citizens, green card holders and ESTA holders, and the immigration officer would take the spouse's fingerprints and photo while waiving through the citizens in the group. I imagine that there might be a problem if you tried to take a visa-holding spouse through the citizen line.
In Japan, the equipment is the same in every line, but immigration may still tell you to go into the applicable non-citizen line -- the reason being (seriously) that they are afraid of Japanese people complaining when they see a foreigner in front of them. This is less of an issue in the US since there is a single line and each person gets funneled to the next available inspector, whereas in Japan the lines for inbound citizens (and for everyone outbound) are "parallel" and you could have one slowpoke hold up one line while others are progressing.
No issue using the citizen line in the US when spouse is using ESTA, although the last time I experienced this was in the summer of 2015. At that time, all APC kiosks were set up to handle citizens, green card holders and ESTA holders, and the immigration officer would take the spouse's fingerprints and photo while waiving through the citizens in the group. I imagine that there might be a problem if you tried to take a visa-holding spouse through the citizen line.
In Japan, the equipment is the same in every line, but immigration may still tell you to go into the applicable non-citizen line -- the reason being (seriously) that they are afraid of Japanese people complaining when they see a foreigner in front of them. This is less of an issue in the US since there is a single line and each person gets funneled to the next available inspector, whereas in Japan the lines for inbound citizens (and for everyone outbound) are "parallel" and you could have one slowpoke hold up one line while others are progressing.
Jan 19, 2017, 10:38 pm
#24
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 51
Similar situation
My wife's Japanese passport lists the surname as "Suzuki (Smith)". However, the chip only produces "Suzuki" when scanned. So I'm worried about flying to Japan from the US, because the of the TSA's name-must-match-exactly policy.
My wife's passport and residence card have different last names . It has been helpful to have a copy of our marriage certificate . Agents don't want to get into trouble and the marriage certificate offers reassurance .
The Japanese consulate worker says to use only "Suzuki". The Japanese travel agency says to use "Suzuki Smith). The JAL website says not to use the name in parenthesis. I contacted the TSA, as they're the ones who enforce the rule, and got an automated reply, essentially, "Ask the airline"...
If we use "Suzuki" on the ticket, it won't match what is under "surname". But if we use "Suzuki (Smith)", it won't match when the scan the chip...
Has anyone here with a name in parenthesis on a passport flown from the US after 2010? Thank you in advance.
My wife's passport and residence card have different last names . It has been helpful to have a copy of our marriage certificate . Agents don't want to get into trouble and the marriage certificate offers reassurance .
The Japanese consulate worker says to use only "Suzuki". The Japanese travel agency says to use "Suzuki Smith). The JAL website says not to use the name in parenthesis. I contacted the TSA, as they're the ones who enforce the rule, and got an automated reply, essentially, "Ask the airline"...
If we use "Suzuki" on the ticket, it won't match what is under "surname". But if we use "Suzuki (Smith)", it won't match when the scan the chip...
Has anyone here with a name in parenthesis on a passport flown from the US after 2010? Thank you in advance.
Jan 24, 2017, 10:56 pm
#25
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: San Rafael, CA
Programs: Life SPG Plat, 7X NH DIA
Posts: 2,840
Traveled numerous times with my wife's amended Japanese passport.
Booked in Maiden name. Not First "Maiden (My Surname)" as the amendment shows on another page her book. Never a problem except she always gets an X on her ticket at the Kiosk.
When she renews her passport, the First "Maiden (My Surname)" will be on the main page but we'll just keep using her Maiden because the name in parenthesis is well...in parenthesis.
Green card has her maiden as her middle and my surname as her last.
Bottom line, no matter how you slice it or dice it it's obviously her and you can't book a ticket with parenthesis anyway.
BTW together in resident line in USA. Gaijin to the Gaijin line in Japan.
Booked in Maiden name. Not First "Maiden (My Surname)" as the amendment shows on another page her book. Never a problem except she always gets an X on her ticket at the Kiosk.
When she renews her passport, the First "Maiden (My Surname)" will be on the main page but we'll just keep using her Maiden because the name in parenthesis is well...in parenthesis.
Green card has her maiden as her middle and my surname as her last.
Bottom line, no matter how you slice it or dice it it's obviously her and you can't book a ticket with parenthesis anyway.
BTW together in resident line in USA. Gaijin to the Gaijin line in Japan.
Jan 25, 2017, 1:16 am
#26
Join Date: Jan 2006
Programs: SAS Eurobonus - Blue / Emirates Skywards - Blue
Posts: 618
I will echo the comments of others.
My wife when we first married got her passport enodorsed with a special "name change" stamp. We had no issues whatsoever when passing through immigration either in the Uk or Japan.
The only thing is that we had to make sure we pointed ID checkers to the name change stamp and then they were fine about it.
Just as a note - they don't do name change stamps now - you are forced to apply for a full new passport when you change your name in Japan.
Has your wife opened a new koseki in her name ?. If that's the case when she gets a new passport she will have your surname on it. HOWEVER one piece of advice - does your wife have a credit card in your name eg a family card or something ?
The Japanese passport authorities wanted an official piece of proof regarding the spelling of the surname when it doesn't match up with the hebon? system of name conversion. To this end I gave my wife a family card attached to my AMEX and that was sufficient proof. Her passport now shows our family name with the correct spelling.
My wife when we first married got her passport enodorsed with a special "name change" stamp. We had no issues whatsoever when passing through immigration either in the Uk or Japan.
The only thing is that we had to make sure we pointed ID checkers to the name change stamp and then they were fine about it.
Just as a note - they don't do name change stamps now - you are forced to apply for a full new passport when you change your name in Japan.
Has your wife opened a new koseki in her name ?. If that's the case when she gets a new passport she will have your surname on it. HOWEVER one piece of advice - does your wife have a credit card in your name eg a family card or something ?
The Japanese passport authorities wanted an official piece of proof regarding the spelling of the surname when it doesn't match up with the hebon? system of name conversion. To this end I gave my wife a family card attached to my AMEX and that was sufficient proof. Her passport now shows our family name with the correct spelling.
Apr 11, 2017, 9:04 pm
#27
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: TYO
Programs: UA MM *G, NH Plat/SFC, HH Diamond, GE
Posts: 238
Definitely stay together and use the citizen line at US CBP.
My wife travels with a Japanese passport and ESTA and on our honeymoon in 2011 we stopped one night in Chicago on our way to Argentina and I had her go through the non-citizen line. CBP ended up asking her why she wasn't in the same line as her husband and pulled her into the interrogation room. After about an hour of unnecessary questions and stress we were allowed to leave.
CBP told us we should always go through immigration together, since we were married. Since then, that's what we've done and have had no issues. She has to do the extra fingerprint scanning and all that, but otherwise it's smooth.
As for me, I will never be able to live down the fact that I "abandoned" her at US immigration on our honeymoon!
My wife travels with a Japanese passport and ESTA and on our honeymoon in 2011 we stopped one night in Chicago on our way to Argentina and I had her go through the non-citizen line. CBP ended up asking her why she wasn't in the same line as her husband and pulled her into the interrogation room. After about an hour of unnecessary questions and stress we were allowed to leave.
CBP told us we should always go through immigration together, since we were married. Since then, that's what we've done and have had no issues. She has to do the extra fingerprint scanning and all that, but otherwise it's smooth.
As for me, I will never be able to live down the fact that I "abandoned" her at US immigration on our honeymoon!
Apr 11, 2017, 9:29 pm
#28
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Kentucky/Japan
Programs: UAL 1k
Posts: 57
Definitely stay together and use the citizen line at US CBP.
My wife travels with a Japanese passport and ESTA and on our honeymoon in 2011 we stopped one night in Chicago on our way to Argentina and I had her go through the non-citizen line. CBP ended up asking her why she wasn't in the same line as her husband and pulled her into the interrogation room. After about an hour of unnecessary questions and stress we were allowed to leave.
CBP told us we should always go through immigration together, since we were married. Since then, that's what we've done and have had no issues. She has to do the extra fingerprint scanning and all that, but otherwise it's smooth.
As for me, I will never be able to live down the fact that I "abandoned" her at US immigration on our honeymoon!
My wife travels with a Japanese passport and ESTA and on our honeymoon in 2011 we stopped one night in Chicago on our way to Argentina and I had her go through the non-citizen line. CBP ended up asking her why she wasn't in the same line as her husband and pulled her into the interrogation room. After about an hour of unnecessary questions and stress we were allowed to leave.
CBP told us we should always go through immigration together, since we were married. Since then, that's what we've done and have had no issues. She has to do the extra fingerprint scanning and all that, but otherwise it's smooth.
As for me, I will never be able to live down the fact that I "abandoned" her at US immigration on our honeymoon!
+1 on this. Although she didn't get questioned, we were told to stay together the first time my wife and I traveled internationally. She is Brazilian. We were told families go through immigration together.^