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Why should you apply for Passport before registering for GRE or TOEFL?
As internationals, in most of the countries, Passport is your government issued photo identification and it is in most cases it is required proof of photo identification in many countries for giving standardized tests like GRE or TOEFL. I will share the importance of applying for passport before registering for GRE or TOEFL and explain the reasons.
What are the common issues with Passport and GRE or TOEFL Exam ?
List of common issues:
- The last name in Passport does not match with Last name in GRE exam
- Sur name or Last name is Blank in passport, but the name is different in GRE
- First name or last name spelling mismatch in Passport
How can you avoid these issues? Why Should you apply for Passport before GRE ?
Most of these issues occur for the simple reason that you did not had your passport with you and you did not provide same details at the time when you registered for GRE or TOEFL exam. The easy way to avoid these issues is to apply for passport beforehand and have the passport with you when you register for the GRE or TOEFL. There have been instances where someone might have filled something in their passport application, but might have got something different. Common issues like Typos, last name issues, etc. If you just register for GRE and TOEFL thinking that that’s what you filled in for your passport application, you may end up with issues if the passport does not come with the name you wanted…you might end up into bigger issues at the Test center where they may deny you to take the test if there is any mismatch.
Key things to consider when filling up the passport application and GRE Application ?
There are different boxes with different descriptions in these applications. Here is a quick clarification:
- Last Name, Surname or Family name à all these mean same. In US, they call Last name, but in some countries it is called Surname or family name. In some countries like India, students are used to just use initials for the last name. For instance, S. Kishore or Kishore S . Here, ‘S’ is your last name abbreviation and you must expand it in Last name or surname field. Some people have their fathers name as last name. Make sure you fill in right thing in Last Name field, it is very important thing in US. All your history is primarily tied to your last name and very important. If you have blank in passport, you may have issues in US without having last name.
- First Name or Given Name à There is no confusion here. It is your first name and everyone should be fine. Sometimes they say Given name too. Make sure you fill in your First name without any spelling mistakes.
- Middle Initial or Middle Name à It is very tricky here. Some people do not have middle name, and some do have it…. If you are married, your middle name would be possibly your maiden name. In any case, make sure you fill in your middle initial or middle name in the required box or filed. If there is no box, just do not fill it. Middle name is not very important. Your Last and first name are very important. Sometimes, people just add middle name to the first name. So, it is up to you.
Overall, make sure your name on the Passport is same as that in your certificates. So, once you have your Passport, then you can register for GRE or TOFEL using the same details to avoid any future issues.
When to apply for passport?
Ideal time to apply for passport is at least 6 months before you plan to register for GRE or TOEFL. Overall, it is one year before you actually take the exam. Plan to keep 6 months time line for getting passport and you should ideally register for test 6 months before the actual exam date. If anything goes wrong with your passport, you still will be in good shape for changes. To make it more clear, if you plan to apply for Fall 2012, then you must take actual GRE test by June 2011. So, you must apply for passport by June 2010. It may sound way too much planning ahead; but, it is good to plan more than plan less…
Image Credit : http://agenziaperindiani.com/Images/India-passport.jpg
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{ 28 comments… read them below or add one }
hi, my name Divya.V . All of my certificates are of this name but while registering to gre it is asking that the last name must have atleast 2 letters as my last name is just “V”. so could u please help me out in this.
Hi.
I was about to register for my GRE when I realized my passport has no given name (the space is left BLANK) and my entire name is written under the Surname heading. I have had no issues travelling abroad on the passport but GRE requires the registration name to PERFECTLY match the one on your passport.
I am utterly confused.
Should I leave Given name blank and write my entire name under Surname (the same as my passport) OR should I write Maria as my first name and the rest as my surname?
Please help me out with this. I could get a new passport and fix the error but I have already applied for my ILETS on my current passport (which would be cancelled if I got a new one!)
Would reeeeeeally appreciate feedback!
Thank you!
Hiii…I m ” Maitri” (final year,B.tech)…but I hv rectified my name from “Maitri” to ” Maitri Singh” in passport since i hv to apply for GRE..
M i supposed to change my name as “Maitri Singh” in my final degree of engineering too or it’s ok being only Maitri there ..Would i face any prob if i ud get admitted for MS if my degree name would be “Maitri” and passport name as “Maitri singh”..please help..what should i do?should i add my title in final B.tech degree or let it be?
hi
my name in the certificates is : kondadasula p sai kumar
i applied for the passport.it is about to come.
but i want to book the date for gre before i get the passport
then what i should put for the first name? and last name? middle name?
hii
I want to take the GRE test . My name in original documents is TANUJA BOLISETTI.
But in my PASSPORT it is like TANUJA BOLISETTY.So i think there is a mismatch in my name. So with which one of the above i have to register for the exam??
plz give me suggestion????
hii
I want to register for GRE exam.My name in documents is TANUJA BOLISETTI.
But in my it is like TANUJA BOLISETTY.is there any problem will occur with the small difference in my last name regarding registration??
hii ,
i wish some one could help me,my name is basava vishwabharath according to passport nd while applying for gre i made a mistake of typin my name wrong by one letter i.e i typed basava vishwabharat.will it be a prob while writin my test.plzzzz help me out in this
Plz, I registered to TOFEL but i have spelling mistake in my name
what i can do ?
Please help me…..Iam facing a problem with my name in passport
my name in passport is
First name: ravikanth
Last name or surname: Axxxx Vxxx
I have given my GRE and TOEFL with the same name as in passport
But now I want to change my name in passport as
First name:Vxxx ravikanth
Last name or surname: Axxxx
which is the correct name
Does this make my GRE and TOEFL score cards invalid?
OR
Can I apply for univs with the same name as in passport now and inform them Iam planiing to change my name in passport before getting I20′s ?
Iam very much worried about this.Any one please give me a reply.
Ravikanth,
It seems tricky to me. Going through a name change process might involve legal stuff… I am not sure how your Engineering and Secondary education certificates….I do not know the direct implications, all I can advise is, make sure you have all of them same from your 10th class to Engineering and also passport. About GRE and TOEFL, I do not think the scores will become invalid, but you would have to check with ETS to see what options they provide. Call or email ETS and see how they can help you with name change….
Kumar,
Thanks alot for your quick reply. I will contact ETS people and get it clarified.
Good Luck Ravikanth !
hi,
My Full name is DEEPAK.S.P..as u can see my initials are S.P, ‘S’ stands for my mom’s name ‘P’ for my dad’s name. can u please suggest how to give name in my passport. till today all my school and college records have DEEPAK.S.P itself must i give my both initials as my last name or ‘S’ as my middle name and ‘P’ as my last name..no where in any record My initials are in full its just S.P..please help me on this.
Your passport should have your full last name with expanded initials. So, you would have to expand both what S and P stands for and put that as last name.
thanks bro.
Hi,
My name in all my docs (except for passport) is B M Addy
so now i applied for a passport with the same format Bxxxx Mxxxx Addy
But Since i applied in delhi they did some Stupid change and now i have a passport with following name:
Given Name : Bxxxx Addy
Last Name: Mxxxx
On asking an allegedly knowledgeable relative, my father was told that it wont make a difference; so he went ahead and registered for my GRE with the same name.
So what are my options ??
If the uni authorities are ok (will be apping for Fall 2011) , i am not against using this new configuration… but… (intentionally left trailing)
Please comment. Thanks in Advance
Well, one thing is for sure…you should have your GRE registered name exactly like in Passport. Other things, you can get transcripts and make them bona fide. But for GRE make sure GRE registration is same as passport…they will not let you take test if there is a name discrepancy. Check ETS site for more info.
I have successfully (today) taken my GRE examination with the forementioned passport. What kind of documents/ interaction will be required to convince the university people where i will be applying for that B M Addy and Bxxx Addy Mxxx are the same person??
Thanks for the reply.
cheers
Very good Addy ! I think having a Name reference sheet would do. Read this article : Name reference sheet for MS application ..
hi,
what if i use only initial (like B only) as last name in passport (if it is accepted)?!
is it possible anyway to register gre with single letter last name (like B only)?!
initials are accepted as last name in many registration systems(almost all universities i have seen so far).
please, reply early.
I am not able to enter the name as it is given in the passport.
First name(Given Name) : RAVI SHANKAR (In ets gre site space between two names is not being accepted)
Last Name: Raman
You can enter it without spaces, it should work. or if Shankar is middle name, then you just enter S in the middle name section.
Thank you
I would be contacting ETS…
regards
Welcome! Good luck !
I have registered for GRE and TOEFL exam.In my passport the name is
firstname:jXXXXX
Surname:GXXXXX TXXXX
But in GRE/TOEFL registration they asked firstname,middlename/middleinitial and lastname
so I entered like this..
firstname:jXXX
middlename/middleinitial:G
lastname:tXXXX
Is it correct..I am confused with all these..plz help..
Well, it seems like according to your Passport Last name is “GXXX TXXX”. I think you should call ETS and change the registration info. They are very specific about the last name and they may not let you take the exam…. Read this section “When you register” : http://www.ets.org/gre/general/test_day/id/
Here is what it says : ” If your ID document contains two last names, enter the names exactly as they appear on your ID”.
Hi kumar, I was allowed to write the exam. There is nothing to worry, we can make changes in the name at the test center. But you should be able to show any proof for identifying you as the same person who registered for the exam.
Glad it worked for you. Thanks for update Jehonathan !