Changing/adding "nickname" to passport

Hi everyone! I have an unusual question.

I have gone by "Victoria" for many years, and everyone but my parents calls me that. I never changed my name legally, and really have no desire to. However, I want to include it on my new UK passport (which I am applying for next week) but I don't know where to put it.

It's important that I include it because I am moving back to the UK and trying to bring my boyfriend along as an unmarried partner. We should qualify, as we've lived together over two years, but ALL the documentation (and there really isn't that much to begin with) such as my mail is addressed to Victoria, not my birth name. If I have to prove UP with what little mail and such I have AND it doesn't even have my "official" name on it... well, it's going to make it more complicated.

The UK passport application has a line that says "Have you changed your name other than by marriage or adoption? What was your previous name?" - Well, no, because I listed my birth name as my name since it is still officially on my legal documents. I just want to add it as an alias of sorts.

I've searched the embassy's site and can't find anything to clarify the situation. It IS kind of a specific problem....

Any advice?

Thanks in advance!   

Looking on the consulate's web site for anything out of the ordinary is a waste of time.

As I understand it, you want to apply for a UP in one name, and use another name for your evidence.  And there's no obvious link between your name and "Victoria"?  No deed poll, marriage, or what-have-you?  I haven't heard of that coming up before, and it's an interesting question. 

The standard of proof for common law aliases.  Stage names.  Pseudo names, AKA's.  These are not directly addressed in the corpus of immigration law, and if you wanted to play it by the book you would have to turn to English law for the standard of proof that applies.  Well-known as, publically recognized as, substantiated use for 7+ years, and so on.  They would pick one of those and apply it. 

So having said that, I doubt that a simple explanation included with your application would be sufficient.  So to be prepared you would pick a standard beforehand and apply it with the rationale that it's the correct standand for your situation.

You don't need to change your first name by deed poll under British law, so there shouldn't be a problem.  As Garry has said, putting on your documentation that you are 'known as' Victoria should be fine.

Great choice of name by the way!

Victoria

Thanks Victoria! It is a good name! (Although people call me Veronica here all the time for some reason.)

Thanks for the response and details Garry. You are a bounty of information! 

 There is not a an obvious connection between my names. I chose Victoria, as I wanted to be called that since I was very young and I just never identified with my given name. My parents don't even use it much, as they call me by my initials.

I'll look into the options for substantiating the name. I've been known as Victoria exclusively for about 12 years, so I probably have papers to back me up on that (letters from friends, etc.). During that time, all my "official" stuff has my legal name on it.  I'm an avid shredder though, so usually I shred stuff that has my name and address on it.

I'm just wondering if I can add it to my new passport with the "Christian or given names." I could squeeze "aka Victoria" on there too. There is also an "other" section on the passport application. I was considering putting something in there, but I don't know if it actually makes it onto the passport.

Having the name on my passport might make it easier when applying for jobs in the UK. It's never been a problem in the US. I put Victoria on everything... CV, applications...  but when it comes to payroll I just fill out the forms and say my legal name is *** and they just process it that way. Just wondering if it will make the process smoother when I do the same in England.

Thanks again!

  I think I just answered my own question concerning the passport.

http://www.uknow.or.jp/be_e/consular/passport/passport04.htm [nofollow]

I guess I can't add Victoria as a name on the passport without proof that the name is good "for all purposes." Perhaps a letter from my lawyer will help.

If I find out more I'll post a follow up.

I worked for part of the UK government when I was in Manchester, and name changes were delt with very suspiciously. (If there wasn't an obvious reason such as marriage or divorce, etc.) Sadly, alot of people try to change their names/give false names when they are trying to run from a shady past. It will probably be easier for you to just stick to the name you have on your legal American documents (such as passport, birth cert, etc) until you get to the UK.