The Waiting Game
Posted on the 9th of September 2008 at 18:16 by Bodil
So, finally there’s word from the government, a mere ten weeks after I mailed my name change application.
No, my name is still not officially Bodil. And no, they’re not demanding documentation from a psychiatrist. They simply returned the application, in their own good time, with a note saying “this form is incomplete, please fill in the field detailing your reason for the name change and return it.”
Now, according to the admittedly obtuse instructions accompanying the form, this particular field is to be left blank for regular name changes, and is only to be used if you’re requesting a protected surname (which is a surname that isn’t considered common, and which you need to provide documentation of your entitlement to) or if you’re changing your name again inside the ten year limit (you can only change your name once every ten years, unless you get married and want your spouse’s surname). That’s how I read it, anyway–and, in fact, the field label has an addendum which reads “you may not need to fill this out, please refer to the instructions.” Hence, obviously, I left it blank.
In other words, I think they’re just being difficult. But all right, I’ll fill in a reason and return it, and wait another ten weeks. I’ll play their little game.
