Should I correct misspelled name on passport to get China visa?

(Winchendon, MA, USA)

Question: My renewal passport was returned with the first letter of my last name incorrect. I returned it, and it has been corrected on the last page of the passport. I have used this passport without issue in the UK, EU, and Caribbean.

I will be traveling to China, and thus I will need a visa. My understanding is that the visa is apt to be processed by scanning the first page (therefore the one with the incorrectly spelled last name) resulting in a visa with a misspelled last name. My concern is that immigration officials and/or airline personnel would reject my visa. What is the best solution?

Thanks.

Answer: I believe that the best solution is to make another request for a passport correction. To avoid repetition of the problem, you should include a signed letter explaining the error and a request that the name be corrected on the first page.

Note, there is no fee for passport corrections no matter how long it has been since your passport was issued.

Applications for corrections are given top priority and processed as expedited services (2-3 weeks).

If you need the correction more quickly, you will have to visit a regional passport agency or authorize a private expediter to submit the application for you.

Your current passport must be submitted along with Form DS-5504 however it will not be returned to you.