No Immigration snag

In reference to the letter titled “Initial Snag at Immigration” (May ’08, pg. 11), I offer comments on my experience having a passport that lists my first name only as an initial (W James Brasher).

Since this is my legal name (actually, the W should have a period after it; I don’t know why the passport agency has omitted it), it has been on my passport since I obtained my first one in the 1960s. In the interim, I have visited over 120 countries, with returns to the United States up to five times per year. My most recent pass through U.S. Immigration was in March ’08 in San Francisco.

In all my travels, I have never encountered a problem related to how my name was listed in my passport. There have been instances when a passport official (U.S. or foreign) has commented on the name but never a problem or delay.

It is our custom to always be pleasant to the Immigration official and to appear well groomed and well dressed, no matter how long the journey has been. In addition, my wife and I never travel without additional photo identification as backup to the passport.

W. JAMES BRASHER

Sun City, AZ