Okay, so we made sure to get our passports in plenty of time for out trip to Costa Rica. We signed them today. Immediately after signing it, I realized that I signed my first and last name (which is all I normally use), but the printed part of the passport, of course, has my first, middle, and last names because the application asked for all of them.

Is this going to be a problem? I'm a wreck--we're leaving in just a few days.

Jo, I signed only my first and last name too. Traveled all over the world and nobody ever questioned me about my middle name which is printed in my passport.

I wouldn't worry about it. My signature is also different from the printed full name. My signature is first name, middle initial, last name. I have never had a problem with it.

Jo:

It won't be a problem. What could be a problem, which we discovered the hard way, is if you made your airline reservations using a name other than what's on your passport. For example, if your passport says "Joanne" and your tickets are reserved under "Jo." If that's the case, you just need to call the airline in advance so they can make a note of the discrepancy.

Have a wonderful trip! I'm taking my 20-year son on July 6th (his first trip, my third). Your teenagers will love Costa Rica no matter where you go.

Terri

Phew! I am relieved! Thank you, everyone.

Terri--Fortunately, my legal first name is Jo, so I don't usually run into problems with that type of discrepancy. More often, I run into difficulty convincing people that my legal name is, in fact, Jo.

Have a great trip. You'll be leaving just after we return.

All the above is right. I sign first initial, then middle and last name even though printed name is the opposite. From immigration to cashing travelers checks it has never been a problem.