[compsciphd]

is it difficult for it to be changed when you immigrate to the US?

As a simple example: look at people from eastern europe that "americanized" their names when they came over from the old country at the end of the 19th/beginning of the 20th century.

[Bodhisattya]

Part of the reason people fly away to "greener pastures" is that they think that the new country will be more accepting of who they are. Yes, they can. No, they didn't think it would be an issue, and now it is kinda late.