Passport Questions

[CyberSamurai013 69]

So this is probably posted somewhere else so don't hate me if it is lol.

I am trying to find out the answers to some things regarding my wife and daughter's passport issues.

So here is the scenario:

My wife came from Omsk, Russia a year ago and we have our AoS interview in 3 days. Our daughter is 1 month old and was born in the US. The goal is for both of them to have Russian and US citizenship/passports. We live in Detroit so the nearest consulate is the New York or Washington embassies, both 8+ hours away by car. As of now my wife has both Russian passports as well as her Propiska in Omsk still. I want to get her a US passport without losing her Russian ones or her Propiska if possible.

My daughter only has an American birth certificate and I want to get her both a US and Russian passport.

The reasoning for this is that we want the ability to travel freely between Russia and America as well as maintaining a legal presence in both countries. What is the best way to achieve the above?

[Neonred 3,564]

I cant help you with your daughter, but your wife can get a US passport without losing her Russian passport...not an issue. Just keep renewing it when necessary. Might have to change the propiska to be registered at the Russian embassy here in the US, but we have NOT done that even when the Russian embassy gave us a hard time about it during our first renewal.

From the look of your timeline you have some time to think this out as she will not be eligible for US citizenship for three years after getting her green card.

[CyberSamurai013 69]

Good advice and true enough. I like to plan ahead Thank you.

I cant help you with your daughter, but your wife can get a US passport without losing her Russian passport...not an issue. Just keep renewing it when necessary. Might have to change the propiska to be registered at the Russian embassy here in the US, but we have NOT done that even when the Russian embassy gave us a hard time about it during our first renewal.

From the look of your timeline you have some time to think this out as she will not be eligible for US citizenship for three years after getting her green card.

[GlobeHopperMama 95]

I'm not at all related to Russia but I believe for both your concerns (passport renewal for your wife and conferring of citizenship by birth for your daughter), the embassy/consulate websites are usually pretty thorough, but only if you go in to through Russian portal, the English information will be pretty limited. Usually you can download forms and the filing instructions, both for passport renewal and for reporting/registering a baby's birth abroad and obtaining citizenship. Russian citizenship is conferred jus sanguinis, through parentage, so it shouldn't be a problem to get Mom's citizenship. I'm just guessing from experience in other countries, but you'll probably need to get a translation of your daughter's birth certificate into Russian and probably apostilled (I've heard this is necessary for Russia!). I think this page may be where you can get the info for your daughter's citizenship (thank you Google Translate)

http://www.russianembassy.org/Embassy_rus/Consulate/priem_v_grazhdanstvo_deti.html

Edited July 3, 2012 by Carlos and Amy

[CyberSamurai013 69]

Thank you for your reply and information! I am so sorry to hear of your troubles and I wish you both the best! I shared your story on my Facebook page so others can see as well.

I'm not at all related to Russia but I believe for both your concerns (passport renewal for your wife and conferring of citizenship by birth for your daughter), the embassy/consulate websites are usually pretty thorough, but only if you go in to through Russian portal, the English information will be pretty limited. Usually you can download forms and the filing instructions, both for passport renewal and for reporting/registering a baby's birth abroad and obtaining citizenship. Russian citizenship is conferred jus sanguinis, through parentage, so it shouldn't be a problem to get Mom's citizenship. I'm just guessing from experience in other countries, but you'll probably need to get a translation of your daughter's birth certificate into Russian and probably apostilled (I've heard this is necessary for Russia!). I think this page may be where you can get the info for your daughter's citizenship (thank you Google Translate)

http://www.russianem...nstvo_deti.html

[GlobeHopperMama 95]

Wow, thank you, that's so kind! We're hoping to see an end to this soon, but in the meantime it looks like there are going to be some consular reports of birth abroad at various embassies for our son and the baby on the way! Good luck with yours!