Wife makes everything so difficult

[Neonred 3,564]

One thing my wife is good at is making things much more complicated than they should be. We need to go back to Russia ASAP to do a lot of paperwork to sell our apartment. Wife's internal passport is expired and there are some other issues surrounding the sale of this apartment including the fact that my name is included as an owner.

We are waiting on my wife's US passport, can't leave until that comes as the green card is taken away at the naturalization ceremony. To make it more complicated she legally changed her FIRST name at the ceremony which will be in her US passport.

My concern is with travel. Her Russian passport has her old Russian name and the notation about her new name in the US, which has since been changed. Of course I think I understand how to travel with two passports...leave the US showing the airline the Russian passport so they know she will be admitted without needing a visa, and leave Russia showing the US passport. What I am really trying to figure out is what name to use on the airline ticket? I will call the airline when I make the reservation to discuss this, but does anyone have an idea? We will travel with every doc that we have, marriage certificate, naturalization certificate, and change of name paperwork that was received at naturalization. Unfortunately these documents are usually worthless and ignored in Russia.

Also a little worried about passport control when exiting Russia.

If worst comes to worst I'll just leave her over there.

[Enigma11561 336]

Make the airline ticket in the name in her Russian passport and use it to leave the US and also to fly home. Only use the US passport at the POE to enter. That work for you?

[X Factor 1,112]

Make the airline ticket in the name in her Russian passport and use it to leave the US and also to fly home. Only use the US passport at the POE to enter. That work for you?

[Neonred 3,564]

Make the airline ticket in the name in her Russian passport and use it to leave the US and also to fly home. Only use the US passport at the POE to enter. That work for you?

I think the airline will need to see her US passport in Russia as she will not have a visa to US in her Russian passport

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

One thing my wife is good at is making things much more complicated than they should be. We need to go back to Russia ASAP to do a lot of paperwork to sell our apartment. Wife's internal passport is expired and there are some other issues surrounding the sale of this apartment including the fact that my name is included as an owner.

We are waiting on my wife's US passport, can't leave until that comes as the green card is taken away at the naturalization ceremony. To make it more complicated she legally changed her FIRST name at the ceremony which will be in her US passport.

My concern is with travel. Her Russian passport has her old Russian name and the notation about her new name in the US, which has since been changed. Of course I think I understand how to travel with two passports...leave the US showing the airline the Russian passport so they know she will be admitted without needing a visa, and leave Russia showing the US passport. What I am really trying to figure out is what name to use on the airline ticket? I will call the airline when I make the reservation to discuss this, but does anyone have an idea? We will travel with every doc that we have, marriage certificate, naturalization certificate, and change of name paperwork that was received at naturalization. Unfortunately these documents are usually worthless and ignored in Russia.

Also a little worried about passport control when exiting Russia.

If worst comes to worst I'll just leave her over there.

Reminds me of "For our anniversary I am taking my wife to Hawaii. If she is lucky, next year I will go back and get her"

The name thing can be a mess. FWIW Alla always had her maiden name and ALL documents in her maiden name. When she became a citizen she changed to my name and changed all documents to my name. I mention this for those who think the hot RUB wives run away when they become citizens. (US passport, SS card, drivers license, school ID, work ID, etc.) We also keep the boys documents up to date and file deferrments with the draft board for them to keep them "legal" with Ukraine. We have to do this every year and it sucks.

Alla and the boys also get all their dental work done there, eye exams, contact lenses and a suitcase full of OTC pharmacy products every year. I do not have dental insurance here and my medical insurance does not cover eye exams and lenses.

She keeps her Ukrainian passports (intl and internal) up to date and has forgotten to mention a damn thing to the Ukrainian government. Oops. Happens. Our apartment there is in her maiden name and her mother's name. If we need to sell it she will forget to mention she is a US citizen. Oops. Happens.

I think the issues described can be overcome with marriage certificates, translated to Russian if needed and other US documents. I have kept the USCIS notices (I-797's, filings, biometrics, approvals of each step)so that anyone could track the immigration process for any member of our family. I burned all the back up documentation, but kept the notices.

Incidentally, regarding translations, Alla has translated her important US documents to Russian and keeps them in her file of documents than goes with her whenever she travels.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

I think the airline will need to see her US passport in Russia as she will not have a visa to US in her Russian passport

Make travel arrangements in the name in the US passport. Upon entering Russia show BOTH passports so she can enter without a visa. Upon leaving Russia and reentering, show both passports. This is not a problem for Russia. She has her marriage certificate and passport stamped, so she is OK.

It is a problem in Ukraine (or can be) but US citizens do not need visas for Ukraine so Alla shows only her US passport. If she enters Russia from Ukraine, she shows only her Ukrainian passport.

Besides being more beautiful, better tempered, and more intelligent of the RUB women, Ukrainian women do not require you to get visas to visit. I highly recommend them.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

But I agree on complications. Alla can make grocery shopping as complicated as the D-day invasion

[Neonred 3,564]

Make travel arrangements in the name in the US passport. Upon entering Russia show BOTH passports so she can enter without a visa. Upon leaving Russia and reentering, show both passports. This is not a problem for Russia. She has her marriage certificate and passport stamped, so she is OK.

It is a problem in Ukraine (or can be) but US citizens do not need visas for Ukraine so Alla shows only her US passport. If she enters Russia from Ukraine, she shows only her Ukrainian passport.

Besides being more beautiful, better tempered, and more intelligent of the RUB women, Ukrainian women do not require you to get visas to visit. I highly recommend them.

This is what I am thinking. The only issue is that the "new" US name is totally different including first name, but we do have the documentation for that. A bit of a hassle leaving the US as we will have to show the US passport that matches the ticket, the Russian passport that has the "old new" US name stamp and the document that shows that the "old new" US name has now been changed to a "new new" US name. I just hope it's not a problem at passport control in Moscow.

Ouch.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

This is what I am thinking. The only issue is that the "new" US name is totally different including first name, but we do have the documentation for that. A bit of a hassle leaving the US as we will have to show the US passport that matches the ticket, the Russian passport that has the "old new" US name stamp and the document that shows that the "old new" US name has now been changed to a "new new" US name. I just hope it's not a problem at passport control in Moscow.

Ouch.

As long as everything is "papered" you should be good to go. Consider Russian translations of the US documents. Maybe not necessary.

Interesting about the name though. Alla did not change her first name or Patrynomic, just her last name. I thght it was because she decided I was a "keeper" No. My name is easier to spell and does not have to be repeated over and over to Americans.

[Neonred 3,564]

As long as everything is "papered" you should be good to go. Consider Russian translations of the US documents. Maybe not necessary.

Interesting about the name though. Alla did not change her first name or Patrynomic, just her last name. I thght it was because she decided I was a "keeper" No. My name is easier to spell and does not have to be repeated over and over to Americans.

My wife's name was Svetlana, but she was raised by her grandmother who always called her Veta. She hated the name Svetlana and decided to change it at the time of naturalization. She changed it to Ivetta. She took my last name when we were married.

We will have one flight inside of Russia and I will book that flight in the name in her Russian passport. Hope that will be less complicated.

[slim 1,525]

If worst comes to worst I'll just leave her over there.

Brother, I know exactly how you feel.

My wife got back about a week ago. This was her first trip in the six years she's been here. We had similar concerns but it was pretty simple. If going to Russia - do everything like she's Russian. The only thing she'll really need her American passport for is leaving Russia and getting back into America.

If applicable, she'll send her propiska and zagran to the embassy here for whatever updates are needed. Then she'll make all reservations in Russian name and travel on that name. Once the wonderful journey is over, she'll flash the blue passport to the nice ladies at the exit and then show both to the US agents. Easy peezy.

My wife had a big translation/Apostille made and carried all documents but she said nobody even looked at it.

Good luck!

[Tanya and Barry 59]

My wife's name was Svetlana, but she was raised by her grandmother who always called her Veta. She hated the name Svetlana and decided to change it at the time of naturalization. She changed it to Ivetta. She took my last name when we were married.

Women...

[Neonred 3,564]

Called the airline and they were totally clueless. Even gave me very bad advice, to have her travel using only the US passport and get a visa to Russia (impossible for a Russian citizen).

Have decided the best way is to ticket using her new name in her US passport. At least that way when she is leaving Russia there should be no problem as they know she will be able to fly and enter the US without visa issues. I'd rather have to do the explaining and show all the documentation here in the US where I have a chance to find a supervisor that will be able to figure it out. Don't think it would be very easy in Russia. Tried that before and they look at the documents from the US and just shake their head and let us know that for them these US document mean nothing.

One more small issue, her Russian passport just expired.

This should be one hell of a trip.

[slim 1,525]

One more small issue, her Russian passport just expired.

This should be one hell of a trip.

HA! You guys are going to have fun!

Regardless of how you play it, I don't think it's that big of a deal. As long as she has enough papers (expired or otherwise) she'll be fine.