Name change in America but not in Russia?

[jft 12]

My fiancee owns an apartment in her name in Russia. When we get married I'd like her to change her last name to mine but she's worried that doing so will require that she re-do all the paperwork for the apartment in Russia which I gather is a royal pain. I believe I have read elsewhere that many a Russian bride has legally changed her name in America but kept her Russian passport in her maiden name. Is this correct? Any pitfalls on either side we should be aware of?

[Neonred 3,581]

My wife changed her name here in the US, and on one of our trips to Russia tried to change her name in her Russian passport but it turned out to be a royal pain. She never did change her name in the Russian passport and we never had any issues. As far as I can tell there is no really good reason to change the Russian passport.

[baron555 934]

My wife didn't and will not change her name because of the same reasons stated. We're legally married using our own names and it is no big deal to me if she has mine or not. Lots of hassles to change hers in Russia.

Which.....must be done in Russia, can not do it from the US.

If you want to put up with the expense, figure two plane trips minimum, then go for it.

Edited October 14, 2013 by baron555

[jft 12]

Lots of hassles to change hers in Russia.

Which.....must be done in Russia, can not do it from the US.

If you want to put up with the expense, figure two plane trips minimum, then go for it.

She'll be there for 3+ weeks this next summer. Is that long enough? Are you aware of any issues that might arise using one name in Russia and one here?

My wife changed her name here in the US, and on one of our trips to Russia tried to change her name in her Russian passport but it turned out to be a royal pain. She never did change her name in the Russian passport and we never had any issues. As far as I can tell there is no really good reason to change the Russian passport.

How do you handle her name on her airline tickets? Any problems traveling?

[domwardbound 73]

My wife's still there, and she did have to change all of her documents - internal/external passports, apartment registration, driver's license. It took a second.

As I understand, if her Russian passport has her maiden name and her American visa has her new name, she needs to carry a wedding certificate when entering the US.

[Steve S 2]

We have had a similar situation with international travel. We had the plane ticket match her maiden name which is on the Russian passport. That was good for getting through airline check-in and TSA screening. Then, once we arrived back at US immigration, she just showed her green card (married name) and nobody was interested in her plane ticket or Russian passport at that point. We brought along our marriage cert just in case.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

My fiancee owns an apartment in her name in Russia. When we get married I'd like her to change her last name to mine but she's worried that doing so will require that she re-do all the paperwork for the apartment in Russia which I gather is a royal pain. I believe I have read elsewhere that many a Russian bride has legally changed her name in America but kept her Russian passport in her maiden name. Is this correct? Any pitfalls on either side we should be aware of?

Alla changed her name when she got citizenship and never changed anything in Ukraine. We own property there also.

We have had a similar situation with international travel. We had the plane ticket match her maiden name which is on the Russian passport. That was good for getting through airline check-in and TSA screening. Then, once we arrived back at US immigration, she just showed her green card (married name) and nobody was interested in her plane ticket or Russian passport at that point. We brought along our marriage cert just in case.

Right, Not an issue. If you are worried, then just carry a copy of your marriage certificate also.

[captainofiron 2]

my wife is currently looking at doing this

we have talked to the consolate in charge of our region (when calling always hit the button for the menu in Russian as it has WAY more options than the English one, English menu gets you nowhere fast) and they said they could stamp her passport with an official stamp that says "this person is also known as in the USA"

the only way to change it on all paperwork is to go back to Russia and change the name on the internal (Паспорт гражданина Российской Федераци) passport, which supposedly takes a week or 2 and then you can change your international passport which is the one that can take a month or 2

However the consolate has told us that once she changes her internal passport over there, she can then fill out the forms on their website and change her name on the international passport here in the USA via the consulate

[Turboguy 6]

My wife does much the same as many of you. Her Russian passports are in her maiden name. Her Green Card and Drivers Licence are in her married name.

We buy her tickets to Russia in her Maiden name and she uses her Russian Passport to get into Russia and her Green Card to get into the USA. She does carry a copy of our marriage licence with her but has never had to show it as far as I know.

If you do want to change her Russian Passport I would allow more than the 3 weeks you talked about. Typically if all goes well it is a 4-5 week process. 3 weeks is possible but it is cutting things close.