last name on international airline ticket

[Mehmet&Elena 20]

Hi!

My wife is traveling back to Ukraine for an emergency. The last name on her passport does not match her last name on the expired green card. She decided to take my last name. I purchased the ticket using the name on the passport. I hope this was the correct thing to do. Can this be an issue on her return to the United States?

Thank you all in advance.

[tom&tanya 48]

Make sure she brings a certified copy of your marriage license with her to show the name change.

[Mehmet&Elena 20]

Make sure she brings a certified copy of your marriage license with her to show the name change.

The marriage license only includes her previous last name. It does show the name change.

[kaospouse 5]

You did the correct thing by buying the ticket using the name on her passport, I don't believe the airline would allow her to depart if her ticket wasn't issued using the name on the passport she'll be using for travel. As for coming back into the country, I don't think you'll have an issue because of the disparity in names but as was posted above, you should carry a copy of your marriage certificate.

[Dave&Roza 748]

The marriage license only includes her previous last name. It does show the name change.

Right, but it shows that your wife with last name of Demetrova married a male with last name Flowers and her passport name is Demetrova and her GC is Flowers--helps airline employees make the connection. CBP usually knows as all names she has used comes up on their screen--one reason that is a line needing to be completed on all the forms.

FYI, you always use the name that is on the ID that is going to be used for travel when purchasing a ticket. For inside the US you can use her married name and the GC or DL as the ID. For international travel the ticket must match the name that is in her passport--maiden name for now. All the GC does is allow her to re-enter the US and board any airplane headed to the US.

Good luck,

Dave

[Mehmet&Elena 20]

Make sure she brings a certified copy of your marriage license with her to show the name change.

You did the correct thing by buying the ticket using the name on her passport, I don't believe the airline would allow her to depart if her ticket wasn't issued using the name on the passport she'll be using for travel. As for coming back into the country, I don't think you'll have an issue because of the disparity in names but as was posted above, you should carry a copy of your marriage certificate.

Right, but it shows that your wife with last name of Demetrova married a male with last name Flowers and her passport name is Demetrova and her GC is Flowers--helps airline employees make the connection. CBP usually knows as all names she has used comes up on their screen--one reason that is a line needing to be completed on all the forms.

FYI, you always use the name that is on the ID that is going to be used for travel when purchasing a ticket. For inside the US you can use her married name and the GC or DL as the ID. For international travel the ticket must match the name that is in her passport--maiden name for now. All the GC does is allow her to re-enter the US and board any airplane headed to the US.

Good luck,

Dave

Thank you all for your help. My wife departed on Friday and arrived this morning in her city in Ukraine.

My only concern now is with I-751, ROC. We mailed our application and completed the biometric appointment. The last thing I heard was they forwarded the application from VSC to our local office. If we receive an RFE they are going to want current info as well as whatever else is missing. My wife will be away for possibly three months. Maybe even more. It all depends on how her mother is doing with the cancer. Can this become an issue for her ROC? I mean if she is in Ukraine for a long period, will they question our marriage? Is there anything we can do that will show ties while she is away? I thought it would be good for my wife to use our bank card or credit card. Any other ideas?

I heard USCIS wants to see as part of the evidence bank and credit card statements. My bank will only add my wife to the credit card as a user. So her name is not included on the statements. However I did send them a copy of both our credit cards with our names on them. I discovered later that I can go online and print out credit card history transactions with our names on each transaction. however one can only go back 3 months for statement history. So its possible to connect the statement to the bank online history with our names. Will they accept online history as proof if it is included with the statements?

Thank you all again!

[Dave&Roza 748]

Thank you all for your help. My wife departed on Friday and arrived this morning in her city in Ukraine.

My only concern now is with I-751, ROC. We mailed our application and completed the biometric appointment. The last thing I heard was they forwarded the application from VSC to our local office. If we receive an RFE they are going to want current info as well as whatever else is missing. My wife will be away for possibly three months. Maybe even more. It all depends on how her mother is doing with the cancer. Can this become an issue for her ROC? I mean if she is in Ukraine for a long period, will they question our marriage? Is there anything we can do that will show ties while she is away? I thought it would be good for my wife to use our bank card or credit card. Any other ideas?

I heard USCIS wants to see as part of the evidence bank and credit card statements. My bank will only add my wife to the credit card as a user. So her name is not included on the statements. However I did send them a copy of both our credit cards with our names on them. I discovered later that I can go online and print out credit card history transactions with our names on each transaction. however one can only go back 3 months for statement history. So its possible to connect the statement to the bank online history with our names. Will they accept online history as proof if it is included with the statements?

Thank you all again!

If she has a SSN it should be very easy to open a joint account and CC. You may have to get a new CC to have her as a joint user. We went in and I added my wife to the checking account, she got a savings account in only her name, and we applied for a new joint CC. If your bank gives you too much trouble in opening a joint account, take your money else where. THEY are suppose to be working for you to help you the customer. Sometimes you need to remind them of that.

If you have an interview, you will have to decide to reschedule or have your wife fly back to the US for that interview. Most ROCs are issued without an interview. I would keep track of your communications while she is gone and any money you send her. Financial co-mingling is one area they look at, common residence is another, joint tax returns is another, beneficiary on the employers benefits is another, and if lacking in those areas you can use friends and family members to attest that this relationship is bona fide. I put a statement in the cover letter that flat out says we are two people living together and that we are not in the marriage to circumvent US immigration laws. So basically I was putting the burden of proof on them. Most have worked as we received the 10 year GC in about 5 months.

Sounds like you will be fine. I hope you MIL gets better and your wife can come home soon.

Dave