Name change for K1 beneficiary (Russian citizen)

[kefir10 3]

Hi! I know there have been tons of posts about this but I have a few doubts. My fiancée will soon have her interview for the K1 visa (she is Russian). After getting married, she the plan is for her to take my last name.

I know that when filing for AOS we already should use the new name, and then go to SS to change her name on the SS card and need the certified weeding certificate for this.

My question is: how does it work with her Russian passport? We probably need to get it updated before the interview for the GC, right? (In this case, i guess we need them to give us the old passport in order to have the K1 visa?)

Also: its probably better to do this in person at the Russian embassy. the question here is: we will have to fly to DC for this.. what name to use on the tickets??

(Sorry for all the questions. If anyone from russia went through this and could tell me their experience with changing the passport I would appreciate it greatly!)

Edited April 27, 2014 by kefir10

[aussie_jason 195]

You always use the name on the ID when flying so if flying international then that ID would be her passport, if she is flying domestic and has an ID like a driver's license in her new name then she could use that (just for domestic). You don't need to get your name changed in your passport straight away and she can continue to use her existing passport but just carry a copy of the marriage certificate in case CBP needs to see it.

[Neonred 3,564]

You don't need to change the name in the Russian passport. Unless things have changed, I don't think you can change the name at the embassy in DC.

When we tried to change my wife's name in her passport the first thing that had to be done was to change the name in the internal passport which can only be done in Russia. We even tried that on a trip to Russia, but there were problems with that and we decided it just was not worth the trouble.