Lastname change Russian passport

[redleg627 15]

Hey VJ'ers,

My wife wants to change her lastname on her Russian passport to her married name. What is the process for this? We have an appointment at consulate in Seattle in a couple weeks. We have translated marriage certificate from English to Russian with a apostille. When she fills out the online papers there isnt any plance to change, reflect her new name. She is very concerned about the process and worried she'll get a passport back with maiden lastname.

Has anyone done this recently? The threads here on VJ are from 2010 and old processes.

Thanks

[Ksenia_O 696]

There are two types of passports in Russia (the same in Ukraine) – internal passport and travel passport. I’m assuming your question is about her travel one, right?

So, first of all, you have to present your internal passport to be able to change your travel one. The last name must match in both documents, so it means your wife has to change the last name in her internal passport first.

Usually, Embassies and Consulates don’t process the internal passport - they can issue only international (travel) ones. You can check the info with the consulate in Seattle, but as far as I know the issuance of internal passports is exclusively prerogative of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, in your home country.

The basis for the change of her name in her internal passport is a Marriage License. In Russia (in Ukraine as well) they don’t recognize this as a basis, if it doesn’t say anything about such change. For example, Marriage docs should state that the name after marriage has been changed into XXXXXX. Not all States indicate this. So, you should check your Marriage papers, if there are any statements there, indicating the change of her last name.

If your docs are good and you have decided to visit Russia to start the change of her last name in both passports, be ready to spend there, at least, 5-6 weeks. And it's going to be a hard work. Probably, my experience could be helpful for you, guys, to decide if it's worth it..

I spent 5 weeks in Ukraine back in May and I started the “passports process” the next day after I arrived.

Usually it takes about 30 days to make any changes in your internal passport. Mine was done in 24 hours, but it did cost me.

Then I had to visit the Tax Service to get my ID number with my new last name. The ID card was given at the same day. But I still was not able to obtain the travel passport - ID card with my new last name needed to be verified with all government systems, including the “travel passport” place. Sometimes it takes 1-2 days, sometimes – up to 2 weeks. My new card was verified in 6 days, so finally I was good to obtain my travel passport.

The shortest period, “from application to passport in hand” is 10 days. Again – the shorter time, the more expensive. But – done and I received my International passport 4 days before the return flight.

Also, keep in mind, if your previous and new travel passports have different last names, they will try to take old one away (usually you can keep old one, especially if it has good travel history and different visas) . I had to ‘fight” to keep my old one – K1 visa, UK visas… Really didn’t want to lose it.. So, in Ukraine, if you have or had UK, Canada or US visas, you can keep your old travel passport despite your name has been changed. But you should check it with Russian rules.

And then the last “challenge” comes - tickets. Usually you buy a round trip, and of course, if you don’t have a green card, you book your ticket according to your travel passport. So, it still was under my maiden name, when I bought ticket and left the US. Coming back, I already had my new passport with my new last name. But the name in your travel doc and ticket must match… I spent 2 days, talking with air company in Ukraine via email, and my husband spent hours on the phone with air company here, in the US, trying to change my last name in the ticket for return flight.

So, as you can see, it’s not going to be an easy “journey”. Just decide if it’s worth it..

Good luck.

Hey VJ'ers,

My wife wants to change her lastname on her Russian passport to her married name. What is the process for this? We have an appointment at consulate in Seattle in a couple weeks. We have translated marriage certificate from English to Russian with a apostille. When she fills out the online papers there isnt any plance to change, reflect her new name. She is very concerned about the process and worried she'll get a passport back with maiden lastname.

Has anyone done this recently? The threads here on VJ are from 2010 and old processes.

Thanks

Edited November 18, 2015 by Ksenia_O

[redleg627 15]

Wow.. Thanks for all the information. So this leads me to another question(s).

Lets say we decided to not change any of her Russian documents. She has US Green Card, EAD, Drivers License, SS Card all printed with married name. Russian passport and internal passport in maiden name. We both want to travel internationally and return to Russia from time to time. What name do we put on airline tickets? Maiden/Married? Is there any reason to change the name on her Russian documents for legal or business reasons?

[vbtwo 54]

Wow.. Thanks for all the information. So this leads me to another question(s).

Lets say we decided to not change any of her Russian documents. She has US Green Card, EAD, Drivers License, SS Card all printed with married name. Russian passport and internal passport in maiden name. We both want to travel internationally and return to Russia from time to time. What name do we put on airline tickets? Maiden/Married? Is there any reason to change the name on her Russian documents for legal or business reasons?

You put the name that is on the passport. The airlines will check the passport to match the name to the ticket. When you get back to the US and show the border control person the green card with the new name, they don't care what the name on the ticket was anymore. Otherwise, you just show the passport everywhere (except also have to show green card at check in when coming back so airline knows you have a way of getting into the US).

[Ksenia_O 696]

I would say it is a good idea to have all your docs under the same name. Well, just me But sometimes the way our countries recognize the docs, issued by another country, makes things hard enough or even impossible to go through.

A lot people don’t change any documents in their home countries, and I’ve never heard they have had any “troubles” due to this, so…

About tickets – yes, I agree with vbtwo. As long as she is a Russian citizen, the only document that allows her to travel is her travel passport. Green card is not a travel document, so you should buy tickets according to her passport. It won’t be a problem to leave or enter the US, if ticket is under her married name, but it can be an issue to get out of another country – she might be denied boarding if the name in the ticket and in the travel doc doesn’t match. Traveling internationally, she should always keep the Marriage doc along with her passport and green card.

Also, as a Russian citizen, she still needs a visa for a lot of countries. Actually, it was one of the reasons why I changed the last name in my travel passport. The part of my family lives in the United Kingdom. And as a Ukrainian citizen I need the UK visa to travel there.

There is a strict list of docs, required for a visa, only passport is not enough. So, planning your trip, you should check out with the Embassy of the country the following :

1. if she needs a visa.

2. if the Embassy is able to stamp a visa in passport for a person XXXX (maiden name), when all supportive documents (green card, bank statements and so on) - issued for a person YYYY (married name). They recognize that this is the same person But usually they want you to “bring my documents into line and then - welcome back for a visa”. So, just double check before planning an international trip, or try to avoid a “visa”country for a while.

When she becomes a US citizen, she will be good to travel with her US passport, which will be under married name, so no "mess" anymore. Well, then she will need a visa to Russia.

Wow.. Thanks for all the information. So this leads me to another question(s).

Lets say we decided to not change any of her Russian documents. She has US Green Card, EAD, Drivers License, SS Card all printed with married name. Russian passport and internal passport in maiden name. We both want to travel internationally and return to Russia from time to time. What name do we put on airline tickets? Maiden/Married? Is there any reason to change the name on her Russian documents for legal or business reasons?

[ONA 133]

When she becomes a US citizen, she will be good to travel with her US passport, which will be under married name, so no "mess" anymore. Well, then she will need a visa to Russia.

That is only true if she renounces her Russian citizenship (a hard, lengthy and expensive process). If she keeps her Russian citizenship, she will never have to obtain a Russian visa. She actually won't even be able to get one (the embassy of Russia cannot issue a visa to a citizen).

Edited November 21, 2015 by ONA

[Justinc87 0]

I have a similar question regarding last names on passports, hope it's ok I tag on here...

My last name is Craft but my wife's foreign passport is spelled Kraft. They will not change this, my understanding is... For foreign passports the C sound of many languages is that of the English S like both Russian and German.
From what I understand, this is correct due to differences in spelling among foreign nations. Can someone verify this for me, just for my peace of mind. Our interview is on Feb 17th so I would hate for this to be a hindrance of her getting her visa or coming home.

Thanks!!

[MrsCrabs 24]

I have a similar question regarding last names on passports, hope it's ok I tag on here...

My last name is Craft but my wife's foreign passport is spelled Kraft. They will not change this, my understanding is... For foreign passports the C sound of many languages is that of the English S like both Russian and German.

From what I understand, this is correct due to differences in spelling among foreign nations. Can someone verify this for me, just for my peace of mind. Our interview is on Feb 17th so I would hate for this to be a hindrance of her getting her visa or coming home.

Thanks!!

Hello!

I had the same problem, my new last name is Crews, but when I applied for travel passport on my new name I decided to ask prior what last name spelling I would have in it (because once I got a bank card with spelling Kryuse and it didn`t match my actual name and I made a bank change it on a card). As I got to know we use a French transliteration, not American. Officer in Migration Service didn`t want to hear anything but then I showed her marriage sertificate and my husband`s passport copy. There is an extra application to tell a desired spelling of a name. So I have now passport and all the documents with correct name.

Once I was yelled at by a lady at Russian airport that my ticket was invalid because it had the wrong name, Crews instead of Kryuse (I assume they got used to check it with European spelling) so I had to show her passport and problem was gone.

I don`t know if this difference in your last names would be a problem. You are spouses but last names are different. What if services in USA decide you are not related? They will have her passport as an example for all the documents, so this mistake will be everywhere. What last name do you have on her visa papers in Embassy? Maybу it is worth changing travel passport on correct name especially if it can be done faster with additional fee.

Edited January 19, 2016 by MrsCrabs

[Justinc87 0]

Ah, well at least we are not alone in this issue!
The interesting thing is, my wife's local Russian passport has Vesta Craft while her foreign passport has Vesta Kraft. She was told this is how it's suppose to be, I guess because if she were to travel to Germany or France they would still be able to read her name and pronounce it correctly.
Maybe we can try to get it changed, but I don't think we will have time before the interview. I'm wondering if this is going to be an issue. I really hope not!

Hello!

I had the same problem, my new last name is Crews, but when I applied for travel passport on my new name I decided to ask prior what last name spelling I would have in it (because once I got a bank card with spelling Kryuse and it didn`t match my actual name and I made a bank change it on a card). As I got to know we use a French transliteration, not American. Officer in Migration Service didn`t want to hear anything but then I showed her marriage sertificate and my husband`s passport copy. There is an extra application to tell a desired spelling of a name. So I have now passport and all the documents with correct name.

Once I was yelled at by a lady at Russian airport that my ticket was invalid because it had the wrong name, Crews instead of Kryuse (I assume they got used to check it with European spelling) so I had to show her passport and problem was gone.

I don`t know if this difference in your last names would be a problem. You are spouses but last names are different. What if services in USA decide you are not related? They will have her passport as an example for all the documents, so this mistake will be everywhere. What last name do you have on her visa papers in Embassy? Maybу it is worth changing travel passport on correct name especially if it can be done faster with additional fee.

[MrsCrabs 24]

Ah, well at least we are not alone in this issue!

The interesting thing is, my wife's local Russian passport has Vesta Craft while her foreign passport has Vesta Kraft. She was told this is how it's suppose to be, I guess because if she were to travel to Germany or France they would still be able to read her name and pronounce it correctly.

Maybe we can try to get it changed, but I don't think we will have time before the interview. I'm wondering if this is going to be an issue. I really hope not!

What last name did you put in your visa papers? If it`s Kraft and Embassy doesn`t mind you both having different spellig, problem might go away when she gets her American passport on correct name. Her Russian travel passport with Kraft name will be OK to travel to Russia oк anywhere else. I think you should just keep that in mind and may be warn services about such issue.

I think you can apply for passport changing in Russian consulate being in USA. Explain them a mistake and have it reissued. At least you can try and call them to figure that out.

Just don`t forget that you should put in tickets a name from passport no matter if it`s correct.)))

Edited January 19, 2016 by MrsCrabs

[Justinc87 0]

Everything is done in my correctly spelled last name, Craft. The only document that is different is her foreign passport.
I'm hoping that when they put her visa into the passport, which should be spelled Craft, she can explain the discrepancy as just how it was translated.
If we can get through the interview, get the visa, and get her here without any issues we will definitely try to get it corrected at a Russian consulate here if that's an option!

What last name did you put in your visa papers? If it`s Kraft and Embassy doesn`t mind you both having different spellig, problem might go away when she gets her American passport on correct name. Her Russian travel passport with Kraft name will be OK to travel to Russia oк anywhere else. I think you should just keep that in mind and may be warn services about such issue.

I think you can apply for passport changing in Russian consulate being in USA. Explain them a mistake and have it reissued. At least you can try and call them to figure that out.

Just don`t forget that you should put in tickets a name from passport no matter if it`s correct.)))

[MrsCrabs 24]

Everything is done in my correctly spelled last name, Craft. The only document that is different is her foreign passport.

I'm hoping that when they put her visa into the passport, which should be spelled Craft, she can explain the discrepancy as just how it was translated.

If we can get through the interview, get the visa, and get her here without any issues we will definitely try to get it corrected at a Russian consulate here if that's an option!

Hmmm let me offer again a possibility of changing a passport before interview especially when you have all the documents on correct name. It may take only a week with additional fee to have a new passport (I paid like 3 000 rubles for that, it`s a legal procedure). You will have your interview in a month, seems like plenty of time. Contact your FMS office and decide if it is woth it. Sorry for pushing, but never know what might appear later and a lot of people at customs and other goverment services could have their own vision on this issue.

[Amy_and_Victor 159]

Everything is done in my correctly spelled last name, Craft. The only document that is different is her foreign passport.

I'm hoping that when they put her visa into the passport, which should be spelled Craft, she can explain the discrepancy as just how it was translated.

If we can get through the interview, get the visa, and get her here without any issues we will definitely try to get it corrected at a Russian consulate here if that's an option!

I dont think it will be an issue. Everyone understands that the same name can have few different spellings in foreign languages (like Victor and Viktor) and as far as I know it's fine if English spelling of her name in Russian passport will be Kraft instead of Craft. Btw even if you change your passport in Russia, you may not reqest specific spelling in English per request. Russian passport service has to use their own transliteration chart and they will use current chart they have, not what applicant wants. I don't think they care how your name spells in the US because it has nothing to do with Russian citizen's national documents, all that matters that Russian citizen's (your wife) name spells "Крафт" in Russia and that's what they work with.

- Victor from Russia

[Justinc87 0]

Thanks everyone for your replies, my wife won't have time to change it before her interview I found. For her it takes a little more than a month, even if they were to change it. By then she would already have the Visa stamped into it.

Victor, what you say gives me some peace of mind, so since it's in the Russian passports, the US doesn't pay much mind to the spelling? Since they really have no say so over how the Russian government decides to do the translations?
It would make sense to me that they would understand that this is a common thing, as you said it is with your name as well, And that their main thing would be for the visa to be correct, because that's the only thing the US govt really has any control or say so over.
Really hope this is the case!

Again, thanks everyone. Means a lot to have people to go to for advice!

- Justin

I dont think it will be an issue. Everyone understands that the same name can have few different spellings in foreign languages (like Victor and Viktor) and as far as I know it's fine if English spelling of her name in Russian passport will be Kraft instead of Craft. Btw even if you change your passport in Russia, you may not reqest specific spelling in English per request. Russian passport service has to use their own transliteration chart and they will use current chart they have, not what applicant wants. I don't think they care how your name spells in the US because it has nothing to do with Russian citizen's national documents, all that matters that Russian citizen's (your wife) name spells "Крафт" in Russia and that's what they work with.

- Victor from Russia