Wife Is From Colombia With Colombian Passport But Now Has My Last Name...Travel?s

[Palmer 12]

My wife is from Colombia and she now has my last name on her driver's license, SS card, work authorization card, and green card. Her Colombian passport is still in her maiden name. Today is September 12 and we just found out unexpectedly that we are going to a wedding in Colombia on December 7.

I have been 'told' that the wait times to get her passport changed to her new (my) last name is about 3 months. We can't afford to that be 4 months at this point....need info on how to do that also.

Soooo, can she still travel to Colombia and re-enter the US with her Colombian passport that has her maiden name which is different from all her other US issued identification? I am pretty sure that the airline just wants her ticket info to match her ID info on that end but it is the passport info that I am concerned about.

If she can't travel with her Colombian passport, what can be do and if possible expedite her Colombian passport name change?

Thanks

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Yes, just book tickets in passport name and bring a copy of the marriage cert to explain name change on GC for reentry to the US.

[Dashinka 24,508]

I agree with Harpa. My wife has returned to Russia three times in the past two years for short visits with her Russian passport in her maiden name (which is nearly impossible to change). We always book her tickets in her passport name and she keeps a copy of the marriage certificate with her when traveling. She has had no problem re-entering either alone or with me, and no one as of yet has asked to see the marriage certificate.

Good Luck and Safe Travels!

[Palmer 12]

So both replies are to NOT buy the tickets in her name per her USA identification and buy the tickets per her Colombian maiden name (Colombian passport info). So when leaving the US she would use her Colombian passport as an ID per the ticket info and not her US driver's license.

[Dashinka 24,508]

So both replies are to NOT buy the tickets in her name per her USA identification and buy the tickets per her Colombian maiden name (Colombian passport info). So when leaving the US she would use her Colombian passport as an ID per the ticket info and not her US driver's license.

Yes. Since she is traveling internationally she will use her Colombian passport for ID at the airport at check-in and security. If the tickets and passport don't match you face dealing with not being able to get on the plane.

Good Luck!

[LTSC 16]

Hi!

I am Colombian, all my legal documents in the US (GC, SSN, DL) are with my married name, but my passport has my maiden name.

I have traveled outside of the country using my maiden name in my plane ticket and using my Colombian passport, I just carry a copy of my marriage certificate to get back in the US.

don't worry about it, she'll be fine. Have fun in Colombia

[Palmer 12]

Ok, thanks...Will get her ticket in her maiden name per her Colombian passport and she still has a valid Colombian ID but will bring all other US id's and marriage license jsut to make sure per re-entry into the states,

Thanks again.

[Palmer 12]

Update:

So we have had the second interview at the USCIS in Jacksonville FL because her I-551 card expired in September 2016. We are traveling to Colombia in December and I called USCIS to ask them about the processing time. The rep told me that on the I-797C from that gives us directions for the interview, states on there that the interview process and the stamping of this interview form after the interview extends the I-551 card expiration date for 1 year.

I don't see anywhere on the I-797C form that extends her I-551 date by 1 year. I called USCIS because her new card is not here yet and we had the interview in mid-August.

The rep told me that to get back into the USA she still needs her expired I-551 card and to bring the I-797C form to show the immigration officer.

But again, I don't see anywhere on the form that states the extension of the I-551 card for a year. They are supposed to call me back per a set-up call back appointment so a second level officer can talk to me.

Any thoughts?

[Rebecca616 38]

My husbands notice had it written out that there was a year extension and we had to bring the paper with us too and its a good thing we did because the gal at the airport was not going to let him get on the plane without it.

[TBoneTX 45,304]

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