Wife's last name change

[mendeleev 68]

All this discussion goes to the questions of the OP. I do not want to hijack this thread but want to point out to USA readers, especially with spouses in Russia, some other FSU states, or perhaps some other states that carefully examine passports when exiting the country, that changing a name for a visa or greencard while travelling under the foreign passport can cause unexpected complications.

There have been instances in Russia, in particular, where women have been refused exit because the last name on their visa or green card was not the same as on their Russian passport. The Russian authorities alleged that the beneficiary would not be allowed into the USA.

So, in some cases, the best time (from the perspective of avoiding the possibility of outrageous foreign government harassment) to change the foreign spouses last name might be when the beneficiary becomes a US citizen and gets a US passport.

Edited April 19, 2007 by novotul

[Yodrak 7]

novotul,

Visas are usually (always?) issued in the surname that is on the the passport, without regard to the surname given on the visa application.

Good caution with regard to the green card.

Yodrak

All this discussion goes to the questions of the OP. I do not want to hijack this thread but want to point out to USA readers, especially with spouses in Russia, some other FSU states, or perhaps some other states that carefully examine passports when exiting the country, that changing a name for a visa or greencard while travelling under the foreign passport can cause unexpected complications.

There have been instances in Russia, in particular, where women have been refused exit because the last name on their visa or green card was not the same as on their Russian passport. The Russian authorities alleged that the beneficiary would not be allowed into the USA.

So, in some cases, the best time (from the perspective of avoiding the possibility of outrageous foreign government harassment) to change the foreign spouses last name might be when the beneficiary becomes a US citizen and gets a US passport.