Mis-spelling of beneficiary's last name

[nekotakacho 60]

Hello,

 

Just realized that the I-29f form I submitted on 03-16-2018 (for our K1 visa application) has a mis-spelling of my fiance's last name. We have our NOA1 and are waiting for NOA2. The NOA1 letter they sent me has her last name mis-spelled.

 

Also, her official Russian passport has a different spelling of her last name, than how she normally spells it. For example, she insists I spell her name "Kseniya" but on her passport it is "Kseniia" and she gets really angry if I use her passport's spelling  It seems that Russians interchange "i" and "y" in English words. It causes alot of confusion and headache, especially for me....

 

My question is, how and when do I correct her last name mis-spelling? I have read multiple things and it seems even USCIS isn't clear on this subject...

 

I have read that she must have it corrected at the interview in-person in US embassy in Moscow, after NOA2 is granted.  And that the easiest route to fix this??

 

I've also read that I should call USCIS immediately and do it now, before NOA2 gets granted. I just called them and can't even speak to a human being to address this!!

 

Also, would this trigger an RFE before our NOA2? She is visiting me next week and is very worried about this, as she thinks the customs officer at the airport might get upset about her mis-spelling. I told her that they won't have access to her application yet, and that her name needs to match her passport with any documents she shows them at the border.

 

Any suggestions from this awesome website?? Thanks...

Edited May 16, 2018 by nekotakacho
added details

[nekotakacho 60]

And I just want to clarify about the documents she will present at the border...

I typed a letter explaining her purpose of travel (tourism), and that she has a job to return to in Moscow. Her manager will sign it and she will present it to USCIS officer at the border, if necessary. She's worried they will deny her entry, so I made her this document, with the receipt number and explanation of intent. This document matches her passport spelling of her name. 

 

All documents we submitted with the K1 application match her passport's spelling EXCEPT the application form (I-29f). It is the only one I messed up....

[Rebecca & Kelvin 136]

She needs to use her passport spelling. Are the spelling on her birth certificate and passport different?

[nekotakacho 60]

30 minutes ago, Rebecca & Kelvin said:

She needs to use her passport spelling. Are the spelling on her birth certificate and passport different?

I agree. We do use her passport spelling in most cases, on official documents. I am unsure about her birth certificate but will find out ASAP. Her birth certificate is in Russian and I have only seen it once (in person). I am unsure what it would translate to ("i" or "y")...

 

Do you know how to correct this with USCIS?

Edited May 16, 2018 by nekotakacho

[DaveAndAnastasia 2,092]

If you get an RFE, you can correct it then.

 

I suspect that USCIS is well aware that non-Roman alphabet languages often have multiple transliterations (my fiancée's name is one way on her Facebook profile, another on her passport, and a third on the site we met), but that's just guessing.

[nekotakacho 60]

On 5/16/2018 at 7:38 PM, DaveAndAnastasia said:

I suspect that USCIS is well aware that non-Roman alphabet languages often have multiple transliterations (my fiancée's name is one way on her Facebook profile, another on her passport, and a third on the site we met), but that's just guessing.

Same here.  She demands I spell it one way, even though her passport spells it differently. 

 

When filling out this form, she told me "I dont care about how you spell my last name, I am changing it to yours". How sweet, but that's what caused this headache, LOL.

 

I just hope I can easily fix it before its too late. I am still wondering about this. Would it be worthwhile to call them now?

Edited May 22, 2018 by nekotakacho
added details

[nekotakacho 60]

On 5/16/2018 at 6:08 PM, Rebecca & Kelvin said:

She needs to use her passport spelling. Are the spelling on her birth certificate and passport different?

Her birth certificate is in Russian, so it could be interpreted either way, "i" or "y". That's why I am in this situation, LOL.

[Chris J 111]

My finance has a similar problem. Her name is Anastasia but on her Passport they accidentally put an extra "I" instead of just one. Hopefully it's not an issue. She waited nearly 2 months just for that alone. 

[DaveAndAnastasia 2,092]

7 hours ago, Chris J said:

My finance has a similar problem. Her name is Anastasia but on her Passport they accidentally put an extra "I" instead of just one. Hopefully it's not an issue. She waited nearly 2 months just for that alone. 

My fiancée is the same (not really sure where they came up with the double I version, but I've seen it too often to think it's accidental rather than a government transliteration that looks weird to native English speakers), so we were pretty careful about using the transliteration on her passport in everything we filed with the petition.

[Juniser 5]

On 5/22/2018 at 6:04 PM, nekotakacho said:

Same here.  She demands I spell it one way, even though her passport spells it differently. 

 

When filling out this form, she told me "I dont care about how you spell my last name, I am changing it to yours". How sweet, but that's what caused this headache, LOL.

 

I just hope I can easily fix it before its too late. I am still wondering about this. Would it be worthwhile to call them now?

I had the exact same situation.

 

Do not worry.  Very simple to solve this.  I had to do this as well.

 

Keep all your I-129F documentation consistent as it is currently with: "Kseniya"

 

Keep her Russian international passport as it is currently for the I-129F documentation with: "Kseniia"

 

What really matters at this time for the I-129F approval is that the Cyrillic spelling on her Russian international passport and her Russian Documents exactly match, which most likely is "Ксения". Very unlikely there will be a problem with English transliteration at the time.

 

When you get your I-129F approved by USCIS, it quickly goes through NVC and onto US Embassy Moscow Consular processing.

 

The US Embassy Moscow when processing/issuing the K-1 visa surname would have no choice but to use the English spelling "Kseniia" that has been put on her Russian international passport by the Russian Government, and thus, put "Kseniia" on the K-1 visa.

 

If you want "Kseniya" on the K-1 visa and subsequently on your USA Marriage certificate as her maiden name, you will need to get a new Russian international passport with "Kseniya".  The good news is that you have enough time until the I-129F is approved to get a new Russian international passport with "Kseniya".  This is my suggestion because 1) your wife will be happier, 2) the English maiden name will be on the USA Marriage certificate that came from the K-1 visa which is then put in the USCIS alien registration system that assigns your fiancee alien number.  It is a snowball effect you can easily solve right now with a new Russian international passport with "Kseniya".

 

So with the new Russian international passport with "Kseniya" and after the I-129F approved petition finally gets to the US Embassy Moscow, you will be filling out the DS-160 visa online application using the new Russian international passport number with surname "Kseniya".  This is the part of the process that really matters for the correct English surname for the K-1 visa that will be inserted into the Russian international passport with surname "Kseniya".

 

To summarize, now is the time to go get a new Russian international passport with "Kseniya".  Plus, any RFE that comes from the I-129F process would be answered as well the with having new passport with "Kseniya".

 

Here is another point to pass along that my wife and I conscientiously do:  We keep my wife's name as is (maiden name) on all Russian documents, property, etc as time goes on.  President P made a law for all dual citizen Russians (including green card holders) to register on a Dept of Migration list.  My wife refuses to do that and it is more covert to have a Russian surname (for example her maiden name) left as is on her Russian passport and to have my surname (husband) on her green card and future USA Passport. 

 

So in my opinion, having a new Russian international passport with "Kseniya" is a document that you will be keeping and not changing again AND your wife will be happier.

 

 

 

 

Edited June 6, 2018 by Juniser

[Juniser 5]

I said:

 

after the I-129F approved petition finally gets to the US Embassy Moscow, you will be filling out the DS-160 visa online application

 

Should have said:

 

after the I-129F approved petition finally gets to the US Embassy Moscow, you will be filling out the online DS-260 immigrant visa and alien registration application

 

Note: K-1 visa is technically a non-immigrant visa, but since the intention is to immigrate ... you are instructed to fill out the DS-260 application (this is the one that really matters for the correct English surname for the K-1 visa and alien number registration)

[nekotakacho 60]

4 hours ago, Juniser said:

I had the exact same situation.

 

Do not worry.  Very simple to solve this.  I had to do this as well.

 

Keep all your I-129F documentation consistent as it is currently with: "Kseniya"

 

Keep her Russian international passport as it is currently for the I-129F documentation with: "Kseniia"

 

What really matters at this time for the I-129F approval is that the Cyrillic spelling on her Russian international passport and her Russian Documents exactly match, which most likely is "Ксения". Very unlikely there will be a problem with English transliteration at the time.

 

When you get your I-129F approved by USCIS, it quickly goes through NVC and onto US Embassy Moscow Consular processing.

 

The US Embassy Moscow when processing/issuing the K-1 visa surname would have no choice but to use the English spelling "Kseniia" that has been put on her Russian international passport by the Russian Government, and thus, put "Kseniia" on the K-1 visa.

 

If you want "Kseniya" on the K-1 visa and subsequently on your USA Marriage certificate as her maiden name, you will need to get a new Russian international passport with "Kseniya".  The good news is that you have enough time until the I-129F is approved to get a new Russian international passport with "Kseniya".  This is my suggestion because 1) your wife will be happier, 2) the English maiden name will be on the USA Marriage certificate that came from the K-1 visa which is then put in the USCIS alien registration system that assigns your fiancee alien number.  It is a snowball effect you can easily solve right now with a new Russian international passport with "Kseniya".

 

So with the new Russian international passport with "Kseniya" and after the I-129F approved petition finally gets to the US Embassy Moscow, you will be filling out the DS-160 visa online application using the new Russian international passport number with surname "Kseniya".  This is the part of the process that really matters for the correct English surname for the K-1 visa that will be inserted into the Russian international passport with surname "Kseniya".

 

To summarize, now is the time to go get a new Russian international passport with "Kseniya".  Plus, any RFE that comes from the I-129F process would be answered as well the with having new passport with "Kseniya".

 

Here is another point to pass along that my wife and I conscientiously do:  We keep my wife's name as is (maiden name) on all Russian documents, property, etc as time goes on.  President P made a law for all dual citizen Russians (including green card holders) to register on a Dept of Migration list.  My wife refuses to do that and it is more covert to have a Russian surname (for example her maiden name) left as is on her Russian passport and to have my surname (husband) on her green card and future USA Passport. 

 

So in my opinion, having a new Russian international passport with "Kseniya" is a document that you will be keeping and not changing again AND your wife will be happier.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wow, this is all excellent information! Thank you so very much. I will print this out and share it with her, as she is with me for another week for vacation! 

 

To be clear, her first name is spelled correctly and matches her Russian passport. It's only her last name that I left the "y" in, where I should have put an "i".

 

The Russian/Cyrillic in the I-29f form is correct and does match her Russian passport. ("Thanks God" as she would say)

 

I don't think we will need to get her a new passport to correct this. As you have said, it should be based on her Russian documents/passport and they will handle that in Moscow at the US Embassy.

 

I am still under the impression that I do not need to go to the US Embassy in Moscow with her for this interview? I see where many people do travel there to attend the interview, but I think it is un-necessary in our situation. She is quite capable and is very clever.

 

Thank you for your help. I'm sure I'll have some more questions soon, once I can wrap my head around all of this.

Edited June 6, 2018 by nekotakacho

[Juniser 5]

2 minutes ago, nekotakacho said:

I don't think we will need to get her a new passport to correct this. As you have said, it should be based on her Russian documents/passport and they will handle that in Moscow at the US Embassy.

 

I am still under the impression that I do not need to go to the US Embassy in Moscow with her for this interview? I see where many people do travel there to attend the interview, but I think it is un-necessary in our situation. She is quite capable and is very clever.

 

Thank you for your help. I'm sure I'll have some more questions soon, once I can wrap my head around all of this.

 

What I would like you to consider is that your fiancee has an important heritage with her Cyrillic surname "Ксения" .

 

You said: "For example, she insists I spell her name "Kseniya" " and I strongly agree with her ... so that is why I am writing to you in this detail.   You have the golden opportunity right now to preserve your fiancee's surname heritage in English as "she insists" as "Kseniya" .  Your wife will see her maiden surname in English on her USA Marriage Certificate forever.  This is a very important document that I would like you to consider for her heritage to have the English surname that  "she insists" as "Kseniya".  This is her heritage and it will not disappear when you marry her.   

 

The only way to get "Kseniya" on the USA Marriage Certificate is from her "Kseniya" surname on her K-1 Visa and USCIS alien registration.  And the ONLY way to do that is with "Ксения" and "Kseniya" surnames used in a new Russian International Passport.  As I previously said the US Embassy Moscow when processing/issuing the K-1 visa surname would have no choice but to use the exact English surname spelling in the Russian International Passport you report to them in the DS-260 application months from now.

 

So because your fiancee "insists" "Kseniya" as the correct English transliteration (and I totally agree with her),  you can easily solve this now by having her get a new Russian International Passport containing with "Ксения" and "Kseniya" as the Cyrillic and English surnames ... and use that Passport for the DS-260 application to be filled out maybe 3 to 6 months from now.  

 

The solution (new Passport) is so EASY to do and the payoff of your future wife's happiness with her heritage intact as "she insists" is PRICELESS.

[Juniser 5]

1 hour ago, nekotakacho said:

I am still under the impression that I do not need to go to the US Embassy in Moscow with her for this interview? I see where many people do travel there to attend the interview, but I think it is un-necessary in our situation. She is quite capable and is very clever.

 

Thank you for your help. I'm sure I'll have some more questions soon, once I can wrap my head around all of this.

I have a lot of knowledge of failure and success and "perpetual administrative processing" with the US Embassy Moscow visa process over the last 3 years, both personally learned and counseled by several Russian immigration attorneys regarding the specifics of my cases.

 

From your messages it appears that you and you fiancee have visited together several times ... so that is very important. Keep logging your communications because they could be asked for review.  To summarize what I learned ... you can easily make a huge impression in more ways than you might think by attending the K-1 visa interview in Moscow with your fiancee.

 

For the situation of Russia and with what I have learned ... if you asked me if you should attend any immigrant (and K) visa interview as the Petitioner and look the American Consul Officer in the eye as an American yourself and answer the questions asked ... it is 100% yes ... go to Moscow. 

[Juniser 5]

On 5/16/2018 at 5:15 PM, nekotakacho said:

For example, she insists I spell her name "Kseniya" but on her passport it is "Kseniia" and she gets really angry if I use her passport's spelling  

 

I wrote to you in detail about getting her a new Russian International Passport now (using "Kseniya") for her heritage because you have shown with your writing quoted above that deep down this is an important issue for her.

 

Russians are known for their endurance of suffering and mostly being quiet about it (hence this is the Russian smile  ).   Please have her get a new Russian International Passport using "Kseniya" to solve her suffering as she becomes an American