Spelling Error on Visa?

[GarrettB 8]

My fiance got her visa today, finally (Pony Express is sloow and very poorly run), but her patryonimic is spelled "Sergeyevna"  In all the other documents, the medical paperwork, and so on, it is spelled, Sergeevna, the correct way.  Is this an error or just crazy US Department of state translitteration rules?   As an aside, can she change her name once she enters the US? On the Russian passport and on the visa it's spelled Anastasiia even though that is not the name she uses.  (Anastasia)

[millefleur 5,046]

1 hour ago, GarrettB said:

My fiance got her visa today, finally (Pony Express is sloow and very poorly run), but her patryonimic is spelled "Sergeyevna"  In all the other documents, the medical paperwork, and so on, it is spelled, Sergeevna, the correct way.  Is this an error or just crazy US Department of state translitteration rules?   As an aside, can she change her name once she enters the US? On the Russian passport and on the visa it's spelled Anastasiia even though that is not the name she uses.  (Anastasia)

It has to say what is written in the passport. 

 

See discussion about name change here:

 

The double "ii" thing is the official spelling now according to the Russia government. She's basically stuck with it since that's what is in her passport.

[payxibka 10,045]

1 hour ago, GarrettB said:

My fiance got her visa today, finally (Pony Express is sloow and very poorly run), but her patryonimic is spelled "Sergeyevna"  In all the other documents, the medical paperwork, and so on, it is spelled, Sergeevna, the correct way.  Is this an error or just crazy US Department of state translitteration rules?   As an aside, can she change her name once she enters the US? On the Russian passport and on the visa it's spelled Anastasiia even though that is not the name she uses.  (Anastasia)

If you get married in Minnesota you will have no problems changing or correcting the spelling of names as Minnesota allows all three names to be changed upon marriage.   However,  not every state allows this.

[millefleur 5,046]

35 minutes ago, payxibka said:

If you get married in Minnesota you will have no problems changing or correcting the spelling of names as Minnesota allows all three names to be changed upon marriage.   However,  not every state allows this.

The other issue is the Russian government has this current double "ii" transliteration rule that cannot be overturned unless you can show them proof of identity from another government with a different spelling, so basically they wouldn't be able to change the spelling in the Russian passport without first getting a GC (or maybe the EAD card would work? or even a driver's license) with the new spelling. 

 

So a marriage certificate or court ordered name change won't be enough, they'll need the photo ID + new spelling for the Russian government to issue a new passport with the new spelling.

[payxibka 10,045]

1 minute ago, millefleur said:

The other issue is the Russian government has this current double "ii" transliteration rule that cannot be overturned unless you can show them proof of identity from another government with a different spelling, so basically they wouldn't be able to change the spelling in the Russian passport without first getting a GC (or maybe the EAD card would work? or even a driver's license) with the new spelling. 

 

So a marriage certificate or court ordered name change won't be enough, they'll need the photo ID + new spelling for the Russian government to issue a new passport with the new spelling.

My ex never updated her passport to reflect any change 

[millefleur 5,046]

1 minute ago, payxibka said:

My ex never updated her passport to reflect any change 

I wouldn't recommend that. I mean, to each their own, I just don't think it's a good idea. My spouse is waiting until naturalization to change the name spelling, and then we'll get the Russian passport updated as well because a lot of people really hate the double "ii" thing and want it totally gone from all documents. 

 

If the goal is to get the Russian passport updated, the above steps apply. If the OP wants the name to be changed on the visa (which is dictated by the passport), they are stuck with this spelling for now. Court order name changes cost money and can take a while, then all other documents will have to be changed to reflect the new spelling. So, even if they didn't care about changing the Russian passport, the double "ii" thing on the visa will technically be the official name spelling until it gets changed otherwise. 

[payxibka 10,045]

Just now, millefleur said:

I wouldn't recommend that. I mean, to each their own, I just don't think it's a good idea. My spouse is waiting until naturalization to change the name spelling, and then we'll get the Russian passport updated as well because a lot of people really hate the double "ii" thing and want it totally gone from all documents. 

 

If the goal is to get the Russian passport updated, the above steps apply. If the OP wants the name to be changed on the visa (which is dictated by the passport), they are stuck with this spelling for now. Court order name changes cost money and can take a while, then all other documents will have to be changed to reflect the new spelling. So, even if they didn't care about changing the Russian passport, the double "ii" thing on the visa will technically be the official name spelling until it gets changed otherwise. 

She has been here 12 years without issue. 

Her green card, dl, everything in the USA are in her changed name.   She simply travels internationally in her passport name.   

[millefleur 5,046]

2 minutes ago, payxibka said:

She has been here 12 years without issue. 

Her green card, dl, everything in the USA are in her changed name.   She simply travels internationally in her passport name.   

Was this in Minnesota though? Because if it's another state, the name change is going to be more complex if they don't allow a first name change at marriage. And it appears the OP is not in Minnesota.

Edited September 24, 2019 by millefleur

[payxibka 10,045]

Just now, millefleur said:

Was this in Minnesota though? Because if it's another state, the name change is going to be more complex if they don't allow a first name change. And it appears the OP is not in Minnesota.

Doesn't mean they can't get married in Minnesota or another state that allows this.  Again,  it was simply a suggestion that this situation is not insurmountable with a little creativity 

[millefleur 5,046]

57 minutes ago, payxibka said:

Doesn't mean they can't get married in Minnesota or another state that allows this.  Again,  it was simply a suggestion that this situation is not insurmountable with a little creativity 

How does your ex book international flights then? If her passport still has the old spelling, then she would have to use that spelling for flight tickets. 

[payxibka 10,045]

Just now, millefleur said:

How does your ex book international flights then? If her passport still has the old spelling, then she would have to use that spelling for flight tickets. 

Exactly 

[Shiran 1,134]

I still strongly feel that patronymic should not ever make an appearance on any international document unless it is adapted into a proper middle name without "-ich" or "-evna"  etc suffixes. 

[millefleur 5,046]

54 minutes ago, Shiran said:

I still strongly feel that patronymic should not ever make an appearance on any international document unless it is adapted into a proper middle name without "-ich" or "-evna"  etc suffixes. 

US government doesn't care about the patronymic name since it doesn't appear on the foreign passport (at least it doesn't on Russian passports). 

[GarrettB 8]

I checked with both the Moscow embassy and US Custom and Border control and they said that it is okay, Sergeyevna is how they translitterate it for visas.  Very strange.    My question on the name change was in the USA, not on her Russian passport, don't care about that.  Is it changed via court order after she gets her green card?  Each state is different it seems.  

[millefleur 5,046]

8 minutes ago, GarrettB said:

I checked with both the Moscow embassy and US Custom and Border control and they said that it is okay, Sergeyevna is how they translitterate it for visas.  Very strange.    My question on the name change was in the USA, not on her Russian passport, don't care about that.  Is it changed via court order after she gets her green card?  Each state is different it seems.  

It won't change with the green card. The green card will have whatever is listed in the passport as this is the primary ID source for foreigners. 

 

There are 2 options to get the first name changed: either court order or wait until citizenship/naturalisation. At naturalisation, they offer a direct name change option for cases like this.

 

Apparently the state of Minnesota allows first name changes at marriage but that's pretty rare from what I can tell. Most states will require a court order to get the first name changed. I don't know of any other states that do that, but check with your local laws/rules. 

 

So, the court order is what will get the green card changed (unless like Minnesota your state allows first name changes at marriage).