Travel to Russia with two passports and...two names

[double_kosmos 0]

Hello everyone:

I read the thread on traveling to Russia with Russian/US passport and have a question which wasn't raised there.

When I became a US citizen, I changed my last name. And I mean, I really changed it -- something like going from Ivanov to Smith.

How can I now travel back to Russia? Do I purchase two one-way tickets for two different names? If yes, what direction (do I fly into Russia as Ivanov and leave as Smith)? I can't remember if I need to show boarding pass or ticket when entering Russia, which could maybe solve my problem. Anyway, just wanted to see if anyone else had to deal with this.

I haven't been to the Russian consulate in the US yet to ask this question, because quite frankly, I dread having to explain to them why I dropped my "russianness".

Thanks in advance to all responders.

[blk 87]

As you have now got USC & a US passport then travel only on your US passport it will save you a lot of problems.

[Brian&Larissa 73]

blk....the reason Russians travel on two-passports is to save money and paperwork. They won't need a visa, as traveling on a US Passport, for entry, requires a tourist visa to Russia.

Since both names are different in each passport, buying two one-way tickets is an option, albeit a more expensive option. One-way fares are more expensive than a round-trip fare, for the most part. Usually considerably more expensive. You need to make a decision and choose a passport, OR go to the consulate/embassy to have your Russian passport updated.

[double_kosmos 0]

As you have now got USC & a US passport then travel only on your US passport it will save you a lot of problems.

I wish it were that simple...

My US passport says that I was born in Russia, which means I am a Russian citizen and by law have to enter the country with Russian passport (not to sound too wordy, but Russians cannot apply for a Russian visa even if they have a US passport unless they revoke their Russian citizenship, which I do not want to do).

I bit the bullet and contacted the consulate to see what their advice would be. It seems that there is an option of adding an "also knows as + Last Name" in the "zagranpasport".

[blk 87]

Well I have learned something new today lol.

[Brian&Larissa 73]

me, too!

Interesting though...I have traveled with other Russians, used US Passports, and they had visas just like mine.

[vbtwo 54]

If you fly with Aeroflot, they do not charge anything extra for one-way tickets. They cost exactly the same as one leg of a two-way ticket. When you purchase on their site, they even show two-way fares as separate prices for each leg going there and back, and you can confirm that a one-way fare will be exactly the same.

[double_kosmos 0]

me, too!

Interesting though...I have traveled with other Russians, used US Passports, and they had visas just like mine.

Did you travel with them to Russia?

[eekee 182]

Did you change because of marriage, or just changed it? I think if you changed because of marriage, you can bring your marriage certificate.

[TheFoxxy 76]

Probably best if you just go have your Russian passport updated to your current name.

Most airlines will change the name on the ticket if you ask them to, only for yourself though. Call the airline you are buying tickets from before purchase and ask them if they will change the 2nd ticket to your married name.

Good luck

[Neonred 3,562]

I wish it were that simple...

My US passport says that I was born in Russia, which means I am a Russian citizen and by law have to enter the country with Russian passport (not to sound too wordy, but Russians cannot apply for a Russian visa even if they have a US passport unless they revoke their Russian citizenship, which I do not want to do).

I bit the bullet and contacted the consulate to see what their advice would be. It seems that there is an option of adding an "also knows as + Last Name" in the "zagranpasport".

Assuming you changed your name through marriage, it really is not so complicated. You could book the ticket in either name, but I would use your Russian name. It's not the governments that care, but the airlines. They will not let you on the plane if they are not convinced you can legally enter ar your destination, and the airline employees in the US are not always up to speed and may be looking for a visa in your US passport. With your Russian passport they will know you are good to go.

In Russia when you return you can show your marriage certificate and your US passport and there will be no question about your entering the US. We did this, and then got the "also known as" in her passport, but then the Russian embassy stopped adding that notation. I understand some of the consulates do it, and if you are lucky to live in their region that would be a very good idea.

Bring the marriage certificate and both passports and you will not have a problem.

[double_kosmos 0]

Assuming you changed your name through marriage, it really is not so complicated. You could book the ticket in either name, but I would use your Russian name. It's not the governments that care, but the airlines. They will not let you on the plane if they are not convinced you can legally enter ar your destination, and the airline employees in the US are not always up to speed and may be looking for a visa in your US passport. With your Russian passport they will know you are good to go.

In Russia when you return you can show your marriage certificate and your US passport and there will be no question about your entering the US. We did this, and then got the "also known as" in her passport, but then the Russian embassy stopped adding that notation. I understand some of the consulates do it, and if you are lucky to live in their region that would be a very good idea.

Bring the marriage certificate and both passports and you will not have a problem.

I changed my name as part of naturalization, not marriage. I do have an official court order approving the name change.

I finally made it to the consulate. I was really hoping for the "also known as" addition to the passport, but was told that it's only done when the spelling of the name might differ in the documents due to phonetic interpretation, like Ivanov vs Ivanoff.

Notarius with whom I spoke said that I should have no problem entering or leaving the country with my documents (Russian and US passports); he said many russian women who change their name in US docs after marriage travel with marriage certificate to show they have the right to enter the US. He said I would need to get the name change certificate apostilled (first time I even heard about this) for it to be valid in Russia; but he did notarize the translation.

The reason I am so paranoid is because 10 years ago I travelled to russia with an expired GC. We were going trough removal of conditional status and I had a letter from the INS stating that I should be admitted to the US (you know how some of these letters look - a one pager with printed signature and no stamps) and that I am a legal resident. The airline employee gave me hell and said I had to business going to the US. I ended up having to go to US Embassy to get a "lost documents" certificate which was in a sealed envelope which only the passport officials could open. This letter is usually issued to USC and residents when they lose their docs while abroad. So when I got back to the airport, the same employee let me go past - with the very same "invalid" GC, INS letter and the certificate from the embassy which she did not have the authority to open.

So ever since then I am a bit paranoid and this being my first trip with US Passport, I just really want to have a peace of mind.