I'm sure this has been discussed before but let me ask again anyway. My wife got new Russian passports (both Russian and international) to have her married name shown. The translation to English is not accurate and the local passport authorities don't care so long as the name is correct in Russian. The Russian passport office's English translation software stinks and often makes errors.
My wife contacted the US Embassy about this and they said it happens all the time and will not be a problem for her visa. I also emailed the embassy and got the same reply.
Here's the ultimate problem: When my wife arrives in the US and starts to apply for an SSN and driver's license, etc. her name will not be correct and she will be stuck using a bogus name.
I have heard you can apply to the Moscow passport office and request a correction but this will take too much time and in fact a copy of her passport is already in the hands of the NVC so now is not the time to mess with changes.
So...how can we fix this problem in the USA? Maybe working through the Russian Embassy in DC? Any advice will be appreciated.
Full Version: Inaccurate passport name translation
QUOTE(seanconneryii @ Apr 10 2008, 01:25 PM) 
I'm sure this has been discussed before but let me ask again anyway. My wife got new Russian passports (both Russian and international) to have her married name shown. The translation to English is not accurate and the local passport authorities don't care so long as the name is correct in Russian. The Russian passport office's English translation software stinks and often makes errors.
My wife contacted the US Embassy about this and they said it happens all the time and will not be a problem for her visa. I also emailed the embassy and got the same reply.
Here's the ultimate problem: When my wife arrives in the US and starts to apply for an SSN and driver's license, etc. her name will not be correct and she will be stuck using a bogus name.
I have heard you can apply to the Moscow passport office and request a correction but this will take too much time and in fact a copy of her passport is already in the hands of the NVC so now is not the time to mess with changes.
So...how can we fix this problem in the USA? Maybe working through the Russian Embassy in DC? Any advice will be appreciated.
My wife contacted the US Embassy about this and they said it happens all the time and will not be a problem for her visa. I also emailed the embassy and got the same reply.
Here's the ultimate problem: When my wife arrives in the US and starts to apply for an SSN and driver's license, etc. her name will not be correct and she will be stuck using a bogus name.
I have heard you can apply to the Moscow passport office and request a correction but this will take too much time and in fact a copy of her passport is already in the hands of the NVC so now is not the time to mess with changes.
So...how can we fix this problem in the USA? Maybe working through the Russian Embassy in DC? Any advice will be appreciated.
We used the marriage license and my wife spelled her correct name for them. In addition, it will be important that the the document (fiancee visa docs) she travels on have the correct spelling. I would suggest if she drives, a driver's license first then SSN, but order doesn't matter, be prepared for a long wait at SS if your experience is anything like ours.
QUOTE(jsouthwick @ Apr 10 2008, 03:30 PM)
QUOTE(seanconneryii @ Apr 10 2008, 01:25 PM)
I'm sure this has been discussed before but let me ask again anyway. My wife got new Russian passports (both Russian and international) to have her married name shown. The translation to English is not accurate and the local passport authorities don't care so long as the name is correct in Russian. The Russian passport office's English translation software stinks and often makes errors.
My wife contacted the US Embassy about this and they said it happens all the time and will not be a problem for her visa. I also emailed the embassy and got the same reply.
Here's the ultimate problem: When my wife arrives in the US and starts to apply for an SSN and driver's license, etc. her name will not be correct and she will be stuck using a bogus name.
I have heard you can apply to the Moscow passport office and request a correction but this will take too much time and in fact a copy of her passport is already in the hands of the NVC so now is not the time to mess with changes.
So...how can we fix this problem in the USA? Maybe working through the Russian Embassy in DC? Any advice will be appreciated.
My wife contacted the US Embassy about this and they said it happens all the time and will not be a problem for her visa. I also emailed the embassy and got the same reply.
Here's the ultimate problem: When my wife arrives in the US and starts to apply for an SSN and driver's license, etc. her name will not be correct and she will be stuck using a bogus name.
I have heard you can apply to the Moscow passport office and request a correction but this will take too much time and in fact a copy of her passport is already in the hands of the NVC so now is not the time to mess with changes.
So...how can we fix this problem in the USA? Maybe working through the Russian Embassy in DC? Any advice will be appreciated.
We used the marriage license and my wife spelled her correct name for them. In addition, it will be important that the the document (fiancee visa docs) she travels on have the correct spelling. I would suggest if she drives, a driver's license first then SSN, but order doesn't matter, be prepared for a long wait at SS if your experience is anything like ours.
We got married in Russia so the marriage docs are in Russian as well. And she'll be coming to the USA on a CR-1 visa, not K-1. She can get an SSN fast as a result.
QUOTE(seanconneryii @ Apr 10 2008, 01:25 PM)
I'm sure this has been discussed before but let me ask again anyway. My wife got new Russian passports (both Russian and international) to have her married name shown. The translation to English is not accurate and the local passport authorities don't care so long as the name is correct in Russian. The Russian passport office's English translation software stinks and often makes errors.
My wife contacted the US Embassy about this and they said it happens all the time and will not be a problem for her visa. I also emailed the embassy and got the same reply.
Here's the ultimate problem: When my wife arrives in the US and starts to apply for an SSN and driver's license, etc. her name will not be correct and she will be stuck using a bogus name.
I have heard you can apply to the Moscow passport office and request a correction but this will take too much time and in fact a copy of her passport is already in the hands of the NVC so now is not the time to mess with changes.
So...how can we fix this problem in the USA? Maybe working through the Russian Embassy in DC? Any advice will be appreciated.
My wife contacted the US Embassy about this and they said it happens all the time and will not be a problem for her visa. I also emailed the embassy and got the same reply.
Here's the ultimate problem: When my wife arrives in the US and starts to apply for an SSN and driver's license, etc. her name will not be correct and she will be stuck using a bogus name.
I have heard you can apply to the Moscow passport office and request a correction but this will take too much time and in fact a copy of her passport is already in the hands of the NVC so now is not the time to mess with changes.
So...how can we fix this problem in the USA? Maybe working through the Russian Embassy in DC? Any advice will be appreciated.
We applied for the SSN in the odd transliterated name... we corrected the spelling on the SS casrd after receipt of her greencard which we made sure was spelled exactly as we wanted it
QUOTE(jsouthwick @ Apr 10 2008, 03:30 PM)
I would suggest if she drives, a driver's license first then SSN, but order doesn't matter, be prepared for a long wait at SS if your experience is anything like ours.
Actually SSN is requisite for a DL, so the order does matter. Correct spelling on the visa application would solve the problem, with an additional paper explaining that the passport office screwed up the spelling. The Embassy and POE should have no problem accepting that.
QUOTE(Blues Fairy @ Apr 11 2008, 11:03 AM)
QUOTE(jsouthwick @ Apr 10 2008, 03:30 PM)
I would suggest if she drives, a driver's license first then SSN, but order doesn't matter, be prepared for a long wait at SS if your experience is anything like ours.
Actually SSN is requisite for a DL,
Maybe in NC but not in all states.
This is a "lo-fi" version of our main content. To view the full version with more information, formatting and images, please click here.