Ok so I applied for AP for Natasha, but she took my last name, so how the heck can she travel to Russia???
Her internal and external Russian passports show her maiden name, you can't get consulate to stamp without green card for her new last name!!! AP will show new last name, I just don't understand what name we would buy tickets in and how she can get in and out of Russia and then enter US. And when she has green card how can we get the stamp from consulate? Do we have to go there or can we fed ex everything? This is just a damn mess.

For everything I've needed to deal with for the name change, I've carried a certified copy of my marriage certificate with me.

My passport is in my maiden name, driver's license in married, SSN in married, etc. All happily tied together with the certificate.

As for booking the flights, call the airline and explain. Chances are they will have been through this before.

BTW, congrats on your marriage.

Thanks ceriserose, we have been married just over two months now and its her birthday tomorrow, I am going to get her one of those salon packages with the works : ) She has been hinting at it a bit. She will be 21 !!!!!

My wife has everything in her maiden name now for exactly this reason. She will probably change her driver's license at some point (which is fine for everything in the US).

Once she has a US Passport, it is trivial to change your name there.

Don't worry Most of the time, you will be fine anyway (as long as you are travelling together).

I loooove these insane titles!

Airline tickets MUST match the passport.
Marriage certificate+old name evidence (passport) = new name evidence (EAD, Green Card, AP etc).

When travelling, many women book the tix in their maiden name and carry the marriage certificate as evidence of the different name. One may even legally use two different names.


Happy 21st birthday, Nat!

Meauxna and Ceriserose,
The only reason people are concerned about this issue on the Russian forum is because a fellow VJ member dealing with Russia had the following unexpected experience:
http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=14934.
Because Russian authorities have exit border patrol they can enforce arbitrary and capricious judgment in terms of how to control their own citizens. Thus as in the story above, the certified marriage certificate is as a good as toilet paper to "some" Russian authorities.
But in my opinion you should have no trouble using your AP, airline tickets in maiden name with certified marriage certificate. If you want to go all out you can even get the thing translated, appostiled and certified by the Russian consulate, thus making it a legal document in Russia.
However, a better question to ask is, why the rush to return to Russia? My wife didn't go back for 1.5 years and she won't be going back anytime soon either. There are so many wonder and truly relaxing places to go on vacation to. Why Russia? Sorry to rant...just another unhappy ex-pat speaking here.

Thanks for the context, Satellite. I knew about the exit controls, but haven't heard of problems with these documents before.

Wow, the hassles in that other thread!

I suspected that part of the reason for the question was as a result of something specific to Russia I didn't know. I also figured that my 'pat' answer may not suffice for that part, but that it would at least help in the US for other things. I've seen the married/maiden name thing come up a few times.

I'll be checking out your link now. Thanks for making sure it was covered fully.

Happy 21st Birthday Nat! I hope you enjoy the spa package!

As I have said many times before - it bewilders and astounds me that anyone would change his or her name simply due to getting married. It has no practical advantages while causing a lot of headaches.

As for why get an AP...well, there are places to go BESIDES Russia. If you go to a sensible country, they will be more than happy to understand that AP + Marriage Certificate + Passport are good enough to travel - even with a changed name.

Good luck!

Cheers!
AKDiver

she's ready to go back already???

*only asking since tracy the instigator is on holiday! *

If the folks here on the Russia forum had to "struggle" through the visa process the way those from the UK/Canada do.... I don't know how we'd make it. I mean gosh, it must be hard to go three whole months without seeing your S/O. And all the "hassles" to travel back and forth, the six month visitor visas, man... it's gotta be hard. I feel sorry for those guys.

Is that my sarcasm radar going off again?!

I tell you all 1 thing, I'm seriously considering quiting my job and cashing out my 401(k) and moving off to Russia...too bad my retirement plan isn't exactly up to par with my age, if it was, I wouldn't be as hesitant!

For those who didn't know, the easiest way to immigrate to Russia (like the US and probably most of the world) is to marry a citizen...I want to know if they will accept a legal US wedding as I am thinking in 20-30 years when I retire I want us to move there. This is assuming she does not take US Citizenship (just remains an LPR) which is probably a bigger hassle!

I am assuming I live that long.



I thought I read somewhere within these pages that someone had an unofficial wedding in Russia, does anyone recall reading that? I am planning on returning to the Far East in Feb (hoping that Olga has the visa then) and having (or attempting to have) an unofficial ceremony for her parents, then fly back together!


/hijack on

Also we plan on visiting St Pete's and Moscow eventually (sometime after she receives travel authorization),

Natasha is not planning on going back until February, and personally I don't see why anyone would consider this out of the ordinary, she has elderly parents, a grandmother who is 85 and many very close friends, why wouldn't she want to go back and see them. Hell I wish I could go back to Russia for a few months and see the friends I have there. Well anyway I guess we just do what we have to when the time comes.

I guess I'll just keep my Canadian 2 cents to myself then huh? I didn't realize that offering help to other forums was verboten because I come from an "easier" country (since it took me a year to get my visa and it's been a year since I've been here and still no green card to cross the border I feel like it's really easy for me! Especially when I have relatives who are older and ill.) But then again, like the people who chose a mate from a more "difficult" country I make my choices and live with the way things happen.

I'm not taking back the good wishes to Nick and Nat though. For whatever they're worth.

I don't think that comment was aimed at you in particular. I don't think anyone really 'choses' a mate from a diffucult country. I doubt anyone would intentionally make themselves go through the issues associated with Russian travel and bearuocricy.

Anyway... Good luck Nick' n 'Nat !!!!!

Hey guys... didn't mean to ruffle any feathers on our friends from "north of the border" and "across the pond." Just expressing my displeasure with what seems to be a disparity in the amount of BS necessary for the Russia visa process compared to the relative ease with which folks from those two countries (Canada/UK) in particular seem to get visas.

Sure everyone has their own problems with USCIS and the whole VisaJourney, and I wish good luck to all... I was just venting some frustration about the large number of "it's so hard.... I haven't seen my fiance in 4 months..." posts that seem to come from the Canada/UK posters. (And once again, not singling anyone out... but there's a reason Russia has a special thread.)

But please, anyone with good advice, keep it coming!!! I'll try my best to help out anyone in need and I'm very lucky I found VJ and for all the people on here who've helpped me out. (Canada/UK included!) Sorry if it sounded like I was blasting on anyone in particular, I just find it hard to feel empathy for those who are going through the visa process from these two countries. (I do feel empathetic to those who are waiting such a long time for their cases to go through... sorry for that ceriserose, hopefully soon you'll get your greencard.)

GOOD LUCK TO ALL ON THE VJ!!!!

I appreciate you clarifying it. I share the frustration in watching people who have an expectation of instant gratification during this process, and I do agree that folks from Canada/UK and others similar to those seem to complain when it's much faster. Reminds me of my loooong wait through NSC watching those from VSC. I didn't think there was any of that type of dynamic going on in this thread, however, so as one of only three people posting on this thread, the only one from Canada and the only immigrant, I'm sure you can piece together how it may have felt a little...directed?

As well, since I've been to several of the non-Canada regional forums lately and received a less than happy response at nothing but my good wishes and/or attempt to help, I will admit to having my back up a little from the get-go.

In good news, I got my letter on Saturday...I should have my greencard in my hands in 2-3 weeks.

Thanks for your post.

And when you think *you* have it the worst, be happy that your SO isn't from China (year long wait common), a spouse from Mexico (one year for an interview) or worst of all, the Dominican Republic (20 months for interview once the case gets to the Consulate). It's all based on the history of past behavior of the residents of the given country.

There's always *someone* worse off than we are.

Awesome news ceriserose!!! And by all means, feel free to keep on posting here in the Russia forum!

Russia is special, and often times there are several posts in the K-1 or K-3 forums where newbies ask a specific question about something, and many people give great advice on how to tackle the issue, but then, come to find out.... Russia does it a little differently. Please read through some of the other threads here on this forum... you may be surprised!!! (We've got the little joke here about "It's Russia." Sometimes things get messed up and make no sense, and the only response that we can get is: "It's Russia.") So, that's why I try to direct the newbies and others to the Russia forum and (sarcasm here) I'm not biased at all!


(You're right meauxna, there always is someone worse off than us! I like to count my blessings, but I also post the occasional "oh shut up already!" too.... guess I'll post one to myself!)

Another key advantage for our Visa Waiver Program countries is that when you are still in the "dating" part of the whole visajourney you can actually come and go as you please. Not to mention you guys actually have jobs with incomes closer to if not higher than what Americans make. Sure makes life a lot easier while you are apart or planning visits. While our mostly "poor" Russian ladies have to decide to marry us without even seeing America. For us that was the biggest barrier to overcome. I can handle the wait apart, but the fact that only I could realistically visit still drives me nuts.
See for example:
http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=21098
But there are plenty of other threads with similar problems in getting a tourist visa.

I feel ya there Satellite, my biggest concerns are not ONLY the culture shock of coming to America but the climate shock! Tucson is FAR different from the Russian Far Eat. There was snow on the ground during my trip, the last time Tucson saw snow was something like 1993!

About the income, that also is VERY true, Olga makes 1200 Rubles a MONTH! 1 ruble = about $0.04, how many of the UK/Canadian fiance(e) only make about $50/month? My understanding is outside of Moscow or Pete's, this is about the average income, in Moscow or Pete's it is closer to $300/MONTH! "It's Russia!"

I understand Slim's feelings, I make pretty good money, ESPECIALLY for Tucson but the cost of the trip I took in March was about $3000 (not including spending cash), I still could not afford to do that more then twice a year and the visa means I have to plan well in advance!

Yet, while browsing these forums you can read of people with thoughts such as "We've been apart x weeks and I miss them soo much, I think I will go visit this weekend". I wish I could go for a weekend but if you read my travel plans below, my weekend would be over before I arrived there!

That's it, I just need to win the lottery then all MY troubles would be over...at least were my loved one is concerned!

Can she use her maiden name on airline tickets and Russian passport to travel. then show her marriage license etc to get thru INS???

The potential issue is the name on the Permanent Resident Card. Both the airline and Passport Control may want it to match the passport.

While it is possible to change the name in the passport, it is neither easy or quick. There is a good chace that a bribe may solve these problems.