Here's the problem we faced: Irina took my name when we married and used it when applying for her Green Card. Now her marrierd name needs to be on her Russian passport to avoid confusion when she goes back to Russia (another VisaJourney spouse was prevented from returning to the US this summer because her passport name didn't match her Green Card name).

Since it's a new passport, we didn't want to go all the trouble of having a new one issued; so we took the simpler route of having a change made to her existing passport. Here's what she sent to the San Francisco Consulate:

Bank money order for $20
Letter stating that she is now married and is requesting that her married name be added to her passport. Her signature was witnessed and notarized by a bank officer.
Scanned copy of her Green Card
Scanned copy of the recorded copy of our Marriage License
Return UPS envelope, second day air, prepaid (the Consulate had requested $12, $15, or $20 additional, depending on how soon she wanted it back, but I thought this was simpler)

That's it! In less than three weeks, she got her passport back! On one page is printed, in English, "the holder of this passport also uses the name ----------------, followed the words "Russian Consulate General in San Francisco", an official-looking stamp, and a signature.

One tip: let your spouse make the phone calls. When I phoned the Consulate, all I heard was "I DON'T SPEAK ENGLISH" followed by a dial tone.

This is huge information... simpler that carrying around a copy of the marriage certificate trying to bridge the gap between the different names..

that's good to know !!! what's the phone #

I'm glad Russia's "customer service" standard also applies here in the U.S. when you call their embassy.

I wouldn't expect any less! (In all actuality, these folks probably speak more fluent English than I do but don't want to be "bothered" by helping people through their diplomatic issues.)

I did this over a year ago. Those who were around read about it in the old forums which are offline now. However, the real goal is to do what Ak pulled off.
http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=33463

Information for the five Russian Consulates in the US are at:

http://www.russianembassy.org/consulat/contact.htm

It depends based on the state you are located in.

By the way, the main website:

http://www.russianembassy.org/

has information on renewing the Russian passport... however its on the part of the website that's in the Russian language...

Go figure that maybe they figure if you want to renew a Russian passport you should be able to read instructions in Russian??

-- Dan

I figure that if you want to marry a Russian girl YOU should be able to read Russian.

Not to the point of translating it, but being able to see what is required documentation, and being able to cut-and-paste it to the free translation service on the Net, then make some sense of what that says.

It baffles me that there are still guys that are WAY deep in the visa process and say things like "I still don't know any Russian words or how to read the letters." Not pointing any fingers here, just saying in general, learn a little about her culture and language. You'll be glad you did, and so will she!!!

True. It's worth pointing out here that the OP did not actually change the name in the passport, but only added an alias. Still worth doing, but not quite the same thing. I think actually changing the name and ending up with a "legalized" marriage document adds some extra "weight" in situations where it may be needed.

Good luck to all!
AKDiver

I can, and do, read Russian a bit. If nothing else, I know how to work a (paper) dictionary and have several online and offline translation sources.

In fact one woman I was writing to recently, I asked for her letters to be sent to me in pa-Rooski, so I could translate them myself. And if I had any questions I would ask about my translation.

And I agree, at least make some attempt to learn SOMETHING... after all, these guys are expecting her to learn English...

-- Dan

AKDiver,

I sent you an E-mail to you a few days ago, asking a few questions about the process you went through. I am not able to look at my personal E-mail at work, so you may have already responded, but if not, I look forward to any information that me help me in doing the same thing.

Thanks, Devereux