Travel Problems

[Brad and Vika 129]

As I read through this thread, it seems to skate around an issue we are talking about right now. Vika says that changing her Ukrainian passport could cause all kinds of problems with inheritance, etc. in Ukraine. If there is a stamp that goes in her passport instead that would seem to get around all the concerns about keeping her maiden name for those purposes. Does Ukraine simply stamp the married name into the passport too?

That strikes me as odd, that inheritance would be based on one's name, rather than WHO ONE IS, and what someone's will says.

Apparently the problem is not with inheritance itself, but verifying identity. Seems pretty odd to me too. I also understand that changing your passport in Ukraine is a major hassle. A stamp would settle things nicely.

[Neonred 3,452]

As I read through this thread, it seems to skate around an issue we are talking about right now. Vika says that changing her Ukrainian passport could cause all kinds of problems with inheritance, etc. in Ukraine. If there is a stamp that goes in her passport instead that would seem to get around all the concerns about keeping her maiden name for those purposes. Does Ukraine simply stamp the married name into the passport too?

That strikes me as odd, that inheritance would be based on one's name, rather than WHO ONE IS, and what someone's will says.

Apparently the problem is not with inheritance itself, but verifying identity. Seems pretty odd to me too. I also understand that changing your passport in Ukraine is a major hassle. A stamp would settle things nicely.

We don't have any issues with inheritance, but found the same hassle with trying to change the name in her passports and the marriage certificate The stamp has solved the problems. The Russian embassy allowed us to mail in the passport and renew and add the stamp last year. Not sure about Ukraine, but you might check the website for the Ukraine embassy in the US. Hope this works for you.

[obender 0]

finally! a topic which interests us, people that passed all the stages of USCIS burocracy and ascended to spouse citizenships... ha ha

anyways, important question in AKdiver story is if there was a stamp with the name change is the russian passport. without that stamp (which is still surprisingly made free of charge in russian consulates, i'm sure they'll come to their senses soon) airline indeed could deny her entry.

that stamp actually connects two passports.

now to change the passport with maiden name is entirely different and more sad stroy. first you have to change the name in internal russian passport (in russia only of course). then get new international passport there with the new name. very unpleasant procedure i believe...

we did a lot of travel with that name change stamp in russian passport, it worked so far... i wonder for how long it'll be...

also in VA they put both new and maiden names on the marriage certificate... we're lucky that way here

obender

[Brother Hesekiel 2,235]

I got my first and my last name on November 30, 1957. My wife got here first and her last name on July 11, 1962. Her daughter got her first name and her last name on December 18, 1989. All of us three have different names, the ones we got when we were born, and we kept them.

If you keep your name, whether you get married, move to Timbuktu, or join a religious sect, you'll never encounter problems the OP's wife encountered, as the name on your birth certificate, your high school diploma, your Russian passport, your GC, and your US Passport all match. Isn't that cool?

[slim 1,514]

If you keep your name, whether you get married, move to Timbuktu, or join a religious sect, you'll never encounter problems the OP's wife encountered, as the name on your birth certificate, your high school diploma, your Russian passport, your GC, and your US Passport all match. Isn't that cool?

It's cool until someone denies you the right to travel together as a family unit because none of your names match. Maybe not a problem right now, but when SHTF, having the same name on legal documents may enable you to remain cohesive. Having matching ammo should help too....

[akdiver 3]

now to change the passport with maiden name is entirely different and more sad stroy. first you have to change the name in internal russian passport (in russia only of course). then get new international passport there with the new name. very unpleasant procedure i believe...

Completely untrue - I know from first hand experience. Read the link on this subject I posted earlier in this thread.

[Neonred 3,452]

now to change the passport with maiden name is entirely different and more sad stroy. first you have to change the name in internal russian passport (in russia only of course). then get new international passport there with the new name. very unpleasant procedure i believe...

Completely untrue - I know from first hand experience. Read the link on this subject I posted earlier in this thread.

You just got lucky. For most of us it just won't work that way.

[akdiver 3]

now to change the passport with maiden name is entirely different and more sad stroy. first you have to change the name in internal russian passport (in russia only of course). then get new international passport there with the new name. very unpleasant procedure i believe...

Completely untrue - I know from first hand experience. Read the link on this subject I posted earlier in this thread.

You just got lucky. For most of us it just won't work that way.

I don't see why not. I didn't bribe them or anything.

[obender 0]

Alright, AKdiver I forgot another way that no russian who is not under pressure would ever take. Changing russian "propiska" to registration abroad as your wife did (in the thread posted) cuts all the ties to Russia and renders internal russian passport irrelevant.

Since that person has no ties to russia except with consulate, embassy etc. only those institutions could change the name in international passport. There is no question about it.

What I wrote is correct, I just made an assumption that person is still registered in russia. Most people if not pressed keep their russian registration "propiska" to be able to deal with various aspects of life there: inheritance, real estate etc.

obender

[Oksana81 0]

Alright, AKdiver I forgot another way that no russian who is not under pressure would ever take. Changing russian "propiska" to registration abroad as your wife did (in the thread posted) cuts all the ties to Russia and renders internal russian passport irrelevant.

Since that person has no ties to russia except with consulate, embassy etc. only those institutions could change the name in international passport. There is no question about it.

What I wrote is correct, I just made an assumption that person is still registered in russia. Most people if not pressed keep their russian registration "propiska" to be able to deal with various aspects of life there: inheritance, real estate etc.

obender

Ostap Bender is correct.

[akdiver 3]

Alright, AKdiver I forgot another way that no russian who is not under pressure would ever take.

Hey, there was no pressure applied here. My wife was moving out of town - saw no need to keep a registration there - and unregistered there. Pretty simple logic - nothing to do with any kind of "pressure". Edited October 8, 2009 by akdiver

[obender 0]

right, "no pressure" post was to be expected...

by pressure i meant necessity to conduct certain types of transactions in the russian locality that one's leaving such as (but not limited to) care of remaining relatives, inheritance process, and major of them all - real estate dealings... if one has nothing of that - no pressure but not too many individuals leave absolutely nothing after living more than quarter of a century in a home country.

o bender

[akdiver 3]

right, "no pressure" post was to be expected...

by pressure i meant necessity to conduct certain types of transactions in the russian locality that one's leaving such as (but not limited to) care of remaining relatives, inheritance process, and major of them all - real estate dealings... if one has nothing of that - no pressure but not too many individuals leave absolutely nothing after living more than quarter of a century in a home country.

o bender

I see. Well, it's not as if my wife "left nothing". She had a successful travel agency, which she essentially gave away. She had a rather nice flat in a new high-rise, which she sold. She also has plenty of relatives - parents, brother, nephews, cousins, etc. etc. I guess she wasn't too hung up on inheriting real estate or other goodies. If I had to guess, knowing her, she's probably content to just let her brother have all of her parents' property when they pass on. Up to her I guess. Edited October 8, 2009 by akdiver

[obender 0]

sounds cool and easy going.