Obtain U.S. Passport on K1 Visa.

[Erroneous 0]

Can a greencard holder obtain a U.S. passport? Also, if they obtain a greencard but can not get a U.S. passport, how can they leave the U.S. and come back when their greencard and foreign passport names differ since she will have foreign passport with her previous unmarried name?

Thanks for the help.

[Rhiannercakes 14]

Only US citizens can obtain US passports.

Not sure about the 2nd question though.

[Krikit 1,163]

You have to be a US citizen to obtain a US passport. As long as any airline bookings are made using the passport name, having a greencard in the married name and a passport in the former name is perfectly fine. All kinds of us travel with those documents all the time. Never once have we had a problem. The trail is all in the magnetic strips.

[SunDrop 59]

If she's really worried about traveling with her maiden name GC and married name passport, carry a copy of your marriage certificate. But honestly, fear not. The USCIS know.... truly they do!

[Darnell 8,478]

greencard and foreign passport names

Wassup?

Does the VISA STAMP NAME (in the passport )

match

the PASSPORT NAME (on the bio page ? )

I'd be concerned about that, really.

and...

it's ok for the greencard not to match the passport - doesn't need to, to leave the country -

and the CBP people know all , when she's coming back IN to the USA.

Some people bring a real marriage certificate on the trip, just to be certain.

The only way a K-1 visa holder can get a US Passport is to graduate to being a USC.

Did yer lass make it across the pond ? Did you file for AOS yet? She'll be fine, with the GC.

Edited November 11, 2009 by Darnell

[SunDrop 59]

Can a greencard holder obtain a U.S. passport? Also, if they obtain a greencard but can not get a U.S. passport, how can they leave the U.S. and come back when their greencard and foreign passport names differ since she will have foreign passport with her previous unmarried name?

Thanks for the help.

Why not apply to the Japanese embassy for a new passport with her new name?

[pushbrk 12,182]

Can a greencard holder obtain a U.S. passport? Also, if they obtain a greencard but can not get a U.S. passport, how can they leave the U.S. and come back when their greencard and foreign passport names differ since she will have foreign passport with her previous unmarried name?

Thanks for the help.

Why not apply to the Japanese embassy for a new passport with her new name?

You would eventually want to do this anyway but separate names on the documents presents only one complication to international travel I can think of.

If Mr. and Mrs Jones wish to travel together internationally, they must buy tickets in the names that match their passports. So, it won't be John and Susie Jones on the tickets. Instead it will be John Jones and Susie Kawasaki. When Mrs Jones re-enters the US, she'll show her passport and her green card. When she leaves, she only shows the passport. You do away with this complication by changing the name in the passport or as some countries will do, endorse the existing passport to indicate the new married name.

[redglasses 1]

I am assuming your fiance will keep her maiden name in Japan, but will officially use your surname in the US?

If so, she should go to a local Japanese embassy in the US to put your surname in parenthesis on her passport.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Can a greencard holder obtain a U.S. passport? Also, if they obtain a greencard but can not get a U.S. passport, how can they leave the U.S. and come back when their greencard and foreign passport names differ since she will have foreign passport with her previous unmarried name?

Thanks for the help.

A greencard holder who arrived on a K1 can become a citizen in three years and then get a US passport.

The green card allows them to re-enter the US with a foreign passport. If the names are different (your option, Alla never changed her name) you can either...

1. Carry a copy of your marriage certificate in addition to passport and green card

2. After you are married she can change her name in her passport when visiting her country or through her country's consulate system in the US (that is up to her country)