New name on Russian passport

[David & Yulya 7]

So I was going to mail our K1 documents today, but last night my fiancee called me crying...she applied for renew her passport and they are changing the spelling of her name from Yuliya Yarovenko to Uliia Iarovenko. I have read that sometimes this is an issue. But I've also read that is it so common not to worry about it. My question is, should I send the K1 packet the way it is, or should I take the time to redo everything with her name as it is spelled in the passport. I don't really mind changing everything other than it will add another month to our wait as I'll need her to resign documents to send back to me. Anyone been through this before? Suggestions are highly welcomed! Thanks!

[SMR 368]

So I was going to mail our K1 documents today, but last night my fiancee called me crying...she applied for renew her passport and they are changing the spelling of her name from Yuliya Yarovenko to Uliia Iarovenko. I have read that sometimes this is an issue. But I've also read that is it so common not to worry about it. My question is, should I send the K1 packet the way it is, or should I take the time to redo everything with her name as it is spelled in the passport. I don't really mind changing everything other than it will add another month to our wait as I'll need her to resign documents to send back to me. Anyone been through this before? Suggestions are highly welcomed! Thanks!

I can't definitively answer your question. The spelling in and of itself shouldn't be an issue but the fact that she changed her passport during the process might. Isn't a photocopy of the passport attached to the application? Regardless of whether the name/spelling changed, I would think that if that was the case you would have to update the package with a photocopy of the new passport.

However, I have a couple questions for you. They're not meant to offend but only help you. Is your fiancee from Russia, Ukraine, or Belarus? How old is she? Which passport (internal or international) is she changing and why? And more broadly, how sure are you of the relationship and are you sending her any support funds?

While the transliteration issue may have come up innocently and inconveniently, it is quite suspect in my opinion. If your fiancee is scamming you, it's the perfect story to string the whole thing out another month while documents are sent back and forth.

I don't know details about countries other than Russia but the changing of passports is not an unexpected event. An internal passport must be updated at a certain age so that the picture matches better. The international passport has an expiration date (5 years in Russia). Did you know she was going to change her passport? This should have been an important detail and it shouldn't have come up unexpectedly.

[David & Yulya 7]

She's from Russia. She'll be 25 in a few months. She is renewing her international passport because it expires soon. Our relationship is sound, there are no issues there.

I guess I ask the question because we're not really in the process yet. I was just about to mail the K1 packet today. So if we need to change everything we still can. I just keep reading conflicting opinions on the subject.

And yes, I knew she was going to renew the passport, but we did not expect they would change the spelling of her name.

Edited November 28, 2011 by dave1313

[baron555 934]

So I was going to mail our K1 documents today, but last night my fiancee called me crying...she applied for renew her passport and they are changing the spelling of her name from Yuliya Yarovenko to Uliia Iarovenko. I have read that sometimes this is an issue. But I've also read that is it so common not to worry about it. My question is, should I send the K1 packet the way it is, or should I take the time to redo everything with her name as it is spelled in the passport. I don't really mind changing everything other than it will add another month to our wait as I'll need her to resign documents to send back to me. Anyone been through this before? Suggestions are highly welcomed! Thanks!

No just send her updated forms to take to the interview to give to the CO. Not an issue, happens all the time in RUB region.

[slim 1,514]

She can change her name to whatever she wants once she's here.

[SMR 368]

She's from Russia. She'll be 25 in a few months. She is renewing her international passport because it expires soon. Our relationship is sound, there are no issues there.

I guess I ask the question because we're not really in the process yet. I was just about to mail the K1 packet today. So if we need to change everything we still can. I just keep reading conflicting opinions on the subject.

And yes, I knew she was going to renew the passport, but we did not expect they would change the spelling of her name.

Good to hear. Your initial post sounded like she called in a panic with no warning. If it's expected, then no worries. Like I said, I don't think the spelling change by itself will cause a problem. The fact that she is changing passports makes it slightly more complicated but isn't insurmountable on its own.

[baron555 934]

Good to hear. Your initial post sounded like she called in a panic with no warning. If it's expected, then no worries. Like I said, I don't think the spelling change by itself will cause a problem. The fact that she is changing passports makes it slightly more complicated but isn't insurmountable on its own.

Many folks here will lay in later on that they've seen similar issues become non-issues; many entities spell the same name differently and I don't remember anyone having a problem with that.

[Reyan 56]

When I started the K1 petition, I sent it with fiancee (now wife) Russian name (Olga) instead of her Belarusian name (Volha). I was worried as well, because her passport had her Belarusian name instead. It was a non issue at the consulate stage, and they issued the visa based on the name on her passport. It was funny when we got her K1 visa, they ended up spelling my first name incorrectly as the petitioner.