Question related to advance parol and trip to Ukraine.

[tishajourney 0]

Hello, VJ members.

i need an advice on the following matter from Ukrainian members :

1. i got married in USA and changed my surname,

2. i received a combo card for employment and advance parol for travel with my married surname in it.

3. now i plan to go to Ukraine while my green card is still pending (i haven't received it yet).

4. as far as i know by Ukrainian law if you got married and changed your surname you must change your internal and international passports within ... can't remember.. i believe a month or 2 months.

So the question is:

When i go to Ukraine and then will be returning to USA, then on the customs control IN KIEV - will i have a problem to get on airplane?. My vision is as following :

1. custom officer checks your passport and availability of visa.

2. instead of visa i show my advance parol which contains my new married surname.

3. officer asks why i didn't change Ukrainian passports - both internal and international.

I believe if you pay extra in Ukraine, you can change both passports within a month, but it will cost like 400 usd. If you pay regular fee and wait it can take months.

Besides, then i would come back to USA with a new international passport, and it will not be the one with which the whole process was started.

I hope i managed to explain clearly.

I will greatly appreciate your advices on this matter.

P.S. and yes, it is important for me to go to Ukraine for family reason now.

[tetyanaandandrii 0]

Why can't you go to the Ukrainian Embassy and change your passport in USA? When are you planning to travel?

[tishajourney 0]

I am planning to go to Ukraine for a month for a family reason, But at the moment i am still in the process of ajustment of status from K1.

So, i need to travel in a couple of weeks from now, but i am not sure if i will not have problem with UKRAINIAN customs when i will be coming to USA again - because my international pasport has my maiden name, See? and advance parol card (which is instead of visa if i go to Ukraine and then back) has my married name. And Ukrainian customs may refuse to let me out before i change my international passport. Do they check actually visa availability on Ukrainian custioms when you go abroad?

[tetyanaandandrii 0]

To me it should not be a problem but, you know how they are in Ukraine. They will find anything to get money from you. Call the Ukrainian Embassy and ask them.

[spectec 12]

Get the tickets issued under your surname. I wouldn't worry about changing the passports unless they will expire soon. Take your marriage license with you to associate your surname and married name if needed.

Edited December 12, 2013 by spectec

[vbtwo 54]

From what I read a lot of people never bothered changing anything in their Ukrainian passports and never had any problems.

I don't think the customs/passport control even check your visa, it's the airline personnel at check-in that do and they don't care what you changed or didn't change in your passport, they only care that you have some type of visa or a way of getting into the US.

Why can't you go to the Ukrainian Embassy and change your passport in USA? When are you planning to travel?

You can't change your internal passport at the embassy, and they will not change your international passport until you change your internal one.

[1HappyGuy 45]

My wife still travels internationally on her Ukrainian passport. She just makes sure she has a copy of our marriage certificate and of course her Green Card. For you, it is the Advanced Parole certificate that is important. You don't have to prove to Ukrainian officials you can leave, except for the ones checking authority to arrive in certain countries. That is why you have Advanced Parole. Take that with you and you will be fine.

Have a good trip!

[tishajourney 0]

thank you, people. My main worry was that on Ukrainian customs they will blame me for not changing my passports into a new surname. But from what you said it sounds like they don't care.

[BatmanUSA 105]

Yes, carry a "certified" copy of your marriage license. that will show your maiden name and your married name..

that with your passport and AP card will allow you to return to the US..

does your AP/EAD card have your married name?

when my wife returns to Russia to visit, her Russian passport allows her to return to Russia... then to return to USA, she shows her passport (in her unmarried name), AP card (in her married name), a copy of our marriage certificate, and a copy of my passport... no problems...

we are still waiting for her green card..

[Loving_girl 38]

hello guys!

I was also checking if it will be possible to change travel passport in Ukrainian Embassy in New York, and it is clearly stated that if the citizen of Ukraine changes his name they may apply for new passport (it will take them up to 3 months). Here i put the info from the embassy:

Паспорти оформлюються Посольством у таких випадках:

а) досягнення громадянином України 16-річного віку (у разі потреби самостійного виїзду за кордон паспорт може бути оформлений особам, які не досягли 16 років);

б) набуття особою громадянства України;

в) задоволення клопотання про залишення на постійне проживання за кордоном;

г) переміни громадянином України імені;

ґ) якщо в паспорті немає вільних сторінок для віз та інших позначок;

д) непридатності паспорта для подальшого використання;

е) втрати паспорта;

є) встановлення неточностей у внесеній до паспорта інформації;

Please, can anyone clear this up for me? So we CAN change travel document or de CAN NOT? As far as i understand u give them filled application form, photos, marriage certificated (issued in the USA) and they send those docs to Ukraine and than u come to pick up ur new travel passport.

Thanks in advance!