Bluestraveler49

Update on my earlier post. 
I am currently in Russia with my fiancé. Everything went well. I did not have any problems at passport control. No one questioned me and everything went smooth as always. 
 
I took a flight from San Francisco to Moscow via Istanbul. Purchased my tickets directly from Turkish Airlines website. They had to change my flight twice, just some minor schedule changes, but I had the option to either cancel or change my flight with no penalty fee. So, in the end my ticket to Moscow came up to around $500 one way (2 luggage bags included). Had to fill up a health screening form and do a Covid test 48 hours prior to my arrival in Moscow. I did it at CVS pharmacy for free and got the results within 24 hours. They asked for it at SFO airport and Istanbul. Other than a longer flight from Istanbul to Moscow everything else was the same. Masks are now somewhat optional I guess😄

Hello, I am going to NYC in the end of this month to renew my international Russian passport. I had to file paperwork online and make an appointment. You have to go in person though  I made an appointment In January for April ( they have very limited spots). You can also go to DC or Texas if it’s closer to you. 

As of today, there has not been a single restriction to enter Russia as a regular US citizen or any other citizen, besides COVID-related policies. Considering that all docs and visas are fine, you should not have any problems crossing the border. People have not completely stopped travelling from the US to Russia, so I assume we would have heard anything by now, if someone had troubles upon arrival. I am personally going to Russia in a couple of weeks and will let everyone know how it went, if it'll still be relevant. I purchased my tickets directly from Turkish Airlines website.

No, that's not the case. There are still Russian consulates functioning in the US as far as I'm aware. I believe one in Texas, NYC and then there's the Embassy in DC.

Booking.com still works and you can buy flights tickets from Turkish airlines directly I think, I am also worried about my safety going to Moscow at this time 

I sent a letter back in the day regarding my name change too, it didn't do anything about my issue. The letter did however eventually reach my A-file and ended up on the table of the officer who interviewed me. So the letter itself didn't make a difference in my case, it still had to be done at the actual interview (one of the reasons I was very happy to have gotten an interview, back then a lot of interviews were waived for us K-1ers).
 
So while you can certainly send a letter, don't expect it to have an impact. It CAN, but it's far from a guarantee.

Almost "anything" can be changed at the actual interview even if you filled out different information on the actual form, I too have had a name change (maiden to married) done at a "greencard interview". 
 
Looks like she entered on a spousal visa which means she has never been interviewed by USCIS before - so she is very likely to get an interview for her i-751. A name change on her greencard (her taking your surname) shouldn't be any issues at all and the marriage certificate is proof of name change (no matter if it displays her married name or not). 

Only if you have asked about it last week.
 
Your wife could still have used the married name for i751 and she would have received the 10 yr GC under married name. Now that it's filed, two options.
 
1. Use married name during N400, free name change.
2. Apply for new GC under married name at a cost of ~ $500 once i751 is approved .
 
Name change during n400 is recommended.

Will find out next week, if it is approved, but this is what I applied for.

Right now I am in the process of applying for my second 3 year private, multi entry visa through world visa center in Washington. Previously I dealt with ils in New York (pre pandemic) in person. Both are great services, however this service does everything remotely and accepts online payment. One thing we did notice is on the US embassy Russia site, a section which once read that immediate family is allowed into country, has now changed to "generally not admitted" under a tourist visa. Now I am not sure if I fall under this umbrella (Wife is providing invitation and traveling with my infant son (Russian passport holder) and I (USC). We wanted to visit next month, but may wait until the fall until there is more clarity.

You will be okay. I saw a child the other day when I went to my interview... But the best thing would be for her to call them and make sure!

Been to Russia countless times, lived in Russia for 5 years...USC here. Never had any issues whatsoever at the border in airports and was never asked to show a return ticket. I currently have a 3 year private multi-entry visa.
 
It's usually very straightforward....the border agents have so-so English on average and will most likely only ask very pedestrian questions such as "Why are you visiting Russia?" "How long will you stay?" and nothing more. The only reason I've ever heard of a USC being grilled at the airport was if they were suspicious for political reasons and probably flagged upon entry....this is VERY RARE. The overwhelming majority of USC's enter and exit Russia with zero issues.
 
This is totally fine. Your 3 year multi-entry visa will allow you to stay for up to 6 months at a time. Just DO NOT lose your migration card (I knew a British guy who was banned from Russia upon exit merely because he lost that little piece of paper!) and be sure to register your visa once inside Russia.
 

Name change or stamps in domestic passport do not affect visa process. It’s up to people to change their names.  In fact no one will ask your domestic passport anyway. A marriage proof is a marriage certificate.