Travel back to Russia

[KenInUtah]

Hey guys, long time no talk!  Moved into our new house in Vegas so its been busy around here!

My wife has a question...she needs to go back to Moscow to sell her apartment (I'm going with) and is worried about her "papers".  Obviously she still has her Russian passport but it is now in her maiden name.  Her GC is in her married name.  She is worried about getting out of Russia, if they give her a hard time about names on her documents

Also, how do you book tickets?  Everyone makes sure names on docs match the tickets but now with a different name to get into Russia than she has to get into the US, how do you do that?

[ML]

Bad move her adopting married name.
Females should always keep their unmarried name.
Particularly those who change countries, have passports from another country, have degrees from another country, have property in another country, etc.
And the problems all repeat upon divorce and remarriage.
A world of problems coming her way.

For more directed advice, go to VisaJourney.

[Steamer]

It seems that bringing the marriage cert. with her would clear up any problem.


This is why my wife hyphenated her last name after we were married.

[msmob]

Hey guys, long time no talk!  Moved into our new house in Vegas so its been busy around here!

My wife has a question...she needs to go back to Moscow to sell her apartment (I'm going with) and is worried about her "papers".  Obviously she still has her Russian passport but it is now in her maiden name.  Her GC is in her married name.  She is worried about getting out of Russia, if they give her a hard time about names on her documents

Also, how do you book tickets?  Everyone makes sure names on docs match the tickets but now with a different name to get into Russia than she has to get into the US, how do you do that?

1/ I - personally - would recommend booking the tickets in the name on the passport

2/ Taking the marriage cert or a cert copy is wise

3/ We do not know your wife's age - none of our biz ..but it used to be a rule that at 45 the Russian INTERNAL 'passport' had to be updated and that was when it was a good moment to change the name in the International Passport'

4/ Be sure that your Wife registers that she has residency in a third nation within 14 days of arriving back in the Rodina - it is a legal requirement to notify that you have residency / another citizenship, now

5 / IF she decided to change her name in the passports - this might take 3/ 4 weeks and I would ask the question, " Will this names issue affect the sale of the property" and get the answer in writing - before you leave.  If she has a bank account there, still - presumably where the sale funds will - initially go - you'll need to be sure those details match up, too

Good luck

[tfcrew]

Could...
1. Get a new passport
2. Use the marriage license esp if your going too.
3. pay some bribe $$$$

[jone]

There are two different entities here:

1.  Arriving in Russia:  There the Russians have say-so as to who enters their country.  If her former passport is still valid, there will still be suspicion on what she is doing in the country.  Russia is very interested in native Russians going back to Russia these days.

2.  Leaving Russia:  The US controls who enters the US.  If she has her Green Card, she should have no problems.

[BillyB]

Moved into our new house in Vegas so its been busy around here!

Why did you move to Vegas? Your profession is a gambler now? Took a lot of money to build that place. Vegas wasn't built by winners. Vegas is a great place to live if you don't have any bad habits. Call your airline about your situation and what you need to take. It is the airline's responsibility to get you in the country and out of the country successfully, not passport control. During a layover in Moscow once, Delta airlines took all our documents while waiting to board to check on them. I gave up my passport but some people resisted giving up their passports and green cards that were to be taken out of our sights.

[tfcrew]

I gave up my passport but some people resisted giving up their passports and green cards that were to be taken out of our sights.

Never heard of such a thing.
That document isn't yours to just relinquish.
A passport is the property of the country that issued it.
 
If you don't get it back...How will you reenter your country?
My response would be...'if you really need the info...make a copy'.
Otherwise....lump it!
 

[GQBlues]

Hey guys, long time no talk!  Moved into our new house in Vegas so its been busy around here!

My wife has a question...she needs to go back to Moscow to sell her apartment (I'm going with) and is worried about her "papers".  Obviously she still has her Russian passport but it is now in her maiden name.  Her GC is in her married name.  She is worried about getting out of Russia, if they give her a hard time about names on her documents

Also, how do you book tickets?  Everyone makes sure names on docs match the tickets but now with a different name to get into Russia than she has to get into the US, how do you do that?

I browsed the responses to your Q...and there seem to be one 'document' you need that isn't mentioned.

Advance Parole. Form I-131.

This should've been part of I-485 when you adjusted her status. She needs to have this with her, her GC and your marriage certificate.

She can use her name as it appears on her Russian passport. This is what will be in the airline tix.
She'll need those (US) documents when coming back to the US.

Read: http://www.uscis.gov/green-card/green-card-processes-and-procedures/travel-documents
Read: http://www.uscis.gov/i-131

[KenInUtah]

Correct me if I'm wrong but I thought you only need "Advance Parole" while waiting for the GC.  She has her GC in hand.

[GQBlues]

Correct me if I'm wrong but I thought you only need "Advance Parole" while waiting for the GC.  She has her GC in hand.

Ken-

I do not know what your particular date of engagements are, but it usually follows this path:

Fiancee status visa (90 days) -> Conditional (Temp) Green Card (2 years) -> Resident (Permanent) Green Card (2-3 years) -> Citizenship. Only after a person acquires the 'permanent' green card will he/she not be required to have the 'Advance Parole'.

Here's more info specifically addressing the need for AP: http://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/991/~/when-is-advance-parole-required-for-travel

There's a link in the page to ask additional question to your specific question.

You guys would know what she has in her possession at this time as I do not know what your corresponding time frames are.

The temporary GC will get punched once she transitions to permanent. Then, it will be asked to be returned once she acquires citizenship at her inauguration.

[BillyB]

If you don't get it back...How will you reenter your country?

 How will you reenter your country if Delta Airlines loses passports and greencards? The question on Delta's minds were "How were their passengers to leave Russia if they don't do want Russian authorities are requesting?"

[GQBlues]

Correct me if I'm wrong but I thought you only need "Advance Parole" while waiting for the GC.  She has her GC in hand.

Ken-

I just now asked wifey...when we filed I 485/I 131, she received employment authorization and AP in 45 days, the conditional GC 9 months from file date.

She went back to Russia 4 months after our wedding, 5 months before receiving her conditional GC, using only her AP/marriage certificate. The AP they gave her was good for one year from issue date, and was good for multiple entries.

The next time she flew back home was when she already had her permanent GC and no longer needed AP. The only thing I am not certain is if AP is required if you only have the conditional GC.