Patronymic vs Middle name issues

[bobb]

Hi,

I believe this is the most appropriate group for my questions.

As you are all aware there is a difference between Russian patronyms and a middle name as we in the Western world are used to.  Basically Russians do not have a 'middle' name, even though the patronymic is used on applications and forms for the K-1, K-3, etc.

On Russian International passports the patronymic is not translated into English as the surname and family name's are.  Sometime this summer I will begin the process of filing for many things in the U.S. after she arrives and we are married.

Marriage Certificate
SSN #
California ID Card (She has no interest in learning to drive at the age of 57, at least anytime soon)
adding to Health Insurance
Checking accounts
when traveling by air
and on and on...

How have many of you who are married dealt with this issue.  Or is it even an issue?

The main reason I ask is because at this point I don't know how often her passport will be the required document to verify her name.  All they will see is a surname and family name in English.  I also wish to be consistent. 

I am assuming her K-1 Visa will only show the two names as implied by a response from the USEM to my question of whether to include her patronymic on the DS-156 in English, even when it is not shown in English on passport.

She should indicate her middle name only  on her application. It does not affect other documents

A side note.  Am I the only one who has wondered why the DS-156 has no detailed instructions?  Granted there are not many items that are not straightforward, but still.

One additional question.  Since her passport will be used for identification in the future for travel outside the U.S., how have you dealt with the issue of different married name vs. passport name when purchasing tickets and going through security?

[Shadow]

The name on the passport should match the name on the ticket. That is all that is needed for security.
How (and if) you wish to match the patronym is up to you.
In some documents MrsShadow has a 'middle name' in other she has not.
As long as there is a match between the documents and means of identification, it does not matter a whole lot.

[ECOCKS]

My wife uses her first and last name (no middle) when she flies and stuff now.

Long-term, she does not intend to use a middle name, only first and a new last.

[Blues Fairy]

A side note.  Am I the only one who has wondered why the DS-156 has no detailed instructions?  Granted there are not many items that are not straightforward, but still.

Plenty.  In Russian:
http://www.vip-visa.ru/visa-usa3.html
http://www.america-usa.ru/2006/07/16/print:page,1,instrukciya_po_zapolneniyu_DS_156.html

Plus there's an example of filled-out form on VJ.

[bobb]

Plenty.  In Russian:
http://www.vip-visa.ru/visa-usa3.html
http://www.america-usa.ru/2006/07/16/print:page,1,instrukciya_po_zapolneniyu_DS_156.html

Plus there's an example of filled-out form on VJ.

Well, not being fluent in Russian that doesn't help me, but I can send those links to her when she does fill it out, thanks.  I was not aware of these links in Russian. 

The major problem with VJ forms is they assume English characters for beneficiaries native languages, not married, etc.  The VJ example would not address my question on the DS-156.

[mendeleyev]

I have a Dutch last name and her Russian passport was transliterated into English is spelled differently from mine as spelled in English. We tried to have this corrected in Russia to no avail.

In the USA it's never been a problem. We use a USA based Russian certified travel agency and they issue tickets based on spelling inside our passports.

We have had problems in Russia. A small handful of Hotels (usually Intourist type facilities) have challenged our sleeping in the same room at check in when presenting her Russian passport and my USA passport with a last name which is pronounced the same but spelled differently. It's never been a problem however as easily explainable and quickly solved.

I can't see you having much difficulty, especially in the West where many wives keep a last name or hyphenate a family name.

[groovlstk]

One additional question.  Since her passport will be used for identification in the future for travel outside the U.S., how have you dealt with the issue of different married name vs. passport name when purchasing tickets and going through security?

When my wife made her first trip home, I'd made the reservation in her married name. When we got to the Lufthansa counter for check-in, the clerk told us her name must match the name on her RU passport. This was the first (and only) time in all our dealings w/agencies, business, etc. wherein they didn't want her most current details.

At the time she had her two-year GC which of course she took with her along w/an original copy of our marriage certificate. She breezed through customs on both sides of the Atlantic.

[bobb]

Thanks for all the good replies.

I did send my question about the DS-156 by email to the USEM.  Their reply and a PM I received agreed with the following:

She should indicate her middle name only  on her application. It does not affect other documents

I'm mystified as to how that line in blue was added to my original post.