Translation issues regarding K1 Visa for Ukrainian citizen

[alex330]

Just finished all the initial paperwork for K1 Visa and about to mail it off and we hit our first snag 

My fiance is Ukrainian. I was just told that after Ukraine seceded from the FSU some changes were made to the language. There are certain characters in Cyrillic which cannot really be translated.
One of these characters I am informed used to be translated in a "Y" but after Ukraine left the FSU is now translated into an "I".

The problem is that half the documents she has are in Russian and half are in Ukrainian. She spells her last name with a "Y" but on her International passport it differs. I consulted an attorney who said it must match the passport (which Ukraine will modify, already asked passport office). We filled out the paperwork the way she spells her name but now we are second guessing it. I am sure if it was a street address it may not matter much, but her name I am sure does....

Has anyone had any experience with this? Anyone recently marry a Ukrainian citizen have a similar issue and what was done?
Time to consult another attorney?

Thanks in advance

[ace131]

all filling out her name should match with the International passport. as she will be travelling by this passport not Ukrainian one. if you need any consultation from different attorney let me know. better PM me.

[Faux Pas]

Listen to your lawyer. Regardless of the language intended or used, match the passport. Failure to do so will cause her and you untold problems and headaches later.

[Wayne]

There have been many discussions about this problem in the past. Send me a PM is you want more information.

[tfcrew]

  Why would Ukraine 'modify' their own passport?
Explain that.

You don't need a lawyer..you do need a translater.
Ours from Richardson Tx does Russian and Ukrainian.
[Certifies that the differences are phonetic and so on]
That you have not sent the application yet means that it should match
however the passport spells...as this has been stated by all...it is not life threatening.

We used Svetlana's Russian spelling on the I-129f.
It did not create any snag fortunately.

[alex330]

 Why would Ukraine 'modify' their own passport?
Explain that.

You don't need a lawyer..you do need a translater.

I am told some changes were made by Ukraine regarding the official translations after they left the Soviet Union. I am also told that the Latin on Ukrainian passports is not a translation, but a transliteration from Cyrillc, hence the difference. I spoke to three attorneys today concerning this -

1. One said her name MUST match her international passport identically even though that is nto how she normally spells her name (attorney originally from Belarus)
2. The second said it does not matter at all, just be consistent on all forms.
3. The third said "Primarily the name she wants her documents to have in the future. There will be areas in the forms that ask for "Other names used" for that purpose. (attorney originally from Russia)

Ah, I have the best translator in the world already  

[tfcrew]

1. One said her name MUST match her international passport identically even though that is nto how she normally spells her name

But she normally spells her name in the Russian language.. Cyrillic...so makes no sense there ie
EPOOEEBA
Russian trans... Erofeeva ...Ukrn trans...Yerofyeyeva
Same Cyrillic spelling.
Go figure logic there.

2. be consistent on all forms

That makes no sense as the forms are already said to be inconsistent.

3. name she wants her documents to have in the future..

1/2 kind of true. Can't use whatever.
American passport must follow Citizenship papers must follow Resident card must follow K-1 must follow the petition..follow?
 

[Jumper]

I had a similar problem y4ears ago when i marrioed there,
the difference is *they*(ukraine)  changed MY (and then wifes) last names initial starting letter from W to V.
And then argued with me that *they* were correct in their random changing of the spelling,
 since it was a german (rooted) name.

Again obviously all the US documents had my correct spelling , and all her documents as well, plus she applied for the internatiional passport with that exact spellibng , and a request it not be changed.
 


the US consulate in poland approved her visa, but would not stamp that international passport as it did not match the visa documents.

Had to fly back to ukranie and get the international passport changed to match her name.
The name on the visa documents.


from my experience, as long as the visa docs matched exactly the international passports spelling,
 all would be well, regardleass if *correct or incorrect* spellings,
 the real issue was them  *matching*.
That is directly from the quite understanding  consulate officers words.
He *wished* he could stamp it, and wouldn't care if the spelling was right as long as it matched.


my experience also tells me ukraine *MAY* issue the international passport with any spelling they see fit to..
, regardless how you spelled your name on the application (in ukrainian no less)
and they well *bulk and buck*, at correcting it.


your mileage may vary...





 

[tfcrew]

Ah, I have the best translator in the world already

What do you mean there?

approved her visa, but would not stamp that international passport as it did not match the visa documents.

Exactly my point above. I'm surprised that Ukrainian State Dept changed reissued the passport quite frankly.
However I was in Warsaw also and a certified translation was accepted in lieu.
 

[Jumper]

What do you mean there?

Exactly my point above. I'm surprised that Ukrainian State Dept changed reissued the passport quite frankly.
However I was in Warsaw also and a certified translation was accepted in lieu.
 

In that case, they grudgingly had to admit they incorrectly changed the spelling,
 afterall her marriage certificate was in ukranian, Cyrillic , and from their own Zags with all documents in order in
the original application for the ukrainian international passport.
A ukrainian citizen, legally named  Mrs W, applied for an international passport,
 NOT a Mrs V.
nowhere on any document did a Mrs V exist, other than them arbitrarily issueing that passport in an incorrect name.
 Why they would decide to change her name , was the issue, they were NOT translating it afterall.
That had been done already by the State..
It would be no different than just changing the first letter of her maiden name if applying as a single person.

Overall it wasn't that big of a deal,but it did cause us some delays and an extra trip.
Not fun, avoid it if possible.

[alex330]

I agree with you tfcrew that there are definitely many things that do not make sense. Some of them do nto even make sense to my fiance who is Ukrainian. Over the last week I have talked to many people and everyone gives different information and has had different experiences. I am asking as many questions and doing as much research as possible and going with what I feel is best.

I am sure some of it also depends on who is working that day in the embassy or who is assigned to your file and if they don't like they way you look or if they got laid the night before.
We will jump over the hurdles and get it done or I will be eating borscht for a while 

I do appreciate all advice and input from members.

[dbneeley]

But she normally spells her name in the Russian language.. Cyrillic...so makes no sense there ie
EPOOEEBA
Russian trans... Erofeeva ...Ukrn trans...Yerofyeyeva
Same Cyrillic spelling.
Go figure logic there.

"Transliteration" is based upon pronunciation. In this case, in both Ukrainian (IIRC) and certainly in Russian, the "e" is normally pronounced "ye"--so the Ukrainian transliteration is actually more correct. The Russian rendering seems based on their traditional rendering and is not phonetic.

I'm still in the rather painful early stages of wrestling with Russian, so this sort of thing is very much an issue in learning correct pronunciation!

David