Renewing Her Passport

[Vaughn]

   My wife's old International Passport has expired, so we've downloaded the forms
to apply for her new one. There's a little paragraph on the Russian Embassy site
explaining the procedure for changing her last name on the passport - it seems as
if this is optional. Aside from the ease of entry/exit when visiting Russia, what are the advantages in changing her last name on the passport vs. keeping it in her former last name?

Thanks,  Vaughn

[KenC]

Vaughn,
Changing her last name to your's on her passport might complicate matters if she were to attempt to do anything in regard to the laws of Russia.  For example, of she is holding titla to property back there.  We kept Lena's maiden name on her Russian passport because her parents transfered the title of their apartment into her name.
KenC

[Vaughn]

  That's what I like best about RWD - 5 minutes and I've got a viable
consideration. Thanks, KenC - yeah, Elvira's a property owner as well,
holding a flat in which her Mama has dwelled since 2002. According to
my wife, she's fairly certain that only her Internal Passport is relevant to
that ownership - still, I fail to see why changing her name on the
Int'l Passport has any apparent advantage to her/us....

  The old name also matched our daughter's present name - which
was important until recently when Lenara turned 18....

  Regarding Internal Passports - we hear from her best friend that
the passport must be renewed (regardless of expiration date) by age
45 - or penalties will accrue. Now this is a non-issue for most - but
for us, it's an issue, as she happens to turn 45 in February 2008. It's
a totally separate issue - but we're having others check into whether
that passport can be renewed without her physical presence....  or if
it really even has to be.

 Years later, I still find myself dealing with hearsay, rumors, and
extremely cloudy "facts".....

[KenC]

Vaughn,
There is supposed to be a way she can renew her passport throught the Russian embassy here in the States.  Check their websites.  If I remember, it is unclear as to how it is done, so a phone call is necessary.  We gave up on that idea when Lena renewed her passport on a trip home.  Hope that helps.
KenC

[Muckraker]

My wife needed to obtain a "Paper about departure for permanent residence" before the local Russian embassy would renew her passport.  We both thought that she had this document before she left Russia originally, but it turned out her parents had them list her new place of residence as "Moscow" since someone had told them you have to give up your Russian citizenship when you get this document and I guess they thought this was a pretty smart way to protect that from happening. Anyway, when she was in Vladivostok last year she went to the Manager of her old apartment building (it was a commercial building) with the customary bribes and then was taken to the place where you get passports (again, more bribes, same day service).  Then when she came back to the US we sent this paper to the Russian Embassy in our jurisdiction in order to get the passport renewed.  We opted to get the name change (it was actually just a stamp on a separate page that says the name has been changed - the new primary passport page was still in the maiden name.  This is apparently because you first have to change your internal passport to the married name in order to get an international passport with the married name). 

Anyway, so far the stamp in her passport showing her married name seems to only be handy when traveling because it matches her green card, our baby daughter's last name, the reservation/boarding pass name, etc. 

My mother-in-law ran up against the "age 45 for internal passport" issue.  I don't know the reason why you have to do this, just "simply" is the answer I get from my wife who is asking me if I'm going to get a job in the passport bureau with all of these questions. 

Muck

P.S. My mother in law (permanent resident in Canada) won't change any of her documents to reflect that she lives overseas because she wants to collect her Russian pension.

[Muckraker]

Mother in law today said there are no penalties for failing to renew internal passport by age 45 if you are a permanent resident of another country.  The internal passport has to be renewed at age 25 and 45, regardless of expiration date, because the photograph has to be updated.

Muck

[Vaughn]

Thanks, Muck, for that input. Never a dull moment when one deals with two
governments on separate continents...

Another item I found odd was that on several revisits to the homeland, my
Elvira took her little "knizhka" - a booklet of sorts - to some government office
and collected money due her. Not much money mind you, but I wondered why
she was entitled to any at all. She kidded me that it was because "Russians
have such a humanitarian spirit" or some jive like that...   tonight I pressed
the point - and found out it was actually an allowance for having a child (who
is now 18 and hence, the freebie has expired) I was amused that she was able
to still collect even after having relocated to the USA.

my wife ......is asking me if I'm going to get a job in the passport bureau with all of these questions.

LOL! I've found through the years that bombarding my wife with pertinent questions about Russian
policy often results with a blanket answer, ie  "'cause that's the way things are".

Vaughn

[AnastassiaAsh]

Some months ago i had to renew my international passport. There are three ways to do it.
1. Go back to Russia and stay for at least 2-3 months or what ever time it usually takes there (not an option for most of us, but it can be a long parents visit too)

2. Filing all the documents appearing in person in a Russian Consulate http://www.ruscon.org/consular_regions_ENG.html

3. Filing through this website - sending them all the docs by mail and they will do everything for you for some set price. http://www.russianpassportservice.com/en/newrussianpassport.html

This time I did the second way. I live in PA, so Russian Consulate for me is in New York, we drove about 5 hours there, stayed for a day in a hotel, stood in line for an hour and I was done pretty early that day. They said the passport would be ready in 4-6 months, and yes i got a notice from them in the mail in about 4 months. The Russian international passport is issued for 5 years. So next time I am going to try the third way that i mentioned. One can do this through www.russianpassportservice.com irregardless of what state they live in, it is for all states. I called them and asked about that specifically. I advise to call them and confirm that and ask all other questions too.

As to changing her last name to married name. As they explained to me, I was not married in Russia, thus marriage kind of doesn't have an effect there, so for them i am single, thus my maiden name stays the same. I was married twice in the US by that time and wrote info about two of my husbands, but the lady crossed that all out on my application. I would keep my maiden name also because as they said above if she owns a property and anything else that is organized under her maiden name - she has to have the same last name in her passport to have green light everywhere.

As i understand, when you go there you are a Russian citizen and they don't care about anything or any foreign documents proving you married in the US. And vice versa, here in the US they don't care about your Russian passport. So if you have two citizenships, you can't use them both at the same time in one given country. it is all separate. For example, If i go to Russia (having my American Passport) and something happens to me (God forbid) American Embassy won't be able to really help me (as i understand it) because i will be under Russian laws, because i never denied my Russian citizenship, so at that point i will be a simple Russian citizen, and Russian citizenship will prevail over the US. (allthough i would want it the other way of course  )

Renewing her passport seems too complicated, but after the research and doing everything as they describe on those websites, i found it pretty easy. I would say the same as filing K1... Feel free asking any questions...

[vwrw]

I am going to Russia in a month. We have already bought the tickets. While in Russia, I plan to renew my international passport. I have read on an official site that the renewal of the international passport takes one month by a law. With that in mind and knowing that a delay in attaining new passport is possible, we decided that I will stay in Russia for two months.  Today, on visajourney, I have read the following post, which made me worry that I might have significant delays in renewing my passport.   I would like to ask if anyone who changed their name and said they live now in America has any experience with this.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=120804&st=0

I just wanted to caution you about renewing the passport in Russia. I myself got stranded in Russia waiting for a passport and all the necessary checks. What will happen once she discloses that she is a permanent resident of the U.S. is that they will have to send all her documents to Washington, and check with the Russian Embassy in the U.S. on her status here. This will dramatically increase her wait--to the tune of several months, with all the bureaucracy in the middle (I believe I was told at least three months, but more realistically much longer). From what I understand, all individuals who are residing abroad are subject to this requirement. And they will never try to speed anything up on the account of your scheduled flight.

[UTRO]

I am going to Russia in a month. We have already bought the tickets. While in Russia, I plan to renew my international passport. I have read on an official site that the renewal of the international passport takes one month by a law. With that in mind and knowing that a delay in attaining new passport is possible, we decided that I will stay in Russia for two months.  Today, on visajourney, I have read the following post, which made me worry that I might have significant delays in renewing my passport.   I would like to ask if anyone who changed their name and said they live now in America has any experience with this.


Were you married in Russia or the USA? Has your Marriage Certificate been Authenticated by the Russian Government?? Much easier to change her name and renew her passport in the USA through the Russian Embassy or Consulate.

[vwrw]

Were you married in Russia or the USA? Has your Marriage Certificate been Authenticated by the Russian Government??

I was married in the USA, and my Marriage Certificate has not been authenticated by the Russian Government. However, the questionnaire I will have to fill in contains question “Have you ever changed your second name? If the answer is YES, then where did you change your name?
I think they ask the question because they have to check my records in each name before they issue me a new passport. This assumption of mine makes me considering the info in the quote as valid.

[vwrw]

Much easier to change her name and renew her passport in the USA through the Russian Embassy or Consulate.

I have only one month left until my departure to Russia.  It is not enough time to renew my passport in the USA.

The expiration data of my passport is three months later after I return back here. Does anyone know whether there is any rule that prohibits a person to enter the USA if her passport expires in less than 6 months?

[acrzybear]

As long as you enter the U.S prior to the expiration date on your passport you will be good to enter the U.S.

[UTRO]

I was married in the USA, and my Marriage Certificate has not been authenticated by the Russian Government. However, the questionnaire I will have to fill in contains question “Have you ever change your second name? If the answer is YES, then where did you change your name?
I think they ask the question because they have to check my records in each name before they issue me a new passport. This assumption of mine makes me considering the info in the quote as valid.

Hmmm, yes this is exactly why Svetlana didn't take my Surnamename. We are in the process of having our Marriage Certificate authenticated by the Russian Embassy in Montego Bay Jamaica. However, only until after she arrives to Canada and sells her flat, will she then legally change her surname to mine. This will avoid the hassle of her having to change the name on her Deed, Work Log, Utilities, Passport, etc..... until after she is in Canada. It is a Russian Legal Requirement that you have to get this done two weeks after taking a name change..... if you are still living in Russia.

Since Moscow has not Authenticated your Marriage Certificate and therefore doesn't know (I'm assuming?) about your change in Surname, I think you will run into some issues getting your Passport renewed with your new Surname? Were you able to change your Surname on any of your Russian Legal Documents yet. ie Work Log? Until then I don't think you'll have a problem travelling to Russia this time with your Maiden name.

[giants11]

If she loves you tell her to drop her maiden name for the your last name.

[UTRO]

If she loves you tell her to drop her maiden name for the your last name.

lol!! She will, but not until she moves to Canada! Canada doesn't have a K-1 type Marriage Visa. You have to marry your FSU Lady and then and only then, can you apply to have her join you in Canuckstan So until then she remains in Russia waiting.......
It would be a paper nightmare for Sveta to change her Surname while in Russia. In Canada changing your name is simple, cheap and can be done without a lawyer. Cost is $137 in Ontario.

[Misha]

It would be a paper nightmare for Sveta to change her Surname while in Russia. In Canada changing your name is simple, cheap and can be done without a lawyer. Cost is $137 in Ontario.

Why $137? In BC, the woman just shows her marriage certificate when getting her driver's license, SIN, passport, and she "changes" her name for free.

The problem with a woman changing her name to her husband's name in Russia is that it will be transliterated into Russian and then when she is issued a new international passport, her last name will be transliterated using Russian standards (based on French spelling) to spell her new name, and this name will invariably be  used by the Canadian Consulate when issuing permanent residence. So, when she finally does come to Canada, she will have your last name, but it will be more likely misspelled.

[UTRO]

Why $137? In BC, the woman just shows her marriage certificate when getting her driver's license, SIN, passport, and she "changes" her name for free.

The problem with a woman changing her name to her husband's name in Russia is that it will be transliterated into Russian and then when she is issued a new international passport, her last name will be transliterated using Russian standards (based on French spelling) to spell her new name, and this name will invariably be  used by the Canadian Consulate when issuing permanent residence. So, when she finally does come to Canada, she will have your last name, but it will be more likely misspelled.

Misha, I based my information on this Article from the CBC. http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/name-change/how-to.html
Go to the bottom of page.
lol! ya, my Surname usually translates to Bakctep (Baxter)

[Misha]

Misha, I based my information on this Article from the CBC. http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/name-change/how-to.html

I read it. This information applies to men and women who want to change their names, and not women who will take their husband's last name. A woman who takes her husband's last name, for example, can change it back if she gets divorced and will simply use the divorce certificate to return to her maiden name if she wishes.

[Aloe]

it took me 2 months to get my travel passport in the end of 2008, without any name changes and additional checks, frankly they told EVERYONE applying to come back in 1,5 months while in fact it took 2, so with your additional circumstances and checks, i think it's very likely gonna take longer than 2 months

[Vaughn]

I just finished speaking with my wife a minute ago....she renewed her passport
in 3 days, but it turns out she knew someone in the "department" - a former
classmate who expedited the process - cost was 100 rubles. The woman stated
the normal turnaround time there is 4-8 weeks.

The lady also forgave the fine imposed for renewing late. Renewal is due at age
45, and my wife recently turned 46.

[Aloe]

I just finished speaking with my wife a minute ago....she renewed her passport
in 3 days, but it turns out she knew someone in the "department" - a former
classmate who expedited the process - cost was 100 rubles. The woman stated
the normal turnaround time there is 4-8 weeks.

The lady also forgave the fine imposed for renewing late. Renewal is due at age
45, and my wife recently turned 46.

you must be talking about internal passport, It's internal passport that you must change at 20 and 45, if you live in Russia. I got mine through regular expedited service for 100 rubles (official fee) in 1 day. If you live abroad (officially), then you don't have to do that and there is no fine also. I specifically read the law, because they wanted to fine me, it says it's an administrative violation to live IN RUSSIA with expired internal passport. They didn't fine me though, not sure why, the militia lady just looked at me, asked a couple questions and sent me back with her signature without collecting the fine.

[UTRO]

I read it. This information applies to men and women who want to change their names, and not women who will take their husband's last name. A woman who takes her husband's last name, for example, can change it back if she gets divorced and will simply use the divorce certificate to return to her maiden name if she wishes.

Yes, but is that considered a Legal Name Change....... ??
If she chose your name on the Marriage Certificate it is one thing, but if she didn't and then later decides to take it, it might be another... as in our case??

[Misha]

Yes, but is that considered a Legal Name Change....... ??

Does it make a difference? It is the name that will be on her driver's license, SIN card, her/your bank accounts, Canadian passport, etc.... Unless you divorce, she can use your name until she dies. I am not too sure what name they will use on the death certificate at that point, but at point I don't think it will be that important if you made it to "death till you part"

[UTRO]

Does it make a difference? It is the name that will be on her driver's license, SIN card, her/your bank accounts, Canadian passport, etc.... Unless you divorce, she can use your name until she dies. I am not too sure what name they will use on the death certificate at that point, but at point I don't think it will be that important if you made it to "death till you part"

lol!