International Passport error

[eagle59]

Hello all, I started this post on something that may be rare and does not happen very often. The situation (which I have asked in another post) is my girl's first name was misspelled on her passport she recieved in Nov 07. It reads "Valeriia" and should be "Valeria". I knew this could be a problem and do I use that name or the correct name on immigration forms? as we are just starting to gather all the things we will need. No one really seemed to know. And...after my very informative phone conversation with Anastassia this morning, she suggested very strongly that we take the time now and have Val go back to the immigration office in Ukraine and correct it. Even though it will slow up our form submission possibly a month or so, in the long run it will save perhaps many problems that will arise from this "typo" on her passport. Just thought I would pass this on...one little thing that could create alot of problems later.

Tom

[Simoni]

I'll send you a PM on a similar problem we had on Marina's international passport...

[Blues Fairy]

I had the same problem: both my first and last names were misspelled on my passport.
Spelling in visa application has to match passport; I-94 has to match visa; Social Security card has to match I-94, drivers license has to match SS, and so on until you submit AOS application where the spelling can be corrected.

So either correct the passport now or wait until AOS.

[aikorob]

Eagle,
One thing you should be aware of: Ukraine (or at least Odessa) has started "standardization of names".

My wife is in Odessa now visiting family---she decided to renew her passport now---it expires next year.

She was told at the office that her name is now spelled wrong----she has spelled her name with a "y" ever since she was old enough to have her own documents, but now her spelling is not standard, so she will have to change ALL documents.   She says it is "big scandal" now; and many people are angry because of the time, expense and hassle needed to comply.

[Jet]

We had similar situation to aikorob. Lil's name was spelled Liliya on her int'l passport and all USCIS documents, D/L and SS card. When she renewed last summer her passport came back with the :new and improved" standardized spelling - Lilia. USCIS has a "one letter difference" policy for names  translated from a different alphabet and it has not caused any major issues yet, but we keep our fingers crossed.

[eagle59]

Update on the name spelling...Val went into Government passport office saturday morning and they told her there is a new government standard with UKRAINE citizen name spellings...and they have computer program to come up with the new "correct" Ukraine approved spellings. So, even if Val wanted to, they told her it's not possible. I think this means we fill out K-1 visa forms with exact spelling on her existing passport which she got in Oct 07. Similar to situation(s) above.

[eagle59]

BTW, Val was told the "new standardization" of "Ukraine" names went into affect year 2000.

[aikorob]

Yeah,   it caught up with N. now because it is time to renew passport (10 yr).
She was told that if she changes her name here; that Ukraine will honor the apostilled order from the judge.

[eagle59]

Jet, is Lil's new spelling on her new passport-is it now "Lilia" or "Liliia"?

Valerya is now Valeriia
Julia is now Juliia

They seem to like the extra "i" 's when they remove the "y" Just curious...

Tom

[Jet]

Jet, is Lil's new spelling on her new passport-is it now "Lilia" or "Liliia"?

It's Lilia but her passport is Russian, not Ukrainian which may account for the difference.

[Wayne]

We had the same name problem on the Russian external passport, and they would not correct it.  I just included both spellings on the K-1 application, with a letter explaining.  There is also a line to fill out the name in Russian alphabet. 

The K-1 approval came back with both spellings listed.  When they do the FBI name check, you need to list all possible spellings of the names, otherwise it will be kicked back at the embassy stage and you will get delayed by a couple of months. 

The visa to US should match the passport spelling exactly.  Airplane tickets should match passport. 

[eagle59]

Thanks Wayne, sounds like I should add both her names on form and additional letter explanation. I'm still working on K-1 forms...so many documents...and this is only the beginning...very thankful for Anastassia-she has and is being very helpfull as we forge ahead in our process.

Tom

[Ronnie]

It's interesting that the FSU still believes they can tell people how their names must be spelled and feel they have the power to change spellings over what the birth certificate says.  I'm sure the even told people at birth how the baby's name must be spelled.

Nevertheless, the US embassy in Kyiv is used to the spelling anomalies.  You don't need to put both spellings on the I-129f but you are asked to list other names on the G-325 biography form.  FBI will run all name variations anyway.

My wife's birth certificate does not match her passport, her passport does not match her green card and her Social Security card does not match anything.  Never had a problem.

Her driver license does however, match her GC but that's a recent development.