Some info on change of wife's passport

[John K]

We've been trying to find out how to change Marina's passport to reflect her new married surname.  After a 4 1/2 drive to Chicago to see the Ukrainian Consulate, plus some translating of the Ukrainian Consulate's web page (www.ukrchicago.com), and some visits to OVIR and LOK(?) by her mother, this is what we've found out:

According to the translated website, you need to change your passport in Ukraine at the passport office (OVIR).

According to OVIR, you need to have your marriage registered by the marriage bureau (LOK).

According to LOK, you need to provide a translated, notarized and legallized copy of your wedding certificate.  Legalization should be done at the embassy or consulate.

According to the official at the consulate, marriage certificates do not need to be legalized.  In 1981 (in Hague, I think), a bunch of countries, Ukraine and US included, agreed to accept administrative documents from the signing countries as valid, providing they were approved by the appropriate appointed goverment official, known as an "apostille".

We got a copy of this pronouncement in Ukrainian from the consulate, so that Marina will have fewer problems dealing with LOK.  So, it sounds like you need to get your marriage certificate translated and notarized, take it to LOK and get your marriage registered, then take LOK's acknowledgement of your marriage to OVIR, and request a name change for your passport.  Plan on your sweetie spending some serious time waiting though.  I've heard the process can take up to 3 months sometimes...

[Stan]

... in response to Some info on change of wife's passport, posted by John K on Jan 26, 2004

My wife is curious why you would want to go thru all this just to have her Ukrainian passport changed. We thought about doing it but after realizing all the B.S. you'ld have to go thru, just wait until she is able to get a U.S. passport. As far as travel goes,, get tickets for her in her maiden name and carry a copy of your marrige certificate. We have'nt had any problems going home and coming back here?

[John K]

... in response to Re: Some info on change of wife's passpo..., posted by Stan on Jan 26, 2004

Marina had some problems with the passport control officer at Borispol, when she tried to come home last fall.  He told her that the laws had recently changed, and that she needed to make her passport match her greencard.  She also had some hassles in Poland, but not as much as she did in Ukraine.

Also, the marriage agency is called something like ZOKS, instead of LOK.  My bad...

[T P Cornholio]

... in response to Had problems with Passport Control last ..., posted by John K on Jan 27, 2004

there's ZAGS and there's VVIR (OVIR).  Note someone once coined the term "ZAG queen" to describe the bureaucrat they encounterd.

[Jack]

... in response to I think you mean ZAGS..., posted by T P Cornholio on Jan 27, 2004

Or, in the case of wildbill and his tomatoes, zig-zags!

[Jack]

... in response to Re: Some info on change of wife's passpo..., posted by Stan on Jan 26, 2004

Stan, we do the same. Kept her passport in her original name and keep copy of marriage certificate in passport, airline tickets to match name on passport, no problems.

Stan, what do you hear from our other friend from Hawaii? Did he fall in love?

[Stan B]

... in response to Re: Re: Some info on change of wife's pa..., posted by Jack on Jan 26, 2004

No he went back to visit her and they mutually decided it wasn't going to work. He did meet a Ukranian girl that lives in Texas on the flight home and she has already been out here to visit him, but that was more of a fling, as she was a little to young for him. I'm not sure of his next move, but I do know he doesn't regret going and had a great time each trip.

[Stan]

... in response to Re: Re: Some info on change of wife's pa..., posted by Jack on Jan 26, 2004

Oooktie,
Wrong Stan,,, We're Steve and Tanya in Oshkosh buried in snow,,,,,,,,,   (old nick-name when I lived "Up North")
Sorry?

[Jack]

... in response to Re: Re: Re: Some info on change of wife'..., posted by Stan on Jan 26, 2004

oopps, thought you were our Hawaii Stan.

Yea we see on the news the winter you guys are having up north and to the east. Today in north Texas is our coldest day of the year. Two days ago 70, yesterday 50, today 23, tomorrow 50.

[Stan]

... in response to ooops, posted by Jack on Jan 27, 2004

Don't get me wrong though, I don't mind the cold. Keeps the homeless and the pan-handlers outa here. They weather alone will kill them.
Sure does make for a very beautiful sunrise too, trees and lakes all covered with fresh snow and a cold frost. Just have to snuggle more on the couch!

[John K]

... in response to Some info on change of wife's passport, posted by John K on Jan 26, 2004

When filling out a Ukrainian visa app, they now want either your SSN or Driver's license number, to better identify you.  I do not know what happens if you refuse to provide one or the other...

[romachko]

... in response to One more thing..., posted by John K on Jan 26, 2004

I wonder what would happen if a Ukrainian wife keeps her last name unchanged. There are many husbasnds and wives in the U.S. who have different names. In most of these cases the wife keeps her maden name as her legal last name after she is married.