Changing name while application is in process

[Malinka]

We go married recently and planning to apply outland through Moscow office in September. I want to take my husband's last name (he is the sponsor) but won't be able to start working on it until September when I return to Russia. We don't want to wait 2-3 months more for me to get a new passport with the new name before we apply, so I was wondering if it is possible at all to apply with my maiden name and then send them my new information explaining why I changed it? Or do we have to get it done before we apply? We have been apart for a pretty long time already, don't want to have to wait for more then necessary Hope someone can give us an advice on this issue. I emailed the visa office, haven't heard anything back from them and it has been waaaay more then 21 day they say they usually take to reply since then.

[margrey]

My opinion is that if you want to change yours name to your husband, why you doesn't wait until you get the PR, you can do it when you are in Canada and use the Russian consulated for this. Changing name during the application process could add more paper work, or mistakes etc, that you may regret, I am in the same situation, I am the sponsor, my wife will change name until everything is done and we are here in Canada, with calm, (is not need to change name right away). Well, it is my opinion, hope that help you.

Good luck.

[Malinka]

Thank you for such a fast reply We was thinking about that option but the problem is from the research we have done it looks like i can't change my name in the international passport unless i change it in the internal and that can not be done through consulates, you have to be in Russia to do that. Another option could be wait till citizenship and change then but as I read on other forums that causes problems and confusion when traveling back to Russia as passports have different names. And then I would really like to get it done now not in 4-5 years. So the option for us is to do it before or while processing or forget about that at all. The confusion, mistakes and delays u mentioned is what i am worried about. I wonder if anyone on here has done that before without problems..

[CharlieD10]

I filled out the application forms with my maiden name.  Two months after submitting the application, I got a new passport with my married name, and submitted a copy of that passport to the visa office once it was confirmed that they had received my application.

[trini777]

Im planning on doing this same thing. I dont think it would make that much of a difference to change your name after the process has begun.

[pinklady]

Hey, I considered getting a new passport in my married name after we had applied. I emailed the London VO asking them, and they said it was fine as long as I updated my application by sending in a scanned copy of the new passport. I got the PPR before i could do it but its definitely ok to get your new passport once you have filed.
Also you dont have to be in russia even if you are doing an outland application. I stayed in canada the entire time with my outland London application.
Good luck with everything and congrats on your marriage

[lhet_sept2010]

I used my married in the application, when I checked e-cas, they will apply the name when I first apply (when im still single)...

but when they requested my new passport just recently with my husband's last name, they update the e-cas right away with my married name.

[Malinka]

Thank you very much everyone! I am happy to know it will work out
Thanks pinklady! I would love to be with my husband while we wait but it is not going to work for us I am not from a visa exempt country and to get a TV for me would be pretty difficult. Congrats on your PR and wish a speedy process for everyone else!

[pinklady]

Good luck with everything!
I hope you have a speedy process