Way to Russia Talk Lounge

smith01 · Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2008 6:39 pm Post subject: Visa typo problem?

HELP!!! My contact in the Russian consulate in New York assures me (repeatedly) that the one-letter typo misspelling (in the transliteration into Roman characters) at the bottom of my visa is "not incorrect" and will cause me no problem in Customs. Can someone please confirm or rebut her information? I am very concerned that it will cause a problem and perhaps prevent my entry into the country. Time is very short, please help.

danbrew · Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2008 2:27 am Post subject:

You'll be just fine. I had the same problem with mine and was concerned but they simply stamp you in and out. No worries.

danbrew Smile

smith01 · Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2008 2:45 am Post subject: visa problem?

Dan, thank you!!! The answer I hoped for, and so timely. Many thanks.

UsualSuspect · Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2008 4:09 pm Post subject:

Smith01,
I'll second that. My full name has been transliterated 3 different ways. So long as it is phonetically OK and your passport number is correctly on the Visa you'll have no worries.

Usualsuspect

smith01 · Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2008 5:39 pm Post subject: visa problem?

Thanks for your response, UsualSuspect, but it is NOT phonetically ok. A "Q" was used where an "I" should have been used to represent the Cyrillic letter "И". JAMES is transliterated as DJEQMS, yet the lady in the consulate says it is "not incorrect"! Elsewhere, as in the transliteration of СМИТ, an I is used, as one would expect. Almost looks intentional, or am I paranoid? Hard to believe such an obvious error is denied. Still concerns me.

steve7871 · Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2008 5:45 pm Post subject:

I know it's not exactly relevant to your problem, but when my wife applied for a new Russian passport with her new surname, they actually transliterated the name from the wedding certificate and added an extra letter to my surname.

So despite showing my passport, they refused to give her a new passport with the same surname spelling as mine!

Only a huge row (and a few thousand roubles) managed to resolve the situation Evil or Very Mad