My wife's passport has her maiden name on it...

[QED]

Any travel gurus out there?

Ok, my wife and I are getting ready to finalize our vacation plans-- we plan on staying in Aruba.

Anyways, Aruba is a foreign nation so obviously we'll need our passports.

Not a problem-- I got my passport a few years back, and she still has hers from before we were married.

However, as I'm starting to book the trip, I remember that her passport is in her maiden name still. This wasn't a problem on our honeymoon as we simply carried a copy of our marriage license with us.

So-- short of getting her name changed on her passport (which would probably take weeks), is the best solution to just book the flight in her maiden name? Or would this cause problems at the airport when they check driver's licenses (her driver's license is using her married name)?

Or should we just book the flight using her married name and bring along our marriage license again?

 

[blue1friday2]

You really need to get her a new passport. There is no way to do it otherwise, without it being a giant pain. Not that I'm a travel guru or anything but I do know someone who works in an airport.

 

[Anubis]

you DEFINITLY need to get it changed

 

[sohcrates]

could be a problem. she may need to carry the marriage license and maybe even her social security card with her. i would highly suggest if you have any time at all that you apply for an "expedited" passport. might only take a few weeks

 

[crystal]

just book the flight using her married name and bring along her passport. You do realize that passport got her picture and they do know women usually change their last name after marry. No big deal.

 

[Kelemvor]

Definitely get the passport updated. Call the airline and ask them what proof you'd need to bring to be legal. Might need a marriage license or someting too.

 

[mcvickj]

I would consider getting a new passport issued for your wife using the married name.

 

[Pantoot]

Book the flight in her maiden name and show the TSA her passport as her ID instead of the drivers license.

If you have the time, do the right thing and get the passport updated.

 

[Heisenberg]

Yeah, you want the passport name and the ticket names to match. The passport supercedes the driver's license so just use it as your ID like was stated above.

 

[FoBoT]

http://travel.state.gov/passport/fri/amend/amend_851.html

* Send a completed form DS-19, Passport Amendment/Validation Application, a certified copy of your marriage certificate or your name change court decree, and your current valid passport to the following address:

Charleston Passport Center
Attention: Amendments
1269 Holland Street
Charleston, SC 29405

Photocopies and notarized copies are not acceptable
for passport purposes.

good luck if you don't change it

 

[QED]

Originally posted by: Heisenberg
Yeah, you want the passport name and the ticket names to match. The passport supercedes the driver's license so just use it as your ID like was stated above.

Heisenberg, are you certain about this?

(I've always wanted to ask Heisenberg this )


Anyways... are there any more opinions out there? Anyone who has traveled to Aruba recently, perhaps?

 

[zanieladie]

WOW. What a nightmare. You might want to even check into it further by calling the airport (both US and Aruba).

 

[QED]

Ok, just found out that a passport is NOT required to get into Aruba or back into the United States-- a birth certificate and driver's license will suffice.

I went ahead and booked the trip in her married name. I'll bring our drivers licenses, birth certificates, passports, and marriage license "just in case".

Here's a :beer: for those that helped!

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: MathMan
Ok, just found out that a passport is NOT required to get into Aruba or back into the United States-- a birth certificate and driver's license will suffice.

I went ahead and booked the trip in her married name. I'll bring our drivers licenses, birth certificates, passports, and marriage license "just in case".

Here's a :beer: for those that helped!

Passports will not be required until the end of next year for the caribbean. It was supposed to be the end of last year, then they pushed it to the end of this year, and now they pushed it off again.

 

[HeroOfPellinor]

Originally posted by: MathMan
My wife's passport has her maiden name on it... Do I book the flight in her maiden or married name?

In that case, you book the flight with your secretary's name on it.

 

[Garet Jax]

Originally posted by: MathMan
Any travel gurus out there?

Ok, my wife and I are getting ready to finalize our vacation plans-- we plan on staying in Aruba.

Anyways, Aruba is a foreign nation so obviously we'll need our passports.

Not a problem-- I got my passport a few years back, and she still has hers from before we were married.

However, as I'm starting to book the trip, I remember that her passport is in her maiden name still. This wasn't a problem on our honeymoon as we simply carried a copy of our marriage license with us.

So-- short of getting her name changed on her passport (which would probably take weeks), is the best solution to just book the flight in her maiden name? Or would this cause problems at the airport when they check driver's licenses (her driver's license is using her married name)?

Or should we just book the flight using her married name and bring along our marriage license again?

She should fly under the name her IDs have in it. If the IDs are different than use the name in her passport.

The only problem that arises from this is if she has VISAs or other immigration documents in her married name. In this scenarios, you really should update her passport. At a minimum you have to travel with your marriage certificate. Recognize that a grumpy customs agent could create problems for you.

 

[Chunkee]

you better get it right, friend just tried to go to Italy with same situation. NO GO!!

jC

 

[Feldenak]

Originally posted by: MathMan
Ok, just found out that a passport is NOT required to get into Aruba or back into the United States-- a birth certificate and driver's license will suffice.

I went ahead and booked the trip in her married name. I'll bring our drivers licenses, birth certificates, passports, and marriage license "just in case".

Here's a :beer: for those that helped!

Yeah, I didn't have a passport when travelling to Aruba last year. BTW, did you decide on where to stay?Text

Edit: Since it was our honeymoon, my wife didn't have time to change her passport at the time and just took a copy of our marriage certificate.

 

[overclock]

You send it in and the gov't will note in the passport that the last name has been changed. I did it when my wife and I went to Cancun. It took about a month if I recall. It wasn't that big of a deal.

 

[Apathetic]

When they ask for photo ID at the counter, just have her show her passport instead of her driver's license.

When you get back, you need to have her passport updated ASAP.

Dave

 

[farmercal]

Why did you wait until the last minute to think about this?

 

[QED]

Originally posted by: farmercal
Why did you wait until the last minute to think about this?

It's a long story... my wife and I have been trying to decide for the last few months where we wanted to go on vacation, and if we could even go at all (she is getting close to her third trimester).

We had plans all lined up to do something uber cheap and easy... but then I got a nice bonus, and then a week later I got an even nicer job offer. So all of our plans were on hold while the details of my new employment were worked out.

Everything got finalized last week... my wife decided on someplace tropical to relax, and Aruba sounded like the best option for us. So there you go...

Originally posted by: Feldenak

BTW, did you decide on where to stay?

Yeah, we decided on the Renaiscance.

The Hyatt looked really nice, but it would've been about $1000 more to stay there than the Renaiscance, and we really liked that the Renaiscance had its own island with more private and less crowded beaches.

I'm sure we will miss being able to walk right outside our hotel onto the beach, but I heard that at times you have to make it to the public beaches early in the morning to reserve a chair or hut as it can get quite crowded. Not sure how true that is, but it didn't sound too relaxing to us.

If you could, could you point me to things to do there that you'd recommend? Or things that you wouldn't recommend?

 

[Feldenak]

Originally posted by: MathMan

Originally posted by: Feldenak

BTW, did you decide on where to stay?

Yeah, we decided on the Renaiscance.

The Hyatt looked really nice, but it would've been about $1000 more to stay there than the Renaiscance, and we really liked that the Renaiscance had its own island with more private and less crowded beaches.

I'm sure we will miss being able to walk right outside our hotel onto the beach, but I heard that at times you have to make it to the public beaches early in the morning to reserve a chair or hut as it can get quite crowded. Not sure how true that is, but it didn't sound too relaxing to us.

If you could, could you point me to things to do there that you'd recommend? Or things that you wouldn't recommend?

I'm sure you'll have a great time.

As far as recommendations: If you like beef, I would definately hit up El Gaucho.

If you browse this site, there's plenty of info and other good links about Aruba and things to do. I really want to get some friends together and rent that house for a week or so next year.

 

[Adul]

try one of the many password services available.

Text

I did that year ago, got it back in a few days.

 

[Adul]

http://www.aruba.com/pages/entryrequirements.htm