Canadian to marry a US Soldier in Denmark

[tammytoes 0]

Here's the situation-

My fiance is a US soldier, and he is stationed/based out of Germany (he's been there for 4 years now). I am a Canadian. Both of us have clear criminal records, are very much in love, and are very healthy... never before been married, and no children. We'd like to get married in January 07.

We would like to get married in Denmark, and then file for DCF in Germany. (We'd get married in Germany, but Germans make the process VERY complicated-- it's 10000x simplier in Denmark)... Eventually, when his tour of Germany is over, we will be returning back to the USA.

I called the US Consulate in Frankfurt and the people I spoke with had NO idea what 'Direct Consular Filing' was! They were of absolutely zero help to me.... and so I present the question to you guys-- is this doable?

Can an American Citizen who has 'residency status' in Europe, get married to a Canadian, and then go through the DCF process? I can't see why it wouldn't, but I want to make doubly sure. I know of a few US Soldiers who married Russian and East European women in Denmark with no problems... so you'd think it'd be okay when the bride was a Canadian...

If you're not sure of the answer to my question, but you DO know of any handy websites or phone numbers, I'd be very interested in that as well. Thanks so much!

[zyggy 9]

DCF is an internet board term.. the consulates have no idea what it means. Read the DCF guide to find out how to ask your question to get the information that you need.

Call Frankfurt again and ask if they will allow you to file an I-130 directly at the consulate if you are a US Soldier and your fiancee is not a resident of Germany. From what I have heard, the answer is no if the alien fiancee does not have residency in Germany.

Hoiwever, there are treaty terms between the US and Germany that deal with residency of spouses of members of the US Military. You may be able to reside in Germany with a US Military Dependent ID Card. If this is the case, then you may be able to file the I-130 at the Consulate when you and your fiancee will be transferred back to the US.

Edited September 18, 2006 by zyggy

[tammytoes 0]

DCF is an internet board term.. the consulates have no idea what it means. Read the DCF guide to find out how to ask your question to get the information that you need.

Call Frankfurt again and ask if they will allow you to file an I-130 directly at the consulate if you are a US Soldier and your fiancee is not a resident of Germany. From what I have heard, the answer is no if the alien fiancee does not have residency in Germany.

Hoiwever, there are treaty terms between the US and Germany that deal with residency of spouses of members of the US Military. You may be able to reside in Germany with a US Military Dependent ID Card. If this is the case, then you may be able to file the I-130 at the Consulate when you and your fiancee will be transferred back to the US.

Yeah. Once we are married, I will be given a US Military Dependant ID Card... I will live with my husband, and will thus be a resident of Germany along with him (as per that treaty).

I wont be a resident at the time that we are MARRIED, but I will be a resident at the time of the application of the I-130.

[zyggy 9]

Then my guess is yes, you will be permitted to file the I-130 at the consulate in Frankfurt when you are ready to move back to the US. File the I-130 about 6 months before you are ready to leave. I think it's worth a call to the consulate to see if they will let you file once you are married.. or if they want you to wait.

Remember the question is... I'm Canadian, am going to be marrying a US Service member, and will reside with him in Germany once we are married as a dependent of a US Military member. Is he permitted to file an I-130 at your consulate in order to obtain a Immigrant Visa for me at any time after we are married?

Also talk to the JAG on the base, they should be able to help you as well.

Edited September 18, 2006 by zyggy

[tammytoes 0]

Then my guess is yes, you will be permitted to file the I-130 at the consulate in Frankfurt when you are ready to move back to the US. File the I-130 about 6 months before you are ready to leave. I think it's worth a call to the consulate to see if you want to file once ytou are married.. or if they want you to wait.

Also talk to the JAG on the base, they should be able to help you as well.

THANK YOU so much for your help!

I was pretty sure it was possible, but I guess I just needed someone to confirm that there was some logic behind my thinking.

[Candace 2]

Hi Tammy,

I'm a non-USC Military Spouse based in Germany, we are currently doing DCF Frankfurt as you can see from my timeline. Good luck with your journey!

~Candace

[meauxna 15]

Am I having deja vu?

[tammytoes 0]

Am I having deja vu?

Did you go through the same thing?

[meauxna 15]

Am I having deja vu?

Did you go through the same thing?

No sweetie, I think I've seen your Q posted here before.

At any rate, it doesn't matter your nationality etc. DCF is all about the US citizen being allowed to file the I-130 where s/he is overseas.

Get married where you like (I suggest that since it's not home country to either of you that you get several official copies of your marriage certificate for the future). Have your marriage certificate translated to English (use a professional service or university since neither of you is Danish). Guard it carefully.

Get your residency permit for Germany, as a part of his orders (whatever it is that Germany or the US military requires).

When you're ready to move (6 months out or so if you have that much lead time), have him file the I-130 and you follow up with your visa application.

Read the threads here on DCF in Frankfurt. There's nothing particularly out of the ordinary regarding what you want to do. There's no need for you or your USC to call the Consulate.

[tammytoes 0]

Am I having deja vu?

Did you go through the same thing?

No sweetie, I think I've seen your Q posted here before.

At any rate, it doesn't matter your nationality etc. DCF is all about the US citizen being allowed to file the I-130 where s/he is overseas.

Get married where you like (I suggest that since it's not home country to either of you that you get several official copies of your marriage certificate for the future). Have your marriage certificate translated to English (use a professional service or university since neither of you is Danish). Guard it carefully.

Get your residency permit for Germany, as a part of his orders (whatever it is that Germany or the US military requires).

When you're ready to move (6 months out or so if you have that much lead time), have him file the I-130 and you follow up with your visa application.

Read the threads here on DCF in Frankfurt. There's nothing particularly out of the ordinary regarding what you want to do. There's no need for you or your USC to call the Consulate.

Ah yes. I posted first about a year ago... at that time, we were going to go the K1 Visa route, but I had just heard about DCF and it seemed like a decent option. Now though, we're definitely going with DCF. So much easier!

Thanks so much for your tips and advice!

[meauxna 15]

Ah yes. I posted first about a year ago... at that time, we were going to go the K1 Visa route, but I had just heard about DCF and it seemed like a decent option. Now though, we're definitely going with DCF. So much easier!

Thanks so much for your tips and advice!

ha ha! I thought maybe there was a rush of Canadian brides floating over to Germany..

It sounds like a great adventure and a wonderful plan! the Ffurt DCFers have done a great job of documenting what they did--it should be easy for you!

Best wishes and happy wedding