DCF for military stationed overseas (Greece)

[maxatv 0]

My name is Parker Woolfolk, I'm a E-5 stationed in Souda Bay, Greece. I PCS'd here in October 11 and will be here until december 12. I've been dating a bulgarian and we want to get married and leave together. I am trying to find out the best and fastest way to make that possible. I believe if I file an I-129F I can get it expedited due to being military but I am unsure that 5 months is still enough time. I also read that from living overseas I could file for Direct Consular Filing with the embassy in Athens.

If this is true would it matter where we got married? We were hoping to visit the US next month and meet the family and could marry then if it needed to be in the US. Basically I've read 10 differen't ways to do this and I'd like to know the best/fastest one. Would her being pregnant make any difference? Thanks so much for your assistance.

[Ryan H 3,834]

If this is true would it matter where we got married?

No

Would her being pregnant make any difference?

In regards to how fast the file would be processed? The answer is no.

Overall, DCF is typically the quickest route from start to finish.

[GlobeHopperMama 95]

Yes, you can DCF in Greece. You should read through this page (scroll down to I-130):

http://www.uscis.gov...000082ca60aRCRD

You have to marry to DCF (it only works for I-130s/spouse petitions, not fiance petitions). Once you have all your documents together, you can submit the petition and likely experience pretty fast processing. The biggest factor in speedy processing through DCF is having all of your documents in order. Pregnancy doesn't result in expedited processing, but your military status should qualify you for pretty fast processing once you have all your paperwork in order. Read through the Embassy instructions for filing, following the path for filing with USCIS in Athens:

http://athens.usembassy.gov/apply.html

Oh, and where you marry really has no bearing on eligibility or speed in processing. Be careful if you choose to marry in the US - your fiance could experience trouble entering at US immigration of they know she is intending to enter the US to marry a US citizen, as they could presume immigrant intent for that entry. There are tons of threads on the forum regarding this, and many people who have successfully entered for the wedding and then left again, but it can be a bit dicey. The safest method is to marry outside the US, and then just make sure to get your marriage certificate translated to English if it isn't already.

Edited July 11, 2012 by GlobeHopperMama

[GlobeHopperMama 95]

Oh, also this page might be useful for filing the petition in Athens:

http://athens.usembassy.gov/family_petitions.html

[maxatv 0]

Thanks guys! I contacted our legal office on base and they all said the same thing. So were just trying to get everything together for the wedding in Greece and then hopefully experience a fast turn around on DCF!