Can a married SM be allowed to stay in the barracks?

2023-06-13T01:46:07-04:00

It might sound odd to ask but, I recently got married my wife a foreigner on a student visa she applied to university in my area but got denied and can’t have a break from school except for very few exceptions. My leadership find out I’m married and now pressuring me to have her register in Deers, not that I don’t want to but she doesn’t have the necessary document needed to be register at the moment. And two I purchase a home back home to which she’ll be staying in soon her lease is up. I explain to them I don’t want to move in to an empty house by myself it’ll be a financial hardship to handle two homes, among other things. Especially when my wife can’t technically and legally live with me at the moment.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 13 at 2023 1:50 AM

2023-06-13T01:50:59-04:00

Contact one of these three gentlemen... they are very knowledgeable in Military related questions/issues.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 13 at 2023 8:12 AM

2023-06-13T08:12:54-04:00

1. if you already own a home and you're not even getting BAH yet, then getting BAH for the home you move into on or near post shouldn't be any more of a financial problem than your situation now.
2. if you are married, the Army actually requires you to register your dependents in DEERS as soon as possible, you are responsible for their housing, healthcare and well-being.
3. your wife should be applying for a green card based on being married to a US citizen while on an F1 visa, this is called an adjustment of status:

https://www.boundless.com/immigration-resources/how-to-change-status-from-f-1-visa-to-green-card-through-marriage/

How to Change Your Status from an F-1 Visa to a Green Card through Marriage

If you're an F-1 student married to a U.S. citizen or green card holder (permanent resident), learn how to adjust your status to a green card

Response by SFC Casey O'Mally made Jun 13 at 2023 9:27 AM

2023-06-13T09:27:16-04:00

Yes, you CAN be allowed to stay in the barracks.... if there is room. But that does not mean you MUST be.

Also, with VERY few exceptions, your choice is Barracks OR BAH. Staying in the Barracks should stop any BAH you may be getting, and prevent new BAH from starting.

Your best bet is to find the cheapest, smallest apartment you can find (or even rent a room) minimally furnish it, and collect the BAH to pay for your mortgage back home.

And get your wife in DEERS ASAP. There is a YUGE difference between BAH with dependents and BAH without in most locations.

Response by COL Dan Ruder made Jun 13 at 2023 5:24 PM

2023-06-13T17:24:51-04:00

It sounds like at least two issues here. But not having the necessary documentation to register her in DEERs and the reasons why your wife "can’t technically and legally" live with you seem to underpin most of your issues. The advice from this board can be helpful but if you were my troop I'd have you visit with the Legal Assistance Office at your JAG. They also provide Family Legal Services. Within the JAG network, they do provide optional support to non-Servicemember immigration/naturalization issues. In any case, you should check with them and discuss the details of your situation. You need to navigate from a known point and right now it sounds like you could use some legal direction.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 14 at 2023 12:36 PM

2023-06-14T12:36:24-04:00

If you're married, you have to register her in DEERS as a dependent. Your wife's legal status to be in the US is something you should have thought about before you got married - as in probably waiting until she got legal residency at the very least.

This might help for getting legal permanent residency: https://home.army.mil/bliss/index.php/about/news/marriage-foreign-spouse-procedure-and-potential-ramifications#:~:text=If%20approved%2C%20the%20foreign%20national,of%20the%20U.S.%20Armed%20Forces.

How is it a financial hardship if you're going to get BAH at your location? That should cover the house where you live. I mean it doesn't really matter if you want to live in an empty house or not. You are married, you have a dependent and if they need rooms for single soldiers, they'll make you move out since you collect BAH. You should have thought this through and planned it out better before making such a big decision. You aren't the first nor will you be the last who gets married and your spouse is in another location, regardless of legal status.

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