Getting married and housing...

[MichelleB]

Hi! My daughter is getting married in February while her fiance is on leave here in CA. They will return to Camp Lejeune a week after the wedding. He lives in the barracks right now, and they are having trouble getting information about how to make sure housing is ready when they get back. Have any of you had experience with this. So far, they know that they have to apply for housing, but if that can't be done until after they are married, where will she stay at Camp Lejeune when they fly back until the house is ready? The housing site says there is immediate availability for housing, but I'm sure they won't be able to walk into the office the day they get back and have keys for a house that same afternoon. How is this normally handled? Can he apply ahead of the marriage date to ensure the house is ready when they return? We have all tried calling the offices that are listed, but no one ever answers the phones at those offices, and his work hours begin before and end after the offices close. It is very frustrating not getting any information. Do any of you have any ideas on this? Thank you!

[abuon18]

Typically no, you cannot apply for housing until you are married. You have to bring the marriage paperwork because it's one of the requirements for eligibility for housing. Camp Lejeune is a Marine base though so I'm not sure if they might have different policies. Have you tried reaching out on Facebook to see if there is a Camp Lejeune group? The wives or moms there might have information more specific to that base.

[kiley91]

We had a similar situation here in norfolk, va. I was in a Illinois and tried calling several offices and no one would return my phone call. Has your sailor tried asking his chain of command if he can go to said offices and explain the situation.
That's what we had to end up doing, and surprisingly my husbands LPO let him go get it done. He also took him in the ship van.

But as far as actually applying yes, they would need the marriage license/paperwork because that would
Be what qualifies him. Can she wait
To go until housing is set up.

[Anti M]

The other replies are correct, they cannot apply for housing until they are married. Also, he needs to add her as a dependent at personnel before he can apply for housing.  I hope her has a couple days off once he returns.

It certainly looks like they have "same day" move in at this time.  Next year, it may be different.  I STRONGLY advise they set up an account to pay for her move, and to potentially factor in a few days in a hotel or the on base lodge.  Are they driving back?  They will need money to set up a home, there's always something.  Because he is already at his duty station, there will be no allowances for her move.  While planning a wedding is fun, couples often neglect to plan for the grossly unromantic stuff.  While the base does have a Loan Locker, they will need to buy furniture; housing is not furnished.  

[MichelleB]

Thanks for the replies! I will mention to him to see if his CO will let him go over there during work hours and get it straightened out (or at least get the information and paperwork he will need). They are doing a great job saving money for the move, so I am not worried about that part. They are even accumulating furniture already, so they should be good once they get a house. They are getting married on a Sunday and plan to fly back on Wednesday, and he doesn't have to report back for duty until the following Tuesday, so they have a few days to work things out. I was just concerned that it could be a month or two of staying in hotels. That could add up quickly and eat up all of their savings. She doesn't want to, but she may need to fly back later if there's a waiting list at that time. The other issue is shipping all of their furniture. We were going to use a Pod and have it delivered to the new house, but we won't have the address until they get back there if they can't apply for housing until they have the marriage certificate in hand and are there in person. That means hubby and I have to pack and ship all their stuff. Oh well, such is this life, I suppose... Thanks for the help, everyone!