Did you know…that if every single state of the United States of America were to acknowledge and legalize “marriage” between same-sex couples, that the U.S. Government will still NOT provide immigration rights to “married” same-sex couples? That’s right, FEDERAL trumps State.
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services have made it very clear that they will not recognize any same sex marriages (although at the “State” level, this country is starting to wake up). If you apply for a visa for your partner based on a same sex marriage, it will be denied. If your partner is not in lawful status, he could be placed in removal (deportation) proceedings. Equal marriage rights in three states and partnership recognition in others mark tremendous steps forward in the struggle for equal rights for LGBT individuals in the United States (let’s not overlook this tremendous feat.) But as far as same-sex marriages AND “immigration” goes, if your marriage becomes known to Immigration, this evidence of a reason to want to stay permanently in the U.S. could be a ground to DENY your partner a visa in the future.
That’s why it is so important to support UAFA: The Uniting American Families Act – a U.S. bill to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to eliminate discrimination in the immigration laws by permitting permanent partners of United States citizens and lawful permanent residents to obtain lawful permanent resident status in the same manner as spouses of citizens and lawful permanent residents and to penalize immigration fraud in connection with permanent partnerships.
Please, before applying for a green card (based on the fact that you were just legally “married”) consult an immigration lawyer. ”Immigration Equality” may be able to assist you –> http://immigrationequality.org/index.php
