Binational Couples
Same Sex Immigration Policies
If you were to meet Mr or Miss Right while traveling in a foreign country, you may try the long distance thing however there will be a certain point where you will want to relocate and reside together. Same-sex immigration policies in whichever country you choose determine wither either of you will be able to sponsor the other for legal citizenship. In most countries, heterosexual citizens can sponsor their foreign partners for legal residence. However, a mere 19 countries in the world will allow homosexuals to sponsor their foreign partners. Due to same-sex immigration policies, binational couples are forced to live apart in their respective countries of citizenship or live illegally in one country. In the United States, same sex immigration laws do not allow homosexual binational couples to sponsor their foreign partners. The Defense of Marriage Act, which was signed in 1996 prohibits recognition of same-sex couples in the United States, which in turn effects the same-sex immigration laws. Since the Defense of Marriage Act, does not recognize same sex binational couples cannot sponsor each other for immigration into the United States. However, there has been a surge of activism and advocacy in this area since 2000. In response to America’s lag in same-sex immigration and the rights of binational couples, Representative Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) introduced the Permanent Partners Immigration Act. The bills were then reintroduced in 2001, 2003, 2005, and 2007 under the title Uniting American Families Act to fight for same-sex immigration rights; the bills were referred to the House Judiciary Committee, without progress. The most recent push towards same-sex immigration laws and the rights of binational couples is that on February 12, 2009 Rep. Nadler and Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) have co sponsored the Uniting American Families Act of 2009 in both the House of Representative and the Senate. This bill would allow binational couples to bring their partners into the United States under the same criteria as heterosexual nationals. There are approximately 594, 391 same sex “unmarried partners” that are binational couples in that one is a United States citizen and the other is not. However, same-sex immigration laws may be changed to include homosexuals and the Uniting American Families Act may go further in the Obama administration as both Barack Obama and Hilary Clinton have stated their support for The Uniting American Families Act which will change same-sex immigration laws and allow binational couples to sponsor each other.
Participating Countries
There are only 19 countries in the world that allow same-sex immigration and these are: Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Israel, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. Unless one half of the binational couple is from one of the countries listed above, the same-sex immigration laws will not allow binational couples to spons
or each other. As mentioned previously, same-sex immigration laws prevent binational couples from living together or force them to violate their country’s same-sex immigration laws and live illegally.
To show your support in this issue, and to help with the progress of the bill write to your representative and senators expressing your concern and voicing your support for The Uniting American Families Act of 2009.