Kerry announces foreign same-sex couples eligible for visas

[William769]

Speaking at the U.S. embassy in London, Secretary of State John Kerry announced on Friday that the State Department will begin processing visa applications for married gay couples in the same way the administration does for opposite-sex couples.

“If you are the spouse of a U.S. citizen, your visa application will be treated equally,” Kerry said. “If you are the spouse of a non-citizen, your visa application will be treated equally. And if you are in a country that doesn’t recognize your same-sex marriage, then your visa application will still be treated equally at every single one of our 222 visa processing centers around the world.”

According to a frequently-asked-questions page on the State Department website, the change means the same-sex spouse of a visa applicant who’s coming to the United States for any purpose – such as work, study, international exchange or as a legal immigrant – will be eligible for a derivative visa. Similarly, stepchildren acquired through same-sex marriages can qualify as beneficiaries or for derivative status.

Kerry made the announcement at the U.S. embassy in London en route back to Washington following his trip to Islamabad, Pakistan, for consultations with the newly elected government. He noted same-sex marriage will begin in England and Wales starting in 2014 thanks to recently passed legislation, which would give married same-sex couples there an additional opportunity to apply for visas in the United States.

http://www.washingtonblade.com/2013/08/02/kerry-announces-foreign-same-sex-couples-eligible-for-visas/

[zbr6]

1. Correct me if I'm wrong

“Now, as long as a marriage has been performed in a jurisdiction that recognizes it so that it is legal, then that marriage is valid under U.S. immigration laws, and every married couple will be treated exactly the same, and that is what we believe is appropriate,” Kerry said.

Is this not how derivative visas have worked all along? Has there been any real change or did they just add some words?

[William769]

2. Until June 26th of this year even though Some States recognized Same sex marriages

The Federal Government could not recognize them because of section 3 of "DOMA". Now that it's been overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court, the Federal Government can now recognize these marriages.

[Scurrilous]

3. K & R

[AtomicKitten]

4. Kerry came off the starting block full tilt go.