For U.S. immigration, 'partnered' doesn't count

[AlphaCentauri]

Source: sfgate

Shirley Tan has been with her partner, Jay Mercado, for 23 years. The Pacifica women have twin 12-year-old sons and have been registered domestic partners since 1991.

That means nothing to the federal government, which recognizes only a marriage between a man and a woman. Federal authorities ordered Tan, who is not a U.S. citizen, to be deported from San Francisco to her native Philippines this morning.

But with the help of her congresswoman, Rep. Jackie Speier, D-Hillsborough, Tan received a three-week stay of the deportation order, allowing her to remain with her family until April 22.

"This is good news, since we now have a little more time for the legal process to work," said Tan's attorney, Phyllis Beech. "If this was not a same-sex couple, the spouse of an American citizen would be able to immigrate fairly quickly and fairly easily. Instead, they're being discriminated against because they are lesbians."



Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/04/02/MNSF16QV9B.DTL

[FreakinDJ]

1. Is there any country in the world that allows "Same Sex Immigration"

just wondering

[GOPNotForMe]

2. Yes, many in fact.

Here's a random example: http://www.migrationexpert.com/Australia/Visa/australian_immigration_news/2009/Mar/0/274/Changes_to_Immigration_Act_for_Same-Sex_Couples

[dipsydoodle]

4. Some details here of UK rules

http://www.uklgig.org.uk/civil_partnership.htm#CP_and_the_Immigration_Rules

There have been some issues on the subject which from memory were as a result of bent solicitors using the system to import those who may not otherwise have gained UK access i.e. they were not in truth gay partnerships and hence the more extensive vetting procedure.

[nolabear]

3. Proud to be Rec 5.

This is a travesty, and the attention it gets, which I hope is copious, points out the stupidity of the American policies on same sex marriage. I'll be glad when people realize that discrimination is discrimination, no matter how you try to decorate it.

[UndertheOcean]

5. kick