In light of the Supreme Court’s recent decision on the Defense of Marriage Act, the U.S. government will now give equal treatment to same-sex married couples applying for visas.
The new policy affects applications by any foreign national who is legally married to a U.S. citizen and foreign gay men and women in a legal same-sex marriage, according to USA Today.
“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,” said Secretary of State John Kerry when he made the announcement on Friday.
Until this decision, all gay married couples had their visa applications considered as individuals while those of opposite-sex couples were considered together.
“Effective immediately, when same-sex spouses apply for a visa, the Department of State will consider that application in the same manner that it considers the application of opposite-sex spouses,” Kerry stated, according to the State.
Kerry said the Supreme Court decision on DOMA “tearing down an unjust and unfair barrier” was “one of those moments where policy and values join together,” according to Bloomberg.
Image: WikiCommons
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