The Economic Crisis Hits Binational Couples Hard

Being in a same sex binational couple has always been an expensive proposition. From the frequent international travel necessary to not violate the terms of short-term tourist visas, to maintaining a residence abroad while paying higher tuition rates as a U.S. international student, to paying costly legal fees for those lucky enough to qualify for employment-based visas, it is expensive to maintain a relationship that the U.S. government won’t recognize.

With the current economic crisis, the situation appears to be getting even more difficult for same sex binational couples. Most foreign nationals who have succeeded in obtaining lawful status in the U.S. have done so through the arduous path of attending a U.S. university, then getting a skilled worker (H1B) visa and then eventually having their company sponsor them for lawful permanent residence.

Many of these high skilled jobs have been in the finance industry and because language in the federal bailout bill calls for preserving jobs for Americans, some financial institutions, such as Bank of America, have decided not to hire foreign workers.

It’s still too early to know the exact effect these changes in the economic climate will have on binational couples, but as one of the few avenues toward lawful permanent residence may be increasingly closed off, we have to redouble our efforts for full equality with the Uniting American Families Act.