Gay Married Man in Florida Is Approved for Green Card

[maddezmom]

Source: NYT



An American man in Florida and his husband, who is from Bulgaria, have become the first same-sex married couple to be approved for a permanent resident visa, an immigration milestone that comes after the Supreme Court struck down a federal law against same-sex couples.

The notice of approval of a permanent visa, known as a green card, was issued by e-mail late Friday to Traian Popov, a Bulgarian immigrant who lives with his American spouse, Julian Marsh, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. The approval was evidence that the Obama administration was acting swiftly to change its visa policies in the wake of the court’s decision on Wednesday invalidating the Defense of Marriage Act, or DOMA.

The approval came so fast that it took the couple’s immigration lawyer, Lavi Soloway, by surprise. Mr. Soloway, who represents many same-sex couples, said he received the official message while he was attending the annual conference in San Francisco of the American Immigration Lawyers Association.

“I thought, ‘Am I reading this wrong?’ ” Mr. Soloway said in an interview on Saturday. Although it was a professional setting, he said, he began to weep with emotion when he realized the significance of the notice.


Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/01/us/gay-married-man-in-florida-is-approved-for-green-card.html?_r=0

[MADem]

1. Well, then....there it is. A tangible result! Wonderful!

The approval was evidence that the Obama administration was acting swiftly to change its visa policies in the wake of the court’s decision on Wednesday invalidating the Defense of Marriage Act, or DOMA.

[Franker65]

2. Excellent, hopefully the first of many permanent residence visas!

No matter what people say about Obama, these are great developments.

[Renew Deal]

3. Married filing jointly

Last edited Mon Jul 1, 2013, 10:03 AM - Edit history (1)

I don't know if anyone has run through the federal benefits that married people get, but there are many. As far as I can tell they are now available to everyone legally married.

[cosmicone]

4. It is actually a "marriage penalty"

Two incomes create bracket creep and higher taxes, not lower.

[Renew Deal]

7. It's a penalty except for when it's not

Possible reduction in tax liability – Instead of filing two separate federal tax returns, married same-sex couples will be able to file one joint federal tax return. In most cases, this will result in a reduction in tax liability. For example, if you have a taxable income of $50,000 and your spouse has taxable income of $30,000, you may see a tax savings of about $500 by filing a joint tax return instead of two separate tax returns.

http://blog.turbotax.intuit.com/2013/06/27/doma-struck-down-what-does-this-mean-for-your-taxes/

[tarheelsunc]

5. Now if only they would move so swiftly to approve heterosexual green cards. eom

[nomorenomore08]

9. Why the sour grapes? Can't you just be happy for these two?

[tarheelsunc]

10. My wife and I have been waiting for a year already.

I am happy for them, don't get me wrong. But if they can move that quickly for one case, they should be able to move that quickly for every case.

[nomorenomore08]

11. I don't disagree at all. Hope your case gets resolved soon.

[yellowcanine]

6. Will cause teeth gnashing among '"they" can be together, just don't call it marriage' crowd.

AKA "Love the Sinner, hate the Sin" crowd. Just sayin'.

[closeupready]

8. Yes, this is overwhelming news to those of us who are gay and

have witnessed opposite gender couples have their relationships treated better than gay ones.

I also was a little overcome with emotion when I realized how sweeping this decision will be, and all the thousands of gay people whose lives will improve DRAMATICALLY as a result. K&R

[nomorenomore08]

12. Equalizing gay and hetero relationships under the law is the only way we can

move toward true equality. As long as same-sex relationships are treated as "separate" or "other" they'll be stigmatized by society.