Google – AFP, 3 Aug 2013
 |
US
Secretary of State John Kerry delivers a policy address at the
US Embassy in
London, August 2, 2013 (AFP, Jason Reed)
|
LONDON —
The United States is to extend the same visa privileges to gay married couples
worldwide as those enjoyed by heterosexual couples, Secretary of State John
Kerry said on Friday.
Speaking at
the US embassy in London, Kerry said visa applications by same-sex spouses
would be treated the same as those by heterosexual husbands or wives, as long
as their marriage was recognised in the country where they wed.
"I'm
very pleased to be able to announce that effective immediately, when same-sex
spouses apply for a visa, the Department of State will consider that
application in the same manner that it will consider the application of
opposite-sex spouses," Kerry told embassy staff.
The
announcement comes a month after a historic ruling by the US Supreme Court that
struck down a law denying federal benefits to homosexual couples.
 |
Activists
rally for immigration reform for
gay partners on May 18, 2008 in Long
Beach,
California (Getty Images/AFP
/File, David Mcnew)
|
The change
in visa rules will apply to same-sex spouses even if they are applying for a
visa while in a country that does not recognise their marriage, he added.
The US
government had announced last month that same-sex spouses could now apply for
"green card" residency permits.
Rhode
Island and Minnesota on Thursday became the 12th and 13th US states to legalise
same-sex weddings, amid record support for gay marriage in the US.
Same-sex
marriage is legal in 15 countries as well as 13 US states and parts of Mexico,
while several countries recognise civil partnerships that give gay couples
similar rights to those enjoyed by heterosexual spouses.
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