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Home > Issues > Binational Couples > Uniting American Families Act > Our Stories
Rita and Margot (Not her real name)
 Rita (37) and Margot (32) have been partners for five years. Rita owns a successful business in Los Angeles where she employs 20, and Mara, a native of Germany, is in the U.S. on a student visa. Margot is a student and is pursuing another degree to remain in the U.S. lawfully. Tuition has cost Rita and Margot nearly $65,000 as Margot cannot work while on the student visa, and while they are happy they can afford the expense, they are frustrated at having to resort to such lengths to stay together.
Rita and Margot are expecting their first child, a baby girl, in September. They describe this time as among the happiest in their lives, but they are also filled with dread at the looming expiration of Margot's visa next year. Unfortunately, it appears one of their few remaining options is to move to Canada—which would uproot them from their family and friends. "I don't want to move to Canada," Rita states. "I want to raise my child in the U.S. and I don't want to have to unemploy all of my wonderful employees and give up my business, but we refuse to break the law. Unfortunately, the law now dictates that we are running out of options. As an American citizen, I can't believe I may have to flee the United States as a refugee in order to keep my family together. "
Walter, Santo and Ethan
 Walter and Santo have been partners for over 15 years. In 1999 Walter was recruited by the Ford Motor Company to head up their public relations department and the couple relocated to Michigan. Santo applied as a student to Wayne State University to get a bachelor of Arts in fashion and retail merchandising. After four years and an additional year of optional practical training, they could no longer keep Santos on a valid student visa.
Walter was forced to leave his job at Ford Motor Company and take a job in New York where Santo had received a job offer that would sponsor him for a work visa. The couple relocated to New York, and finally pursued their dream of adopting a child.
In September, 2003 they took Ethan home from overseas and began their new lives as parents. However, after only a year in New York, Santo's job became untenable and they were forced again to consider how they could remain on valid visa status. This time they decided that they had had enough and could not put Ethan through all the moving that they were accustomed to. They relocated permanently to Sydney, Australia where the three of them and their beagle, Roopert, now live. Walter recounts, "I am with my partner and my son, but I have left so many people behind. My mother, and my brother and sister can't understand why the U.S. won't allow me to sponsor Santo. My mom misses her grandson and my brother and sister miss their nephew."
Nicole and Martina
 Nicole and Martina met four years ago at a barbeque near where Nicole was working in Germany. A native of a small town in southern Illinois, she moved temporarily to Germany to get her masters degree and then took a job as an attorney in a German law firm. While the couple could stay in Germany together, Nicole would like to return to the U.S. and misses her family. Martina is training to be a doctor and will begin looking at her options for getting a job or continuing her medical training (residency) in the U.S. upon graduation.
The only option the couple has is for Martina to qualify on her own for a visa or green card. If, in her pursuit, Nicole and Martina’s relationship becomes known to immigration authorities, it could endanger Martina’s chances of getting into the country and their being together. Nicole reports that her mother and father are upset that her daughter and Martina are being kept out of the country. “I am just a boring, ordinary gal,” Nicole states. “I wish the government saw it that way too.”
Steve and Oliver, Laurent and Reece
 Steve and Olivier met in Belgium when Steve was abroad working for AT&T. Upon returning to San Francisco, Steve spent the next two years trying to secure a visa for Olivier to join him in the U.S. Olivier sacrificed his engineering career in Belgium to work for a firm that would sponsor his visa. The firm eventually closed its doors and Steve and Olivier were faced with the likelihood of being pushed out of the U.S. due to visa issues.
While happily living and working in San Francisco, Steve and Olivier adopted two boys, Reece (newborn) and Laurent (1). Unfortunately, Belgium does not recognize Steve as the legal parent of the boys, so they could not return to Belgiumt="on">U.S or Canada and discovered a temporary E2 visa. Olivier and Steve pulled their resources together and secured this visa for Olivier. This was a successful, short-term solution. After the 9/11 crisis, Olivier's E2 visa was revoked, and he received a deportation order. The couple fought the deportation order and secured a temporary extension. Knowing couples who have been split up by unfair immigration laws, Steve recounts, "We are among the lucky ones, but we do not feel as grounded in this country as our friends with children who are straight, married, and also bi-national. My government has mistreated us with unfair laws, and our sons are second hand victims. The playing field is not yet level for us, or them. "
Gloria and Celeste (Not her real name)
 Gloria lives in Miami, FL and Celeste has relocated to Vancouver, Canada in order to be closer to her partner. After living together for two years in South Florida, Celeste (a native of Argentina) returned home to visit her family and friends as well as to secure a student visa to work on a new degree at a local community college. To her surprise, the US embassy refused her student visa request and in the process was denied entry into the U.S. claiming she did not have significant ties to her native Argentina.
Gloria and Celeste were shocked and began looking for ways to be together legally. They searched and searched for alternatives, but could not find any path. They eventually decided that the only way to remain together was to have Celeste move to a third country (Canada). Gloria is trying to find a solution but may soon be forced to leave her successful business practice in Florida to move to Canada. Gloria states of their situation, "I'm a small business owner in the state of Florida and a respected professional in my field for over 10 years and am distraught at the possibility of having to walk away from a business that I poured so much energy, funds, and creation to be with Celeste. The discrimination is simply unjustifiable and yes, this destroys lives."
Mark and Fabien (Not his real name), John and Claire-Marie
 Mark and Fabien have been partners for over 17 years. They have a beautiful home and are the proud parents of John (7) and Claire-Marie (3). Fabien has been able to say in the country through student and work visas. When his last work visa came to an end without the possibility of renewal, they faced dire choices.
Going back to France is an option, except that French law would not recognize the children and they will have to leave and re-enter every six months. For Mark and Fabien, staying in the U.S. is preferred, but Fabien is on a student visa so he cannot work and Mark's salary must support the entire family. Fabien's student visa is expensive and the expense has forced Mark and Fabien to sell their new home to pay for the tuition and allow Fabien to remain in the U.S. Mark says of their situation, "we are running out of money and options. We have built a beautiful family and would like to adopt again, but we have had enough and may be forced to leave our family and friends.
Kelly and Natalie
 Kelly and Natalie fell in love in 1999. Kelly, originally from Buffalo, NY, has helped to build community and arts organizations in New York City for more than 20 years. Natalie is a French citizen who owns a small business in New York City and is a champion kickboxer. Her athletic talent qualifies her for an extraordinary ability visa to remain in the U.S. temporarily. Kelly and Natalie live and work in the City and own a home upstate.
Despite their many years together, they live with the constant uncertainty that Natalie's visa will expire and that they will be forced to leave the family and community they have built here. Despite the fact that Natalie competes internationally for the U.S. in kickboxing tournaments, she has not obtained a green card and Kelly cannot sponsor her.
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