Time Running Out for Binational Married Couple

Japanese-born Takako Ueda and Frances Herbert married in Vermont April 26, but Ueda says the life she's known for the past 11 years will be interrupted July 5, when her visa to stay in the United States runs out, CNN reports.


While Ueda and Herbert are legally married in Vermont, the Defense of Marriage Act prevents any federal recognition of their marriage, so Herbert cannot sponsor her wife to become a U.S. citizen. As the clock has been ticking toward Ueda's visa expiring July 5, she has been packing to return to Japan, in the possibility that her request to stay will be denied.

"If she had to leave," Herbert said, unable to finish her sentence. "It's still really hard for me to think of that. Even though the whole last year, every season was like, 'Oh, God, this is the last season,' 'This is the last Thanksgiving,' 'Oh, this is the last birthday.'"

http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2011/06/28/Time_Running_Out_for_BiNational_Married_Couple/

Partner from UK.

The things we straight folk take for granted. Sheesh!