US Embassy in Manila Issues First Visa to Same Sex Couple

Although same sex marriage is not allowed under Philippine Laws, the United States Embassy in Manila issued on December 2, 2013 its first fiancé visa to a same sex couple. The US Embassy, in its website announced that with this, gay Americans can now petition for family-based visa on behalf of their Filipino spouses, fiancé and children.

The move of the US Embassy in Manila came months after the US Supreme Court struck down a portion of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) which provides a definition of Marriage as a union of one man and one woman. The same announcement said the decision of the High Court signifies that the US government must extend all federal rights and privileges of marriage to any married couple, regardless of sexual orientation. It added that such extension of rights includes immigration benefits.

Noel “Aeinghel” Amaro and Robert Cotterman were the first gay couple in the Philippines to receive a fiancé visa, the US Embassy Website said. The two reportedly met online and scheduled to be married on January 2014 in the United States. Robert Cotterman serves in the U.S. military and is scheduled to return from a tour of duty in Afghanistan in January 2014.

Another couple who received fiancé visa were Maria Cecilia Limson Gahuman and Maria Carla Antonio. They reportedly met through a mutual friend over a decade ago. The announcement said that because Maria Limson Gahuman is Filipina, and Maria Antonia is American, there was no way for the couple to be together. But with their fiancé visa, they are now making their ten-year long-distance relationship into a marriage in California on December 30, 2013.

The announcement said advancing gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender equality has been one of President Obama’s top priorities. It added that in light of these changes, the American Embassy wants to educate gay Filipinos about new visa opportunities.

Filipinos in same-sex relationships with Americans are encouraged to view the Visas section of the Embassy website at manila.usembassy.gov for more information.

Presently, gay couples can marry in 16 of 50 American states, and the nation’s capital, the website said.