Immigration Resources © July 21, 2008, Demian International Australia Canada France United Kingdom United States Further Resources International National Asylum Partnership on Sexual Orientation The National Asylum Partnership supports worldwide claims for asylum made by those who fear persecution because of sexual orientation, gender identity, or HIV status. It documents human rights abuses perpetrated against lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, the transgendered, and people with HIV/AIDS. Note: Asylum and immigration work had been done by the International Gay & Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC). As of October 15, 2007, the program was transferred to NIJC. Dusty Araujo, Asylum Documentation Coordinator National Asylum Partnership on Sexual Orientation National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC), P.O. Box 558, San Francisco, CA 94104 415-398-2759, fax 415-398-4635; daraujo@heartlandalliance.org immigrantjustice.org/client/programs/asylumseekers/lgbt.html International Lesbian Gay Association Not an immigration group per se, the ILGA is an excellent resource. It is a worldwide federation of national and local groups dedicated to achieving equal rights for lesbians and gay men through worldwide cooperation. It focuses public and government attention on discrimination cases by supporting programs and protest actions, asserting diplomatic pressure, providing information and working with the international media. ILGA Kolenmarkt 81 1000 Brussels, Belgium phone/fax: + 32-2-502.24.71; ilga@ilga.org ilga.org Love Exiles Foundation LEF supports GLBT couples who have chosen, or are considering, exile in order to be together. Love Exiles Foundation +31 (0)20 679 0523 loveexiles@xs4all.nl loveexiles.org LEF - Australia groups.yahoo.com/group/LoveExilesAustralia LEF - Canada groups.yahoo.com/group/LoveExilesCanada LEF - Germany loveexiles@aol.com LEF - Netherlands loveexiles@xs4all.nl groups.yahoo.com/group/LoveExilesNL LEF - Spain groups.yahoo.com/group/LoveExilesSpain LEF - U.K. loveexilesuk-owner@yahoogroups.com Love Exiles UK - Online Community Australia Gay and Lesbian Immigration Task Force These loosely affiliated groups aim to achieve equality in the Australian immigration system for gay and lesbian couples. They assist couples making residency applications where one partner is not an Australian Citizen, an Australian Permanent Resident, or an Eligible New Zealand citizen, and to ensure that changes in immigration policy take into account the needs of people who are lesbian or gay. GLITF Box 400, Darlinghurst, NSW 2010, Australia [+61] (02) 9380-5950; fact line: 1902-262-155 ($1/min. charge); glitf@dot.net.au glitf.org.au GLITF SA P.O. Box 6003, Halifax St., Adelaide SA 5000, Australia voicemail +61-8-84111099; glitfsa@rebel.net.au hawking.rebel.net.au/~glitfsa GLITF Victoria P.O. Box 2387, Richmond South, Victoria 3121, Australia 0431 738 526; +61431 738 526; glitf_vic@yahoo.com.au glitfvic.org.au GLITF Queensland (Inc.) P.O. Box 378, Paddington, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia 4064 Phone/fax (07) 3367 0731; info@glitf.powerup.com.au glitf.powerup.com.au [This site requires Flash - downloads take longer to access data.] Canada Lesbian and Gay Immigration Task Force (LEGIT) Works to change Canada’s immigration laws. Provides peer support and information to those couples attempting to obtain permanent residence status for their non-Canadian partner. The Montréal group advises on immigration to Québec which has its own immigration regulations. LEGIT has successfully aided more than 700 binational couples gain permanent residence in Canada. Their Web sites appear to be infuriatingly out-of-date. Their phones may be subject to change. LEGIT - Vancouver (English, Spanish) P.O. Box 384, Vancouver, BC V6C 2N2 Canada vancouver@legit.ca legit.ca Meets the last Thursday of every month at 7:30pm at the Centre, 1170 Bute St. LEGIT - Ottawa/Quebec (English, French) 24 Oak Road, Wakefield, Quebec J0X 3G0 Canada 819-459-2898 branchard.toups@sympatico.ca LEGIT - Toronto (languages spoken: English) P.O. Box 111 Station F, Toronto, Ontario M4Y 2L4 Canada 416-392-6874 (Church Street Community Centre); 416-925-9872, x2211 (information only - no messages); toronto@legit.ca Meets 3rd Thursday of the month, 7-10pm at 519 Church St. LEGIT - Hamilton (English, French, Hindi) hamilton@legit.ca legithamilton.ca Meets on 3rd Wednesdays, 7-10pm, Sobeys Inc. (2nd floor conference room) 977 Golflinks Road, Ancaster (Hamilton) Ontario, L8G-3T9 Canada Immigration Information from the Canadian Government The interim policy on same-sex marriages was repealed in December 2006. As a result, same-sex marriages are recognized for all immigration purposes, as long as the marriage is legally recognized both under Canadian law and, where the marriage occurred outside of Canada, in the country where the ceremony occurred. Citizenship and Immigration Canada / Citoyenneté et Immigration Canada How to apply for citizenship from the Canadian government. cic.gc.ca/english/index.asp (English) / cic.gc.ca/francais/index.asp (en Français) France ARDHIS L’Ardhis a pour mission de défendre et de promouvoir les droits au séjour et à l’asile des personnes homosexuelles et transsexuelles étrangères en France. / Mission: To defend and promote the rights of residence and asylum of homosexual and transgendered persons in France. Centre LGBT Paris Ile-de-France 63 rue Beaubourg, 75003 Paris 06 62 54 88 05; contact@ardhis.org Retrouvez-nous les 1er et 3ème mardis du mois de 18h à 20h / Meets 1st & 3rd Tuesdays from 6-8pm United Kingdom UK Lesbian & Gay Immigration Group Formerly: Stonewall Immigration Group A voluntary organization providing information and advice on immigration rights for same-sex couples and asylum seekers. UK Lesbian & Gay Immigration Group UKLGIG, P.O. Box 51524, London, SE1 7ZW helpline +44 (0)20 7922 7811; admin@uklgig.org.uk uklgig.org.uk Especially see their highly informative article: “Civil Partnership Guide” from UKLGIG uklgig.org.uk/civil_partnership.htm United States American Immigration Resources Long list of links to laws, lawyers, organizations, resources. wave.net/upg/immigration/resource.html Immigration Law Project of the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center Offers advice and advocacy on U.S. immigration, no direct legal representation. Immigration Law Project 1625 N. Schrader Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90028-6213 323/993-7670 x3 Immigration Project Since 1994, NCLR established a national project dedicated to immigration issues. Since those early years NCLR has provided free legal assistance to thousands of LGBT immigrants nationwide. Offers free phone advice and clinics. Immigration Project National Center for Lesbian Rights 870 Market St., #570, San Francisco, CA 94102 Noemi Calonje, Project Director (se habla español) 415-392-6257; immigration@nclrights.org nclrights.org/site/PageServer?pagename=issue_immigration Immigration Equality Fights for equal immigration rights for same-sex couples, helps LGBT/HIV+ refugees fleeing persecution win asylum in the US, and works for an end to the HIV immigration ban. Resources include a pro bono asylum network and information about gay or gay-friendly immigration lawyers around the country. Chapters in many cities provide support and advocacy opportunities. Responds to queries within a week. Formerly called the “Lesbian and Gay Immigration Rights Task Force.” Immigration Equality 350 West 31 St., #505, New York, NY 10001 212-714-2904 x25, fax 212-714-2973; legal@immigrationequality.org immigrationequality.org Local chapters: immigrationequality.org/template.php?pageid=17 Love Sees No Borders Immigration data, and stories of same-sex couples suffering because their relationships are not recognized for immigration purposes. loveseesnoborders.org Out4Immigration A volunteer grassroots organization that addresses the widespread discriminatory impact of U.S. immigration laws on the lives of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and HIV+ people and their families through education, outreach, advocacy and the maintenance of a resource and support network. out4immigration.org P.O. Box 14073, San Francisco, CA 94114 info@out4immigration.org groups.yahoo.com/groups/out4immigration United States Citizenship & Immigration Service A Bureau of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. uscis.gov Further Resources Partners Task Force Articles: Immigration Roundup — A survey of welcoming countries Immigration Correspondence — Messages from Binational Couples The U.S. Immigration Bills — “Permanent Partners,” “Uniting American Families” To Be Listed For your organization to be listed, please contact us with the following: • Contact Person • Organization Name • Street Address or Post Box • Phone • E-mail • Web Site • Brief Mission Statement All contents © 2009, Demian The Sweet Corn Shop    Products that affirm self-esteem and social equality.    A smart variety of Bumper Stickers and Buttons    for political impact, plus Mugs and Teddy Bears.    Purchases help support Partners’ efforts.