LGBT Resources
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender international students and scholars may have certain concerns in coming to the U.S., which non-LGBT people do not have.
Spouses
Although UCSF and the State of California recognize same-sex domestic partners and spouses for certain benefits, the United States Federal government does not.
If you are legally married to someone of the same gender in your home country, unlike your non-LGBT counterparts, you cannot sponsor your spouse for an H4 (H1 dependent) or J2 (J1 dependent) visa so that they may come to the United States with you. However, your dependent children under the age of 21 may still be able to obtain an H4 or J2 visa.
For your non-US citizen spouse to legally enter the United States, they will need to have their own H1, J1, F1, B2 (or other) visa that is completely unrelated to yours. Be sure to find out well in advance of your planned move to the U.S. if your spouse is able to come with you or not, and plan accordingly. If your spouse intends to remain in your home country, but plans to visit you here in the U.S. during your studies or employment with UCSF, be aware that tourist visas to the United States are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Consultation with an immigration specialist in your home country or at ISSO may be helpful to ensure that a tourist visa is granted to your spouse.
HIV Travel and Immigration Ban
As of Jan 4, 2010, foreign nationals are no longer barred from entering the United States or denied permanent residency because of their positive HIV status.
UCSF Resources
You are encouraged to connect with other LGBT people here at UCSF through any number of means:
The UCSF LGBT Center can be found online at http://lgbt.ucsf.edu
The UCSF LGBT Listserv: over 700 UCSF LGBT faculty, students, staff, interns, residents, fellows, and postdocs subscribe to the listserv. To join, send an e-mail from your UCSF email address to listserv@listserv.ucsf.edu with this command and no other text: subscribe lgbt yourfirstname yourlastname. The listserv disseminates news, discussions, and notification of upcoming events of interest to the LGBT community at UCSF.
Bent, a discussion group for LGBT students at UCSF meets Mondays at Mission Bay, 12 noon to 1 p.m., Gen-S204. Free lunch provided. RSVP by e-mailing larry.lariosa@ucsf.edu.
LGBT Coffee Hour at Mission Bay: open to all UCSF faculty, students and staff. Meets Wednesdays at Genentech Hall Café at 3pm. E-mail waddling@msg.ucsf.edu for details.
UCSF Center of Excellence for Transgender Health: http://www.transhealth.ucsf.edu/
External Resources
There are several organizations working to ensure that LGBT people and families are included in immigration reform:
Out4Immigration (http://www.out4immigration.org)
Immigration Equality (http://www.immigrationequality.org)
Love Exiles (http://www.loveexiles.org)
Marriage Equality USA (http://www.marriageequality.org/index.php?page=bi-national-immig)
National Center for Lesbian Rights (http://www.nclrights.org/site/PageServer?pagename=issue_immigration)
LGBT Resources at other UC Campuses: http://www.uclgbtia.org/directory.html
