Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (August 22, 2013) – Best Law Associates discusses the effects of the case of United States v. Windsor on immigration. Decided by the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS), the case virtually allows a Philadelphia immigration lawyer or those elsewhere to file green card petitions for same-sex couples married anywhere in the world.

In United States v. Windsor, SCOTUS allows the surviving spouse of a same-sex marriage to get a tax refund for her deceased spouse’s estate by striking down a law that did not recognize the union. Although the ruling does not directly affect immigration law, it essentially allows gay and lesbian U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents to file residency petitions for their spouses who live abroad.

The case involves Edith Windsor and Thea Spyer, a same-sex couple in New York who legally married in Canada in 2007. When Windsor filed a tax refund for the estate of Spyer after her death in 2009, it was denied because Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) did not include same-sex relationships to its definition of marriage. The case reached all the way to SCOTUS, which eventually voided Section 3.

Because of the decision, DOMA no longer restricts marriage as only between a man and a woman. This allows roughly 28,500 same-sex couples of different nationalities to receive benefits that immigration laws grant to other lawful marriages. Thus, gay and lesbian residents can ask a Philadelphia immigration lawyer to petition their spouses in other countries for permanent residency in the United States.

Best Law Associates offers their assistance by filing green card petitions for same-sex couples who married in other countries. Interested parties seeking an experienced immigration attorney in Philadelphia can visit www.BestLawAssociates.com to get started today.

About Best Law Associates

Best Law Associates is a team of experienced immigration attorneys in Philadelphia, the Berkshires, and the Hudson Valley. They address issues for spouses, families, and institutions seeking to bring their beneficiaries into the country. They also deal with international adoptions and relief for unaccompanied minors.