Chris moved to the U.S. from Canada in 1994 to attend graduate school in Hawaii. Following school, Chris moved to Albany, New York and then to San Francisco, where he currently lives. During this time, he's lived in the U.S. on a variety of visa types, including F-1 Student, TN, and H1-B work visas.

Chris met his husband, Tim, in 2001, and they were married in California in the summer of 2008. Friends and family were surprised to learn that Tim could not sponsor Chris for permanent residency once married, as would be the case if they were an opposite-sex couple.

Chris' current visa expires in 2010, and until recently, they were living under the cloud of the knowledge that he would have to leave the country at that time, with or without Tim, into an uncertain future for both of them. A few months ago, they learned that Chris' employer of eight years was finally going to sponsor him, and so he was one of the lucky few. Without this support, at the end of his visa, he would have to leave the home, job, family and life that he has created in America over the past fifteen years. This is the reality for most of whom are on non-immigrant visas in this country. We only wish to be treated equally to opposite-sex couples and have the ability to be sponsored by our husbands, wives, or life-partners. Visit Marriage Equality USA Bi-national Immigration (photo: personal; Tim and Chris together since: June 2001)

Tags: USA, Canada