Sham Marriages on the increase

[Zak33]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8445878.stm

People from foreign climes marrying outher people from foreign climes but who are entitled to stay here...

Good little video from the BBC.

[Jay]

They should have to reapply as a couple.

[kalniel]

The BBC have been very investigative recently. Seen all the ho-ha in NI they've been causing?

[EvilMunky]

They are trying to either justify the high salary, or give people something else to talk about. Works for me!

[jim]

I've heard about a few of these when I knew someone who worked in immigration... was always a very grey area, and certainly the easiest route to take if you want to blag your way into the country in my eyes

[TeePee]

I don't know about the English immigration (or marriage) procedure but here in the US, the marriage is an easy formality. It doesn't give any immigration rights, however. For that you have to apply and go through a very lengthy and expensive procedure, and prove that your relationship is genuine. I cant imagine two people speaking a different language would get very far.

[Lucio]

It's England, despite being an island we have borders with more holes in it that a tart's knickers!

Seriously there's no real regulation apart from some people are called "illegal immigrants" and are occasionally deported after living in a nice council house for a few years.

[Kumagoro]

Getting married will only allow you to apply for a visa, you would still have to prove
you are together to get that. Then two years after that you have to reapply again
for the same rip off visa or get an indefinite leave to remain one which is even more
of a rip off.

[jim]

I don't know about the English immigration (or marriage) procedure but here in the US, the marriage is an easy formality. It doesn't give any immigration rights, however. For that you have to apply and go through a very lengthy and expensive procedure, and prove that your relationship is genuine. I cant imagine two people speaking a different language would get very far.

I remember Bill Bryson complaining about that process actually, said it was a complete and utter nightmare to get his wife registered properly.

[jim]

It's England, despite being an island we have borders with more holes in it that a tart's knickers!

Seriously there's no real regulation apart from some people are called "illegal immigrants" and are occasionally deported after living in a nice council house for a few years.

Not strictly true, the vast majority of illegal immigrants are just turned away at the borders and don't get in at all. It's people hidden away in the backs of lorries that cause most of the problems because they just aren't checked properly.

[JPreston]

Getting married will only allow you to apply for a visa, you would still have to prove
you are together to get that. Then two years after that you have to reapply again
for the same rip off visa or get an indefinite leave to remain one which is even more
of a rip off.

Yes, but why the facts get in the way of a good rant.

Have you seen the test you have to pass to get indefinite leave to remain? Not a person posting in this thread could pass that without some serious study. I doubt even one in a hundred native Brits could, similarly I doubt one in a hundred Brits could correctly draw a Union Jack (Union Flag? I don't even know what it's called when it isn't on a ship ) getting all the thick/thin white bits in the right places, but I suppose that doesn't matter either as long as they don't look all foreign and brown and stuff.

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

I assume people do realise that 5.5 million of our citizens live and work abroad.

[MadduckUK]

Yes, but why the facts get in the way of a good rant.

Have you seen the test you have to pass to get indefinite leave to remain? Not a person posting in this thread could pass that without some serious study. I doubt even one in a hundred native Brits could, similarly I doubt one in a hundred Brits could correctly draw a Union Jack (Union Flag? I don't even know what it's called when it isn't on a ship ) getting all the thick/thin white bits in the right places, but I suppose that doesn't matter either as long as they don't look all foreign and brown and stuff.

i have passed the a mock exam without some serious study, or any study - but i agree its bloody hard and i only got the requirement with a bit of deduction and luck, as is the way with multiple choice.

union flag when not on a ship.

i dont think i could draw one from memory tbh

[0iD]

It's England, despite being an island we have borders with more holes in it that a tart's knickers!

Tarts wear knickers? Really?

News to me

[Saracen]

Tarts wear knickers? Really?

News to me

I'm sure we all bow to your superior knowledge on the matter.

[0iD]

Is that some sort of indecent proposal Mr Saracen?