Immigration Matters

[Sweetchics]

Hi everyone,

I came across this consultation today regarding 'Family Migration'. These consultations are to do with proposals that will crack down on sham and forced marriages and also ensure family migrants can integrate into society. I have completed the online questionnaire and would encourage you all to do the same. There are about 40 questions that focus on the consultations, plus another 5 that just ask about the respondent. It would probably take you about 1 hour to complete (if you're fully focused). It does take a while, as each question has a brief explanation.

The proposal focuses on the following issues:

a) Defining what constitutes a genuine marriage to help identify sham and forced marriages
b) Introducing a new minimum income threshold for sponsors of spouses and partners, and their dependants. This is to ensure that foreign nationals are not a burden on UK tax system.
c) Extending the probationary period before spouses, partners and dependants (including those aged 65 years and over) can apply for settlement in the UK from two to five years. This will test how genuine relationships are and postpone the burden on UK taxpayers by postponing access to benefits
d) Requiring spouses, partners and adult dependants applying for settlement so that they can understand everyday English
e) Exploring the case for making ‘sham’ a lawful impediment to marriage in England and Wales and giving the authorities the power to delay a marriage from taking place
f) Working closely with local authorities to ensure vulnerable people are not forced into marriage

**Other key things worth noting...
         - a proposal to have local authorities perform checks to ensure there is no overcrowding in the home, where         married children continue to live with parents in one house.
        - requiring further doc from foreign nationals wishing to marry in UK to establish entitlement to do so (such as original birth certificate to see age of those marrying),
         - requiring couples who wish to marry to attend an interview with the UK Border Agency to test genuiness,
         - to have the married couple who are now at the stage of applying for leave to remain in UK to have their applications countersigned by a solicitor or Immigration adviser, and
         - ban on sponsorship for up to 10 years if a person is convicted of domestic violence and or has breached or is a named respondent of a Forced Marriage Protection Order***

Here is the link(copy and paste into your browser) -->
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/policyandlaw/consultations/family-migration/

This is something that directly affects me, and possibly those who have partners who are subject to immigration controls as well as those in IR relationships etc. I would hope that you would all get involved, as these impact on forced marriages and those with family living abroad. If not for your partners, then just for your own awareness on immigration matters in UK and also to support victims of forced marriages. Immigration is not only about what they write in the papers, which is just a bunch of propaganda anyway. More than happy to have a discussion if any of you would like that.

Please, get involved. Consultation closes on 06th Oct 2011.

xxx

[Spidax]

Having a partner as You know who is already struggling with visa issues, this idea scares me greatly. I do understand the need for a crack down on the sham marriages but it just makes it so much harder for genuine couples to get married and live together!

[Spidax]

I did the survey took me about 40 mins, was very comprehensive and I thought from the sounds of it were some positive ideas, if they come to fruition. It will take a lot of money and man power to make it all work and to help prevent sham marriage, forced marriage and wrongful entry into the country.

So many hoops to jump through though for genuine mixed nationality couples - i feel like if i showed this to my OH he would just pack his bags and leave coz nothin is ever easy for him - and sometimes it just seems the country doesnt want genuine people and sees everyone as illegal and a fraud out to 'rape' the country for everything that they can get! the good hard working people never get the breaks - rant over, sorry guys.

Defo look at the survey and info though - i was impressed by it all

Spida

[Sweetchics]

I hear u Spidax. Unfortunately a few bad apples ruin it for all the other genuine & honest people. Plus most of the time immigration law is based on political agendas which is amplified by public opinion. Or so they say! Anyway at least foreigners are now getting to understand their rights & are fighting back where decisions are based on bias opinions & stereotypes. Home Office has to tread carefully now & stop breaching human rights of others.

Xxxx

[Sweetchics]

By the way, forgot to say thank you for responding to the questionnaire.


Xxx

[saffron]

Thankyou for puttig this up sweetchics...its very important,and the more people who respond over time the better interms of the people who are genuine too...i know Spidax has this close to her heart, and it must be very painful to see someone who has the right to have a genuine relationship be suspect or questioned about their right to stay.


I will try at somepoint on holiday to do this if I get a chance..

[Sweetchics]

Thanks Saffron. I agree the more people respond, the more we can use public opinion to influence these laws.

Really appreciate u taking time to read this post & respond to the questionnaire

Xxx

[chweetgurl]

Sweetchics it does mean a lot to me too as it will effect my visa and many other genuine couples like you/spida
Will fill in the survey tom

[Sweetchics]

Thanks Chweetgurl, let me know how it goes.


xxx

[saffron]

Sweetchics I have completed the survey today...i found it very interesting, there was a lot of learning included, however some of the questions are very difficult for so many out there who have so many different circumstances.

I have said that I have learnt of this survey through our website and that we are aware of the issues that affect mixed couples in this area.

Its  a very important area.

it does take a while to complete!

[Sweetchics]

Thanks Saffron. Yes it does take a while and the information is very useful. I guess it now remains to be seen the outcome of this consultation. The sad thing is knowing that some people may participate in this without understanding the plight of those in forced marriages or how such decisions could impact on those in genuine relationships. Good luck to us!

xxx

[saffron]

Thanks sweetchics,

I take it that it will be later this year or early next year that we learn of the outcome? And consultation only one aspect of the whole decision making process ?

... . I do worry about the tighter immigration rules,as I know many have done for years and continue to do so,and the impact of this on mixed couples,genuine couples, on families where there is a genuine need for people to be together etc...and for those suffering in other countries where life is threatened....these still have to be looked at by all the countries in the world...not that they always do Im sure.

For forced marriages, I must admit I did give clear answers for the way this needs to be more tightly monitored and managed in general.  And I agree that many people do not undersatnd the forced marriage issue in all this, but many are begining to...Im sure with the questions on forced marriage this will have people thinking .

The things that come to mind on prospective spouses who come to meet their fiance's or come here after marriages for over 21 year olds, back in pakistan, is that there will be many cases that still are not genuine..money can be exchanged and girls can still decide when to leave the men for instance, who they agree to marry. If they dont leave them,they will be stuck with them because otherwise they loose their families. We do still need alot of publicity about this..on TV for instance..we still have not seen direct advertising about these things..spelling out where people can get advice or what choices they have at this time.

There are so many things that I think people do, that if they are determined to come to Britain they will do it one way or another.

....my greatest worry is for the men and women who worry about loosing their families if they dont comply...the choices for these women to start again and feel supported is what we need to work on for years to come..choices are not great interms of their support and how they cope on their own, how they deal with disownment....when these areas become better and more and more take the choice to live for themselves not for their parents or for a false marriage...( not for their families if their families have no care for them through this process.)..then we will have more coming out and feeling more confident that they will have a chance.

[Sweetchics]

Hi Saffron,

I believe we'll find out the outcome of this consultation sometime next year. Usually they try finalise before they roll out any changes in April. One thing's for sure, they're definitely going to implement most changes if not all.

I agree that when one loophole is closed, another one conveniently opens. I hope that with the Forced Marriage Unit in the UK Border Agency, they're able to have nmore awareness on forced marriages and honour based violence. Plus take that into consideration when checking applications and implementing policies. But that's all we can do for now...hope. Unless they make forced marriages and honour based violence criminal offences, am not sure how much more can be done. But they definitely need to be more supportive of such victims as you mentioned.

I try to do my bit by creating awareness where I can, whether it's retweeting a post or talking about it with friends and family. My mum surprised me a while back when she was telling me stories about honour based violence back home. I was very surprised as I never knew such a thing existed. Again, all goes unpunished and unpublicised.

I'll just continue doing what I can, when I can and hope that that makes a difference whether minor or major.

xxx

[chweetgurl]

I completed the survey... I agree there has to curb down on sham marraiges as it makes it harder for geniune couples... But it seems like treat everyone like criminals just to stop them from comitting crime?!
The only way i can think is them asking for more documentation.. In event of 2 yr spouse visa backtrack the docs .. Also interviewing the couple seperately in order estabilish connection instead of imposing further 5 yrs!

[Sweetchics]

Hi CG,

Thanks a mil for completing the questionnaire! 

I agree that they do tend to treat all foreigners like criminals, which is why am trying to get people involved as that's not a fair way of creating and implementing policies. At the same time, they're prob take that approach because they don't feel there's any way of determining who's genuine and who isn't. So one size fits all is what they go with.

I dunno...I wonder whether the prospect of waiting 5 years to get permanent residency is likely to put off people involved in sham marriages? Or even give victims of forced marriage confidence to speak up, facing the possiblity of being in that marriage for longer than 2 years. (maybe some agree to marry so the spouse can get papers, and their hope is that once that happens then they get back their freedom...dunno).

xxx