Tighten Rules on Foreign Marriage Partners Says Think Tank A call for tightening the rules on marriages to foreign partners has come from think-tank Migrationwatch (See Briefing Paper No. 10.25). It comes in the wake of a Home Affairs Committee report which reported on forced marriages among some sections of the ethnic communities; the changes are needed to ensure that young people are not put under pressure to marry. The numbers given leave to enter the UK are significant with over 31,000 arriving in 2009. ‘Of course British citizens should be able to marry who ever they choose - provided that they make a free choice without pressure being placed on them. The issue runs wider than forced marriages which the Committee specifically commented upon,’ said Sir Andrew Green, Migrationwatch chairman. ‘It is now time to move on from marriages arranged purely for immigration purposes, often under a degree of family or social pressure that falls short of being actually “forced”. ‘Such marriages cause a lot of misery to those directly involved and are harmful, to the cohesion of our society, as many in the Asian community would privately agree,’ he said. Sir Andrew said a range of measures was needed. The most important was the reinstatement of interviews for marriage visa applicants, particularly in countries with a low average age of applicants. They have been quietly abandoned in recent years as a cost saving measure but this means that it is, in practice, almost impossible to enforce even the existing controls. The report also calls for the sponsor to be required to have a minimum level of earnings. In addition, there should be a delay of five years, and a check that the marriage is still subsisting, before permanent settlement is granted. The level of English language required should be raised to ensure that the spouse has the language skills necessary to integrate into wider society and make a positive contribution to the economy. ‘It is clear that there is a huge task to be done in tackling the chaos in the immigration system left by the last government. Our proposals are just one step in that process. They are intended to be fair to those who seek to marry a foreign partner while also commanding the confidence of the majority of the population – something which at present is sadly lacking,’ said Sir Andrew. STRICTER MARRIAGE VISA RULES URGED FRENCH LET 100 ILLEGALS A WEEK SLIP INTO BRITAIN Stricter marriage visa rules urged Stricter marriage visa rules urged Keep your Arab Spring migrants, May tells France THERESA MAY: LET'S STOP MIGRATION ROT Eight more Eastern European countries could join EU by 2018, President of Romania says Immigration: Theresa May pledges to stop exodus from Arab Spring coming to UK Crime-linked professionals targeted May urges co-operation on migrants Britain needs to co-operate with the French to stop north African immigrants flooding into Britain, says May Labour Party: These are serious allegations from within the UK Borders Agency - Sutcliffe May urges co-operation on migrants Fighting illegal immigration at the frontline Immigration amnesty: David Cameron's Government has failed to do its duty May in Calais border control talks May in Calais border control talks WELL END THE MIGRANT FLOOD VOWS THERESA MAY SCANDAL OF ILLEGALS FREED ONTO STREETS TO CLEAR THE BACKLOG THERESA MAY COMMENT
Press Releases
6 June, 2011A selection of recent media reports
Stricter rules for those who want to marry a foreign partner are needed to ensure confidence in the immigration system, campa
Daily Star (07-Jun-2011)
MORE than 100 migrants are caught illegally trying to sneak into Britain every week from Calais, it emerged yesterda
Express.co.uk (07-Jun-2011)
Stricter rules for those who want to marry a foreign partner are needed to ensure confidence in the immigration system, campa
London Evening Standard (07-Jun-2011)
Stricter rules for those who want to marry a foreign partner are needed to ensure confidence in the immigration system, campa
Guardian.co.uk (07-Jun-2011)
Theresa May promised "strong practical action" yesterday to prevent migrants fleeing the turmoil in North Africa
The Independent (07-Jun-2011)
THE Home Secretary has vowed to stop illegal immigrants from entering Britain through its border with France.
Daily Star (07-Jun-2011)
Another eight countries could have joined the European Union by 2018, the Presi
Telegraph.co.uk (06-Jun-2011)
Theresa May has pledged to stop tens of thousands of migrants fleeing the turmoil
Telegraph.co.uk (06-Jun-2011)
So-called specialist criminals in the most dangerous gangs have been identified by the Scottish Crime and Drug Enfo
Press Association (06-Jun-2011)
Home Secretary Theresa May has said practical co-operation and not burden-sharing is the way to stop tens of thou
Guardian.co.uk (06-Jun-2011)
) Home Secretary Theresa May has said practical c
The Mail On Sunday (06-Jun-2011)
Gerry Sutcliffe MP, Labour's Shadow Home Office Minister, resp
My News Desk (06-Jun-2011)
Home Secretary Theresa May has said practical co-operation and not burden-sharing is the way to stop tens of thou
London Evening Standard (06-Jun-2011)
Fighting illegal immigration at the frontline News Release issued by the COI News Distribution Service on 06 J
Wired-Gov (06-Jun-2011)
I know that I will regret it, but the Commons Home Affairs Select Committee Report on the UK Bo
Telegraph Blogs (06-Jun-2011)
Home Secretary Theresa May will hold talks with her French counterpart in Calais as she inspects the cross-Channel border cont
Guardian.co.uk (06-Jun-2011)
Home Secretary Theresa May will hold talks with her French counterpart in Calais as she inspects the cross-Channel border cont
London Evening Standard (06-Jun-2011)
BRITAIN is to block a mass influx of migrants flooding across the Channel from France in a tightening of our c
Sunday Express (06-Jun-2011)
BRITAIN’S shambolic immigration system was exposed in a scathing attack by a civil servic
Express.co.uk (06-Jun-2011)
TODAY I will be going to Calais to inspect the controls we have in place to stop illegal migrants entering the UK.
Express.co.uk (06-Jun-2011)
Tuesday, 7 June 2011
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