Australian marriage visas sought by Indians for dowry scams
July 20 2010 by Liam Clifford
More and more non-residential Indians (NRIs) are choosing to seek Australian marriage visas in order to perform dowry scams.
An assessment by Overseas Indian
Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi, found that there are rising cases of fraudulent
marriages taking place in Australia, involving Indian nationals. These marriages
take place for the sole purpose of taking a bride’s dowry. Then, after the
bride’s Australian visa expires, she is forced to return to India, while her
criminal husband continues to live in Australia.
Ravi is now keen to draw
attention to this exploitation in order to try to protect young women who may be
lured to Australia to get married. He said, "Australia and New Zealand have
become destinations for this disaster.”
He went on to announce that a
campaign is being launched in an attempt to raise awareness of the problem. He
said, "We are planning to launch an awareness programme to educate people about
the menace. I will also write to Punjab Chief Minister to take necessary steps
to ensure that our girls do not face any harassment.”
Campaigners have
long been requesting more regulations of NRI marriages abroad to protect people
being used in cases of UK and Australian visa fraud and to protect the general
rights of women.
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