UK Increases Application Age for a Marriage Visa
23/07/2008 by Bryan Palmer
In an effort to combat large numbers of forced marriages from occurring in the UK, the government has announced plans to increase the age from which applicants can legally apply for a marriage visa.
Under the new plans from the UK Border and Immigration Agency the age has been increased for a marriage visa from 18 to 21. It is hoped that this rise will play a part in the government's revamped safeguards to protect against forced marriages.
Alongside this age increase, there are four additional processes which the BIA have implemented to curb this problem. Another process which was announced today is that all foreign spouses will be asked to enter into an agreement to learn English before they come to the UK.
Part three of the tightened rules will see the introduction of a power to revoke Leave to Remain for those cases where there is evidence that the marriage route has been abused.
Finally in order to be granted a marriage visas sponsor will be required to register their intention to marry overseas before they leave the UK; and ensure through a code of practice that specialist teams can identify vulnerable people at risk of forced marriage.
Although on paper these proposals seem part of strong new security measures to protect against forced marriages, some criticism has come from the idea that they are not very easy to police.
However, speaking at the announcement of the new plans, Border and Immigration Minister Liam Byrne said "British citizens have the right to marry whoever they choose. But we want newcomers to succeed in our society and sign up to the standards we have in common. That means freedom, not being forced to marry someone, and it means newcomers quickly acquiring a command of English, with consequences for those who break the rules."
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