Travel - International Indian

Indians In UKMarriagesA Passport For ‘Legal’ Entry To The UKForeigners are openly flouting British Immigration laws usingmarriage to British passport holders as a means to gainentry into the United Kingdom. SHAMLAL PURI investigates aracket involving fraudulent marriages, adding to the numberof migrants already here at a time when the government isseriously talking of controlling the entry of migrants.By: Shamlal PuriMARRIAGE is big business inthe United Kingdom – shammarriages – to be precise.The racket works like this:an agent in India gets in touchwith his counterpart in the UK. Together theyhatch a plan to link up a British passport holderwith an Indian passport holder. Money changeshands – something like £12,000 (US$20,000).The couple who do not know one another aremarried in India or the UK.Years ago, what started as a few isolatedincidents of sham marriages, involvingforeigners, including Indians and Pakistanis,has today turned into a torrent. The BritishGovernment is fighting a losing battle asforeigners from around the developingworld take the short cut to circumvent UK’simmigration laws.Indian citizens – men and women - arein the market for a British citizen to marry,trawling through the internet and by going onto Indian matrimonial sites. Marriage, till deathdo us apart, is not really their intention. Theykeep their intentions close to their chest and donot speak about their plans to anyone. They gothrough the charade of a marriage ceremonyjust to gain entry into the United Kingdom.On arrival in the UK they live with their Britishpassport holding partner for two years, untiltheir own residence status is confirmed by theHome Office.Then they strike – seeking a divorce onsome frivolous allegations against their partner.86The International Indian