Illegal Immigrants Stage Fake Gay Marriages For Passports

Illegal immigrants are using sham gay weddings to remain in the United Kingdom. Figures show that 80 civil partnerships, the forerunner to full gay marriage, were reported as suspicious in the last three years.

These official figures reflect those sham marriages that the authorities are aware of but there may be many more that have not been flagged up. One campaigner told the Sun: “Since civil partnerships became legal we’re hearing a lot more about sham same-sex marriage.” UK Border Agency staff issued a warning two years ago that gay marriage might be used as a way to stay in the country. 

There were a total of 7,500 alleged sham marriages in 2013, an increase of 50 percent. UK Border Agency staff first warned that foreign nationals may be looking to gain citizenship through gay marriage two years ago.

The gay rights group Stonewall conceded they were aware of the problem but pointed out that gay sham marriages represent a “tiny percent” of the total. However now Britain has full gay marriage and it becomes more accepted this is likely to rise significantly.

Sham marriages and forced marriages are a common tactic amongst some communities in the UK to gain right of residence for immigrants. In the past this tactic could only be used by opposite sex couples, but with the new right of gay marriage and civil partnership before it new opportunities for immigration offences have presented themselves.

There has also been a problem with younger Eastern Europeans marrying older British nationals and then divorcing them once they get citizenship. The British national concerned often does not know that they are being used to exploit the system. This is a particular problem in countries like Russia and Ukraine as many other Eastern Europeans now have a right to live and work in the UK under EU rules.