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Written question asked by Lord Campbell-Savours (Labour) on Thursday, 5 June 2025, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 19 June 2025. It was answered by Lord Hanson of Flint (Labour) on Monday, 23 June 2025 on behalf of the Home Office.


Sham Marriage

Question

To ask His Majesty's Government what evidence they have on the incidence of sham marriages in the United Kingdom.

Answer

The Government takes abuse of the spouse and partner immigration routes very seriously and is clear that family migration must be based on a genuine and subsisting marriage or relationship. The marriage referral and investigation scheme (the Scheme), introduced across the UK under the Immigration Act 2014, requires that all proposed marriages and civil partnerships where one or both parties could gain an immigration advantage from it are referred to the Home Office.

Under the Scheme, where we have reasonable grounds to suspect a sham relationship, the marriage notice period will be extended to allow for further investigation, and for enforcement or casework action to be taken where appropriate.


Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
HL8167
Session
2024-26
Subjects
Sham marriage
Contains statistics
Yes
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk