Advice needed for victim of sham marriage

kazwookie

So did you marry the fake name, or the name on his passport, ie which name is on the marriage certificate?

margaretclare

I would second the advice to go to the local registrar of births, marriages and deaths.

You should go down the route of declaring the marriage to be null and void rather than divorce. If you haven't lived together as man and wife can you state 'non-consummation'?

It seems that this man practised deception. It's true that marriages in other countries are legal here, but both parties must know what they're doing i.e. able to give free and willing consent - that's a pre-requisite. It means you have to be able to say, in full knowledge of all that's involved 'I WILL'!

Pee

I think that you have grounds for an annullment. From the information you have given, I think you need to speak to a solicitor. You should be able to arrange payment in monthly installments. By all means listen to the advice given on here, but someone who specialises in this area should be able to help.

RAS

LibbiC wrote: »

Forgot to say that he stayed in Africa after the ceremony (obvious now that he was applying for the visa) "taking care of his sick dad's business". I went over 5 months later for a holiday but haven't seen him since. So we haven't lived together as "man and wife". !

You may be able to get the marriage anulled in the UK.

Have you also thought about going to the Senegalese Embassy and asking them how to annul or void the marraige in Senegal?

LibbiC wrote: »

Also didn't say that he was living and working in England when we met so I don't think he has a problem with living here but I'm not sure what the rules are on these things!

This man needs a visa to live in the UK. If he had a valid work permit he would have a visa that led to settlement anyway. So that seem unlikely.

So he may have had a student visa (permitted to work 20 hours a week and in holidays) or the old working holiday visa (temporary employment for max 2 years) or he may have been working illegally, which is very easy to do even now and was much more so 4 years ago.

MissMoneypenny

Have you informed the UKBA that you don't agree to a spouse visa and that you are not living as man and wife? Also that he used fake documents? They will be able to revoke his spouse visa if already issued (it's unclear if he has been given one yet) and issue a ban. I would do that as a matter of urgency if I was you, so that you don't have him living in the same country.

LibbiC

kazwookie wrote: »

So did you marry the fake name, or the name on his passport, ie which name is on the marriage certificate?

I married the fake name so in effect I'm married to a person that doesn't exist!

LibbiC

MissMoneypenny wrote: »

Have you informed the UKBA that you don't agree to a spouse visa and that you are not living as man and wife? Also that he used fake documents? They will be able to revoke his spouse visa if already issued (it's unclear if he has been given one yet) and issue a ban. I would do that as a matter of urgency if I was you, so that you don't have him living in the same country.

His visa was never granted as I refused to attend the appeal hearing when I discovered all the lies he'd told in the supporting evidence. But good idea, I think the UKBA should probably know about this fraudster regardless

LibbiC

RAS wrote: »

Have you also thought about going to the Senegalese Embassy and asking them how to annul or void the marraige in Senegal?.

I contacted the Senegal Embassy in London who put me in touch with a solicitor in Senegal but he quoted me 3000Euros just to open the case then all his fees on top. I spoke to a friend in Gambia (the country next to Senegal) who advised that you don't use solicitors for divorces or "marriage cancellations" (as they call annullments) as solicitors are used for criminal matters, things to do with marriage are done through town halls. To get a 'cancellation' both parties have to be present to sign agreement. Bit of a problem as a) I don't know where he is and b) I never want to see his face again!

Triker

LibbiC wrote: »

His visa was never granted as I refused to attend the appeal hearing when I discovered all the lies he'd told in the supporting evidence. But good idea, I think the UKBA should probably know about this fraudster regardless

Yeah...good luck with that, I provided them with details of someone who is living, working and driving in this country illegally.

I gave passport details as I had copies sent to me from interested parties and other documents. Also address details of where he was living.
This person stole £40,000 from us from a property sale in Turkey.
My M.P. enquired on our behalf, she herself was basically told that it was none of her business by the UKBA. They confirmed all that I had told them was true, that he came here on a visitors visa and already overstayed.
We were told that because the pieceofsheet had not agreed (?$%%&) to us discussing his case then basically we were to go away.

The UKBA have done nothing. He's still here, getting away with it...that was over 4 years ago.

So good luck, hope you get further on than we did. x