Bkkbound04 Posted August 11, 2003 Report Share Posted August 11, 2003 London Sunday Times 10th August 03 Britain to block Thai brides trade Eben Black, Chief Political Correspondent THE government has ordered an end to the Thai brides trade which sees hundreds of British men ?buying? wives from southeast Asia each year. David Blunkett, the home secretary, has told immigration officials that women from Thailand, the Philippines and other countries in the region should be banned from entering Britain as tourists or students unless they first sign a pledge not to marry British men. Under the rules, women who breach the conditions and marry after arriving could be instantly deported without the right of appeal. The decision follows figures showing that in 2001 more than 25,000 student and tourist visas were issued for Thai nationals, many of whom then got married and stayed permanently. By contrast only 1,000 fiancée visas ? the type needed for people intending to marry British citizens ? were issued. The figures for the Philippines were similar with 20,000 student or visitor visas issued compared with 930 for wives or fiancées. Blunkett, backed by Jack Straw, the foreign secretary, has declared that the women are effectively illegal immigrants. Many have signed up to agencies that advertise them to British and other western men in catalogues or on the internet. One controversial ?brides abroad? marriage was between Brian Clegg, the former Northern Gas chairman, 75, and Thai Banjit Sawaengdee, 23. They married in 1997 but she left him days after arriving in Britain. Under the crackdown ordered by Blunkett and Straw, immigration officers in overseas embassies will have to make visa applicants sign a pledge not to marry in Britain. Most visas given to Thais allow them to enter Britain for three months as a visitor or a student. The undertaking they will have to sign promises: ?I do not intend to remain longer in the United Kingdom and I guarantee that I will not marry during my visit nor apply for settlement nor seek to change the conditions of my stay, nor extend the period of my stay in the United Kingdom nor take employment.? A senior government minister said: ?The system has been open to widespread abuse. Women who have agreed to marry British men are not admitting that is what they are here for. Others come in with the hope of meeting someone they can persuade to marry them.? The restrictions may also be applied to women from Russia and other parts of the former Soviet Union. Colin Jarvis, of the Thai Arts Foundation, who is involved with Anglo-Thai groups in Britain and has business interests in Thailand, said most women coming here contributed to British society, but some were just bar-girls on the make. Others, however, feel the new rules are oppressive. James MacDonald, 55, a retired BT manager from Nuneaton, Warwickshire, married Lemon, 28 ? her real name is Prapaporn ? in Britain last year. He paid about £1,500 to Thai Professional Introductions to arrange the meeting, hotel and visas, then fell in love. They had a Buddhist ceremony in Thailand first and then sought a fiancée visa so that she could enter Britain where they later married. Lemon works in a Thai restaurant in Nuneaton. ?Lemon had the right visa but she still had a grilling at the airport,? said MacDonald. ?We had to go back to the Home Office six months later for a spouse?s visa, and that was another nightmare. ?I don?t mind them tightening the rules, but what I don?t agree with is that some guy turning up underneath a lorry gets treated better than my wife.? Additional reporting: Robert Mayes We shall see!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jp1 Posted August 11, 2003 Report Share Posted August 11, 2003 ......has told immigration officials that women from Thailand, the Philippines and other countries in the region should be banned from entering Britain as tourists or students unless they first sign a pledge not to marry British men. Under the rules, women who breach the conditions and marry after arriving could be instantly deported without the right of appeal. What a crap. Are the British authorities insane? How can they seriously consider preventing love btw a British citizen and a SE Asian student? Isn't this a breach of civil rights? Never heard anything like that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ultras67 Posted August 11, 2003 Report Share Posted August 11, 2003 Says jp1: What a crap. Are the British authorities insane? Probably. :clown: Best comment was "I don?t mind them tightening the rules, but what I don?t agree with is that some guy turning up underneath a lorry gets treated better than my wife.? Spot on mate! But it does make you wonder about the hassle if you are living here and married ( or are about to be ) and have to return home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spirit_of_town_hall Posted August 11, 2003 Report Share Posted August 11, 2003 I have said it before and I will say it again... they seem to welcome with open arms Sadam Husseins cousin, literally. Any Albanian who will pimp out his sister for 10 pounds is welcome, and Yardie.. come this way sir...... I could go on..... What is there problem with Thai ladies, if I brought a Thai lady to the UK she would not be able to recieve any free medical care or social security..... (that is fair enough ) if however I entered the country illegally, again its come this way sir, want your HIV treated at 15 000 pounds a year, no problem, want a house, no problem, free driving lessons, no problem, want an interpreter for hospital visits no problem... A part of me wonders why that Ali lad who lost both his arms is being treated in the UK.... Does that mean we are two prosthetic limbs short.... it could be argued that Ali be sent to camp x ray, who knows.... STH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spirit_of_town_hall Posted August 11, 2003 Report Share Posted August 11, 2003 JP, under the Euro Law charter and UN. You have a right to a family life. The Home office seems very accommodating with Pakistanis and Bangladeshi's when they want to ship some arranged partner from some wretched village ( who they havent even met ) Thailand and the Philippines arent part of the "race issue " here in the UK. Therefore the govt can be pretty tough. With "muslim" countries African countries the govt dare not be tough.. pathetic isnt it..... I dont know of any thai girls that have flown planes in to buildings, none at all... yet we in the Uk bend over so far backwards for the very people who in their heart of heart in the main dont like us.... After Sept 11th in heavily pakitani areas . bangladeshi areas they were dancing in the streets, yet for them to get in its not a problem, they have legions of crooked pakistani solicitors, immigration advisors.... its a cause of genuine anger for 100% of people I know.. STH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jp1 Posted August 11, 2003 Report Share Posted August 11, 2003 JP, under the Euro Law charter and UN. You have a right to a family life. ..........Thailand and the Philippines arent part of the "race issue " here in the UK. Therefore the govt can be pretty tough. Are they afraid of growing red-light districts? Maybe genuine students are the wrong targets but those who make decisions often can not distinguish between people from the same country. How would a British lawyer rule in case a British citizen wants to marry a Thai girl who's a student in the UK? I cannot believe that they would deport the girl because she has a student visa only. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spirit_of_town_hall Posted August 11, 2003 Report Share Posted August 11, 2003 She would be in breach of the terms of her visa and would be deported, much in the same way as they would be if they woked on a student visa... not fair is it... Even more worrying JP is will the Thai govt introduce retaliatory visa requirements for UK nationals... if I were the Thai govt I would be pretty pissed STH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jp1 Posted August 11, 2003 Report Share Posted August 11, 2003 Says spirit_of_town_hall: She would be in breach of the terms of her visa and would be deported, much in the same way as they would be if they woked on a student visa... not fair is it... STH Perhaps my question wasn't clear enough. I mean what would happen if she marries a guy and the authorities find out. Would she still be deported? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Torneyboy Posted August 11, 2003 Report Share Posted August 11, 2003 If a Thai girl falls in love with a UK guy and is on a student visa....she would have to exit the UK and apply for fiance/spouse visa? Or would government frown on this as well? Appears this has come hot on the heels of the Thai brothel story last month..any connection i wonder? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spirit_of_town_hall Posted August 11, 2003 Report Share Posted August 11, 2003 She would be deported, she would however be able to appeal against that deportation. If it was felt she would flee or not turn up for deportation she would be put in detention.. STH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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