London Gangs Capitalize on Legalized Same-Sex Marriages, Stage Fake Gay Weddings for Citizenship

At least one Romanian gang has found a way to exploit recently legalized same-sex marriages in England by arranging fake gay marriages for immigrants to apply for citizenship, according to BBC Inside Out.

BBC Inside Out exposed the immigration fraud after sending an undercover journalist acting as an immigrant illegally in the UK to meet with two gang leaders. In the BBC investigative segment, the men claimed to have experience successfully arranging many fake gay marriages to evade immigration officers.

The Bangkok divorce lawyers at Thai law firm Chaninat and Leeds are experts on Thailand divorce law and legal procedures in Thai family courts.

According to the BBC’s report, the practice of faking a marriage to obtain citizenship is not a new idea as it has previously been seen in cases with straight couples. Mark Rimmer, head of Registration and Nationality Services at Brent Council, said “up to 20 to 30% of [straight couple’s] marriages are actually for the avoidance of immigration control."

What is unique about the new boom in fake same-sex marriages for the same purposes is that registrar’s are not as familiar with the body language of same-sex couples to recognize fraud when they see it, according to Rimmer.

Keep reading “Gay Weddings Targeted for UK Citizenship” for the full story.


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We suspect Steve Summers is now long regretting signing the affidavit in support of his bride, Mexico-born Evangelina Zapata's US residency application, for according to Fox News Latino, she is now using the very same document against him to claim alimony.

Thailand Divorce Law 

Thailand Attorneys, Chaninat and Leeds specializes in Thai and international divorce law 

Mr Summers signed an affidavit vowing to support Ms Zapata so that she would not become a “public charge” but she is now arguing that he should support her at 125% of the federal poverty level unless she becomes a U.S. citizen, works for approximately 10 years in a job which pays into the Social Security system, or fails to keep the permanent legal residency status.

US Immigration Attorneys warn that people need to pay attention to this case and remember the implications signing such an affidavit can bring. 

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US Visas Following Supreme Court DOMA Decision

Analysis continues to be made following the Supreme Court's much welcomed decision to strike down the Defense Against Marriage Act (DOMA). The fact that same sex couples who live in states that recognize gay marriage will be entitled to the same federal benefits that heterosexual couple ares brings with it massive changes in law from probate, to marriage, to divorce to immigration issues.

 The Secretary of Homeland Security has issued a very clear statement about what is to happen moving forward, "President Obama directed federal departments to ensure the decision and its implication for federal benefits for same-sex legally married couples are implemented swiftly and smoothly. To that end, effective immediately, I have directed U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to review immigration visa petitions filed on behalf of a same-sex spouse in the same manner as those filed on behalf of an opposite-sex spouse.”

US Spouse Visa Attorney 

Chaninat and Leeds specialize in US visa law  

Despite Thailand being accepting of the gay community, same sex marriage is still not legal here. However thanks to the Supreme Court, and the statement from Homeland Security it now seems to open the way for US spouse and fiance visas to be made available to same sex couples living in Thailand and wanting to live in the states. Previously, even if the US petitioner lives in a state where same sex marriage was legal, they would have been unable to sponsor their partner for immigration as they would not have been in receipt of the same federal benefits.

It now seems that is no longer an issue, and to that extent we expect a surge of application for US fiance visas   although obviously this will still need to be tested in practice to see if there are any other stumbling blocks which have yet to been anticipated.

Watch the video here:

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What Does The End Of DOMA Mean For US Immigration Law?

Prior to yesterday, the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) prevented the immigration service (USCIS) from recognizing same-sex marriages for the purposes of immigration.

However, the Supreme Court has struck down DOMA. The decision is momentous and will impact many.

And it already has.

Minutes after the judgement was released, a New York City immigration judged halted the deportation of a Columbia gay man who is legally married to his US partner, but whose green card application had been turned down. And it couldn't have been a better way for Melanie Servetas to celebrate her wedding, which was taking place at the very time the judgement was released. Melanie had been forced to leave her home state of California and turn her back on her successful career for love, but the new decision means she should now be able to sponsor her partner US Visa.

So practically what does the decision actually mean? Well no guarantees can be given at this stage, we still to see how USCIS will interpret the Court's decisions. It is thought however that same sex marriages will be approved with immediate effect. Of course any future immigration decisions are also influenced by other decisions and and in particular on the foreign national spouse’s immigration status and plans.

In the meantime, the celebrations around the US continue!

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Flickr photo credit: Robert Couse-Baker