Incident at the Home Office

Something that my husband I and noticed when we were in Liverpool:

When we were just sitting around waiting for me to get my passport back with the stamp, we were being nosy and watching the other people make their applications.  At one window, there was a British man with a much younger Asian woman. The woman did not say a word; the man was speaking about her as if she were an object, asking questions like "If she gets sick, can I take her to the doctor"--i.e. if she breaks, can I get her fixed?

When I made my application, I did all the talking; after all, it was my application.  My husband's job was, basically, to help me carry my things.  My husband made a comment about how she was obviously a mail order bride.

The couple just got sent to wait for her passport stamp, along with everybody else. They didn't have to go through any special procedures, extra interviews, or anything. I would have liked for the woman to have been taken aside and interviewed separately--asked if she were alright, if she were being coerced, etc.

You'd be surprised - it's just as likely that she dumps the husband as soon as her visa's done and dusted and then gets remarried to the husband she previously divorced in her home country and tries to  sponsor his spouse visa.  Neither scenario is desirable but I think they just don't have time to investigate every single case where there's an age or culture gap.  If anyone wants to live in a sham marriage for 2 years just to get a visa, they're welcome to it. 

OH you couple of pessimists you.  Maybe they met in Thailand, fell madly in love and he speaks fluent Thai, she doesn't speak much English, hence he did all the talking, and being a man was a bit blunt with the questions, but now they have their visa they're going to lead a long and happy life together.   

I agree that they don't have time to investigate every single case. It's just  upsetting that they would allow the visa to go through without the applicant saying a word.  You'd think the Home Office would employ translators. (What exactly did my £500 fee pay for?)

  (What exactly did my £500 fee pay for?)

Hehe.  Your guess is as good as mine.   The fees they charge are outrageous...then again, I'm a Yorkshire lass (cheap!).

I dont think there is any sort of rule that an immigrant to the UK must be able to speak English.

(What exactly did my £500 fee pay for?)

Tea breaks. Lotsa them.

I dont think there is any sort of rule that an immigrant to the UK must be able to speak English.

The problem wasn't that she couldn't speak English.The problem was that she was applying to live in the UK with someone without giving any indication that she wished to do this. That's why I said the Home Office should have translators.

Also, it might just be a cultural difference, but they did not look like a couple who were just married and ecstatically in love with each other.

I am still not sure why you think she might have been coerced.  Maybe in her culture, the husband does all the talking and she's used to that. It might not be what you or I would want but you can't make assumptions about other people just based on your own ideals.  I am sure the Home Office would use an interpreter if they interviewed someone but in this case they obviously didn't feel there was a need for an interview.

If her signature was on the application, that's her indication that she wanted to apply.

You have a vivid imagination, Sweetpeach!       (that's a good thing, btw!) 

You'd be surprised - it's just as likely that she dumps the husband as soon as her visa's done and dusted and then gets remarried to the husband she previously divorced in her home country and tries to  sponsor his spouse visa. 

...

you can't make assumptions about other people just based on your own ideals.

Also, it might just be a cultural difference, but they did not look like a couple who were just married and ecstatically in love with each other.

Gees, I'm glad I didn't have to go for an interview - I'm not the gushy, estatically in love type.  In fact, personally, I find estatic 'love' false - a substitute for the real McCoy.  Never had a good experience of it and glad it's not in my life anymore. 

Maybe she was just s**t-scared and not feeling in a lovey-dovey mood.  Hard to say.  But it's the IO's call, so there you go.

Oh, she didn't have to be gushy ecstatically in love.  She could have cracked a smile, though.

 It's true, that one can not have make assumptions.  However, if the IO was going to make a mistake, wouldn't it have been better for him to have erred on the side of  protecting her safety.
 
If the marriage was legitimate, having her spend a few minutes alone in an interview room with an IO and a translator would not have been more than a minor inconvenience.

If the marriage was legitimate, having her spend a few minutes alone in an interview room with an IO and a translator would not have been more than a minor inconvenience.

Of course it's a trivial detail, but worth maintaining the distinction in a forum like this:  IO's work for the Immigration Service, it's a different department.  And IO's wouldn't have anything to do with settlement applications at the Home Office - or any other kind of applications at Croydon, Birmingham, Liverpool, and such.  IO's are a different can of worms than the guvvies at IND.  They make more money too 

Oh, she didn't have to be gushy ecstatically in love. She could have cracked a smile, though.

 It's true, that one can not have make assumptions. However, if the IO was going to make a mistake, wouldn't it have been better for him to have erred on the side of protecting her safety.
 
If the marriage was legitimate, having her spend a few minutes alone in an interview room with an IO and a translator would not have been more than a minor inconvenience.

Um, so people applying for settlement visas don't have enough hoops to jump through?  They must not look unhappy in any way when applying for a visa or they will be required to prove that they're not being coerced.   Surely you have to admit that this is wildly impractical and a tad bit patronizing.