Possible immigration fraud in family...what to do ?

minnow

Hi,
I'm Irish and my husband is a non-EU national, we've been living here for 5 years.
Two years ago, his cousin from back home wanted to study abroad, and I did him a favour by sorting him out with a student visa for Ireland. Pretty much from the start, he wasn't interested in college too much. After a year, he moved from the expensive course in a reputable uni, to a business course in a dodgy institution, which basically allowed him to stay another year. He hasn't been going to classes, so I know he won't get the visa renewed in when it runs out in about 4 months time.
While here, he's had a couple of relationships, the latest for about 6 months. While the girl in question is big into him (talking about marriage since abt month 3 in relationship), he played around for quite a while, but this may have reduced/stopped lately.
Anyway, a couple of months back he dumped her - then in a sudden change of heart, took her back about one month later and within a week they are engaged. Within a week, they have registered the marriage etc and will marry in 3 months.
It seems suspect to me (his visa about to expire etc, won't get renewal) but I don't know what to do about it. I would be really pissed off they got married, and it was for the visa, possibly dumping her in a couple of years. The girl seems a completely head over heels in him. Her parents are dead against it (he has no means to support her etc) but have relented, probably in the fear that they may lose her if they don't.

My husband is a bit embarrassed by the cousin, and suspects a little about the visa, but is a romantic and thinks that maybe it is the real thing between them.

I don't know what to do about it. I hate to think that he might be using this girl to stay here, and am angry about having being used myself for him to "study" here. However, if i did intervene in some way, I could be ostracized by my hubbie's family.

In general, I am a good citizen, who doesn't like rules to be broken and people to get away with stuff like this. However, when family are involved it gets very tricky. Not that I care about him, but I can't ever be seen to have done anything about this....

Any suggestions?

dyl10

If I were you, I'd mind my own business.
By involving yourself in a situation, that to be honest doesn't involve you, you are really looking to get yourself in to trouble.

Not only are you potentially interfering in what may be a legitimate marriage, you are also making a pretty dangerous accusation.

If you are offended by the fact that he wasted the student visa you got him, then by all means let him know about that. However, interfering in someones married life is another kettle of fish. You don't know this girl and by the sounds of it, you don't strictly know what has gone on between them. If something is amiss, it's her job to work it out.

JimmyCrackCorn!

I know this happens and i know of cases of it happening.

Not much you can do tbh id stay out of it. You might be wrong.

Take it from someone who will most likely be marrying a non-national and would be very upset if someone interfered and was wrong about it being a visa scam.

Ids bad enough getting the snide remarks on the street i just wish they were more original:D.

bauderline

The previous poster is spot on, this is the type of thing that could blow up in your face big time and have dire consequences for your own relationship. The risk may be small in your opinion however is any risk at all worth it in this instance... I think not.. You stand to gain nothing by interfering and risk loosing a lot...

DO NOT INVOLVE YOURSELF !

easyeason3

I'd be tempted to report him if only to save his wife to be the humiliation of marrying a fraud. I'd be tempted but I don't think I would go through with it.
If she is head over heels about him then she will find a way of marrying him somewhere.
If that is all he is after then she will get her heart broken eventually.
Or it could be a real relationship. The marriage could work out & they could both be very happy.

I'd sit on the fence & wait to see what happens to be honest. You don't know what goes on in anyone elses relationship.

t-ha

easyeason3 wrote: »

I'd be tempted to report him if only to save his wife to be the humiliation of marrying a fraud. I'd be tempted but I don't think I would go through with it.

Report him for what?! She wants to marry him, he's not doing anything illegal just possibly something immoral.

Don't touch this with a 20ft pole OP, it's not your problem, it's hers & if she won't listen to her parents she's unlikely to listen to you.

easyeason3

t-ha wrote: »

Report him for what?! She wants to marry him, he's not doing anything illegal just possibly something immoral.

Don't touch this with a 20ft pole OP, it's not your problem, it's hers & if she won't listen to her parents she's unlikely to listen to you.

Well from what the OP has written it sounds a bit strange but that is only her side of the story.
As I said I'd sit on the fence, she might think she knows their relationship but no one knows only the people in it.
I hope it works out but I can understand her questioning the engagement.

And it is actually illegal for him to marry his fiancee for the sole reason of staying here, IF that is the case.

We're all second guessing because we don't know, either does the OP in my opinion.

Xiney

Well, if it's any consolation, he might be surprised to learn that he'll likely have to stay married to his wife for over 5 years to become an Irish citizen.

Sure, you can apply for naturalization after 3 years of living in Ireland with your Irish spouse... but it takes 26 months or more to process.



If it's not genuine, chances are he'll skip out before he gets citizenship. As for his wife... she's not likely to listen to anyone tell her this isn't a good idea.

dudara

Firstly, you'd be better off staying away from this. Disputes with family are the nastiest of all, and you definitely don't want to be involved.

Secondly, I'd be highly surprised if the closeness of his marriage and the expiration of his visa wasn't already flagged somewhere in Immigration. They probably will receive a visit anyway over the coming weeks/months.

LouOB

Agree with above - stay away

But just a suggestion - you could recommed to girl if she would live abroad i.e groom home country. As lifestyle might better blah blah blah. Do it infront of groom and watch his face. Nasty I know (if his intentions are not pure) make him squirm.

But again - dont do anything

Victor

You might mention that divorce is rather difficult to get in this country and that the financial arrangement aren't final - both sides can come back for second (and subsequent) bites at the apple.