Palestinian Refugee (from Lebanon) applying for Spouse

Over 10 years ago he tried to travel to UK but was denied - I believe because they didn't think he would leave.  His sister and her family live in UK.

Yes, if he has nothing in Lebanon keeping him anchored, and has a family in the UK, and he can afford to fly to the UK but to spend a holiday there, then his visit to the UK clearly is for economical purposes, e.g overstaying his visa and possibly legalising his illegal stay, or not. If he could come to the UK purely on holiday and return to Lebanon, he would have no difficulty proving this to the embassy staff

Can anyone advise what else I may need?  We thought to get an immigration lawyer - but they would probably need to specialise in someone with his Travel Document knowledge as I don't think this will be a straight forward case.

He is Stateless and the travel document is a proof of ID. The British government, which recognises Lebanon, as a consequence recognises Travel Documents issued by the Lebanese authorities

It is exactly the same as a United Nations Laissez-passez

* copy of his passport showing travel to Malaysia

What relevance does this have? You want him to become a legal resident of the UK, with the potential of being able to apply for British citizenship. It doesn't matter if he makes any salary whatsoever.

since he has had bad luck in his life due to the fact that he is 'Palestinian' (although he has never even step foot in that country - he was born in Lebanon) (e.g. they take 2 months to give him his 'travel document', he cannot work any job he wants (Human Rights issues)),

Cry me a river. Just a few sentences ago you were saying how his father is self-sufficient. There are no restrictions on refugees opening bank accounts in Lebanon (banks would be more than pleased to take anyone's money), nor are there limits on being self employed. Why does he not have a bank account? Why is his salary not being paid to him into it?

(who I am married by way of Muslim marriage)

What does this mean? Marriages conducted in Lebanon are conducted by religious institutions and are recognised as valid marriages. I am Christian Orthodox. I can marry a Christian Orthodox Lebanese girl in Lebanon and our marriage will be valid in the UK. I can marry a Sunni/Shia/Alawi Muslim girl in the UK, take the civil union certificate to the Lebanese embassy and our union will be recognised by the Lebanese authorities. If you are legally married in Lebanon (which you would be, unless you were underage/other dodgy reason for not being officially married), notify the Australian authorities and have them validate your marriage.

So let's get this straight. You are married to this guy in the mosque, you want to bring him into the UK as a tourist, who will then become a refugee, who will continue living with you, and claim benefits at the same time? This is what this looks like. Please clarify the situation. I have dated many Lebanese women and have helped friends bring theirs back to the UK. Some were Palestinian, some without passports or ID. There are a lot of gaps in your story.

Hi there,

I think you have misinterpreted what I was saying.

We are married - Muslim marriage (I am Christian - that is why I said that - and it is far from the same as a Christian marriage in my own personal opinion (Church etc.)) .

I mentioned Malaysia purely because that is just additional evidence of our relationship (travel together) and purely because if he wanted to stay in another country he would have done so already.  He has a child in Lebanon to his ex-wife (fyi).

He is not travelling to UK on a tourist Visa.  He will be coming on a Spouse visa.  He is not coming here as a refugee - I mention his 'refugee' status purely because again, he may be treated differently to a standard lebanese person.  Again, I am after 'advice' and I was writing as much information to get advice as possible .

I mentioned the past application for the UK which was over 10 years ago for advise on whether that could affect this application.  Incidentally, his other sister tried recently to travel to UK to see their sister that lives here and she was denied - she had money in the bank, proof of income, proof of university attendance - so ties to the country don't really make any difference - they still deny people for whatever reasons .

Yes - his father is self sufficient, as is he.  I was just stating that he does not get paid it to his bank account for advise on whether or not this could affect the application.  If so, then he would change the way he is paid to go in to his account.

Thank you in advance.

Ess

From personal experiences, I am suggesting that he may be using you as a door into the west. He hasn't registered his marriage to you with the Lebanese authorities, as if he were to, and he were to (what I am hinting at) have a first wife, you and she would be required to give mutual consent.

The first thing to do, and, it is legal under Lebanese law for Christian women to marry Muslim men and get official papers confirming this, is to enquire at your local moukhtar whether or not he is already in another marriage. This trick is played on WASP women by a lot of North African men.

You say you have been in a relationship for 2 years, but married for 9 months. I cannot imagine how this would work. If you love him, and if he truly loves you, you would be living with him now. Did you meet via the internet? This is a common symptom of loverats, people who use women for legal purposes, disregarding their feelings. Are you having a long distance relationship?

and it is far from the same as a Christian marriage in my own personal opinion (Church etc.))

Our religion is clear in what a marriage is. It is a union between a baptised [thus Christian] man and a baptised [thus Christian] woman. A Muslim is a heretic, a non-believer, therefore what you have is considered adultery within the church. Any children you have before he converts to Christianity, are seen as illegitimate.

He is not coming here as a refugee

He is not a refugee anyways. He is a legal resident in Lebanon, which is safe. Sure, he cannot work as (doctor, lawyer, yadaa yadaa), but he can work in other professions or be self employed. Bermuda, a British Overseas Territory, does not allow British people (from the mainland UK) to take up certain job roles, like Taxi driver. It does not mean that Bermuda is unsafe for British people to live in, or that they are unwelcome.

I mentioned the past application for the UK which was over 10 years ago for advise on whether that could affect this application

Depends entirely on the mood of the person reviewing his application and if his name matches an entry on a list of undesirables. I criticised Ukraine when I was 15 in a blog post which got a lot of attention and was held up at the airport for a few hours when flying in a few months ago. No need to think that the British intelligence agencies are any less sophisticated than their Ukrainian colleagues.

Incidentally, his other sister tried recently to travel to UK to see their sister that lives here and she was denied - she had money in the bank, proof of income, proof of university attendance - so ties to the country don't really make any difference

A bunch of things that could have gone wrong:

- University attendance means nothing. I can have an attendance sheet from LAU/AUB printed out for you for $15 and it'll be ready by Monday evening

- She has somewhere to overstay her visa at and hide in the UK

- She is young and educated, and the job market is bad in Lebanon

- Money could have been wired in by a rich uncle for the purposes of the visa application

Did she bring them a bank statement from 2 months ago with $5 in it, and then a week ago with $50,000?

I was just stating that he does not get paid it to his bank account for advise on whether or not this could affect the application

How else would he proof funds to the embassy?

If so, then he would change the way he is paid to go in to his account.

He can't just wire two and a half years worth in overnight. He needs to have a stable, maybe even fluctuating salary, and a record of about 6 months.

You just have to go for it!! I am not Muslim but I am British married to a Moroccan and it took me 10 years to get him to England!! Maybe an offer of work in the U.K. Might be helpful and letter if confirmation from his father regarding current employment status. As for immigration lawyer, they can do no more than you and charge heavily for it. In the end I got my husband here myself placing a full itinerary of documents required on the very front of paperwork. I succeeded where lawyer failed. Hope u get him here, good luck.  Anya

Thank you so much.

Wow - 10 years!  That is crazy...

Thank you for your concern.

I am actually Lebanese myself (background) and met him in Lebanon (no internet)...

I was a Police Officer in the past and believe me I know what people from these countries can be like and how easy it can be to manipulate someone.  I would be dumbfounded and shocked if he was with me for a 'visa' - I don't actually consider myself that 'stupid' and 'gullible' ......   

He is definitely divorced and I am well aware he can marry more than one.  He was not divorced when I met him and he did not hide that - he was broken up with her for some time before I met him (but not officially divorced).  He did not divorce her initially when I met him because of the large Mahr - but they got divorced and I have seen the official divorce paper (I have copy of it myself).  I speak to him every day / night on video and I have obviously been to his house, his family home, met all of his family and friends etc. etc. etc. 

You mention our marriage is not registered?  But that is not the case, he won't be able to apply for a visa (I believe) unless it is registered.

Thank you again.

Wow...sounds so complicated and with the tightening of immigration laws in the UK unless you are from an EU country regrettably it will be extremely hard to get a visa....in actual fact there is a list issued by the UK government that state that if you are looking for work in certain jobs ...you have a chance,but he will also need to have a letter of confirmation for any future employer who wants to employ your husband in the UK.

Be careful that you are not hurt as hundreds/thousands of UK ladies are 'used' to try to get entry to the UK...equally UK men are also duped into marriage sincerely believing that some very nice person from overseas is madly in love with them....only to be brokenhearted and financially poorer later on!