Marriage of Convenience: 10 Things You Should Know

Getting married is a very important step in the lives of many people. You have to prepare everything, but generally it is done with enthusiasm because what you want is to share the rest of your life with that special person. However, sometimes not everything is what it seems.

This union is expected to be the result of love and mutual commitment, but there are those who choose a marriage of convenience. In this article we explore this topic to understand what is behind an arranged marriage.

• We recommend you: "50 questions for your boyfriend (fun, daring, and intimate)"

The drawbacks of a marriage of convenience

A marriage of convenience is performed to obtain some type of legal benefit. Couples appear before the law to formalize their union, but in reality they do it to obtain some type of benefit. In reality, there is not always an emotional bond.

This type of marriage is illegal and considered fraud in most of the world, and there are even penalties for the parties involved. Everything there is to know about marriage of convenience is discussed below.

1. It is done for legal benefits

Marriage of convenience is so called because it aims to achieve advantages. It is contemplated to enjoy some type of benefit, and among the most common reasons are those related to immigration matters.

The fact is that one way to obtain permanent residence in another country is through marriage. However, if it is not carried out out of love it is not considered valid. The law expects that this union is given for love reasons and not only as a means to obtain the regulated documents to reside in the country.

• We recommend you: "50 questions for your boyfriend (fun, daring, and intimate)"

2. It is illegal

Marriage of convenience is illegal in most countries of the world. It is classified as a crime in most laws and there are various penalties, so it is a thorny issue for anyone who may raise it.

The marriage must take place between two people with a mutual desire to start a family. Anything outside of this framework is simply illegal, because it would mean that it is done to make some kind of profit.

3. There is no emotional bond between spouses

In marriages of convenience there is no sentimental relationship between the parties, and the authorities have ways and means to verify it. Even after the marriage has taken place legally, the veracity of a legal union can be inspected.

When the objective is to obtain some legal benefit, those involved do not actually have a relationship. In many cases there is not even an affective bond, which makes marriage something that transgresses its essence.

4. There are mafias

This type of fraud has reached massive levels. Migration phenomena around the world have been growing in recent years, and this type of alternative has also been on the rise.

The truth is that multiple organizations or mafias dedicated to marriages of convenience have been detected. They act discreetly in linking people seeking residency or other benefits through marriage.

• Other users have read: "80 compliments for men (funny and provocative)"

5. The sanctions

The sanctions related to a marriage of convenience can be financial or even jail. This depends on the legislation of each country, with very harsh penalties in some cases.

For example, in Spain the fine ranges from 500 to 1000 euros. However, if it is found that there was also a payment to facilitate illegal immigration, the crime is greater. In these cases people can go to jail.

6. Social repercussions

High rates of marriages of convenience affect the whole of society. The civil registry has had to toughen its requirements and procedures to be able to verify that they are legitimate marriages, making the bureaucratic process more tedious.

Any type of union can be called into question, including homosexual marriages. There are many reported cases where heterosexual people try to pretend they are homosexual only to enter a country.

7. There are follow-ups on suspicion

Sometimes there are cases that are studied once the wedding has taken place. Suspicions or indications may arise that something is not within what is expected in a legal marriage, so the law may initiate an investigation.

It is usually done by surprise, so it is easy to detect if two people are not living together as expected. The normal thing would be for them to carry out family and social activities together, and if this is not fulfilled there may be an investigation.

• It might interest you: "The 70 best wise phrases in history"

8. Marriage annulment

If it is proven that the marriage was for convenience, it is annulled. Anyway, this is the least of the problems. In addition to sanctioning the parties, the legal situation of the foreign person is once again irregular and may even go to jail.

Furthermore, in some countries the repatriation process is carried out immediately, and all this generates a criminal record for those involved. There are people who make this type of marriage to help someone they know, but you have to consider the consequences.

9. Unexpected benefits

There are some other reasons for having a marriage of convenience. In some countries the marriage bond provides certain legal, labor and financial advantages to the contracting parties.

You can access certain types of credits, health services or employment benefits if the person is married. For this reason, there are people who agree to marriages of convenience in order to enjoy some of these benefits.

10. Internet and social networks

The phenomenon of marriage of convenience has grown with the advent of the internet. Although it has existed for many years, social networks and different websites have allowed the topic to increase.

Today making the first contact is easier than a few years ago. A web search allows many people to get in touch with others. Sometimes this is recorded and ends up being used as strong evidence to confirm that a marriage of convenience took place.

• It might interest you: "Open relationships: 5 tips to avoid a couple breakup"

Bibliographic references

• Szuchman, P. (2011). The Business Of Marriage. Barcelona: Editorial Urano.