England – The Government is looking at proposals to offset new visa laws which have hit young strictly Orthodox Jews who want to marry partners from abroad.
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The age for a spouse being granted permission to live in Britain was raised from 18 to 21 in a move designed mainly to combat forced marriages among the Asian community.
But representatives of the Charedi community, whose members traditionally marry young, say that this is stopping young people from Israel or the US coming to marry in the UK.
Chanoch Kesselman, executive co-ordinator of the Union of Orthodox Hebrew Congregations, said that an alternative idea had been put to the Home Office.
An authorised rabbi and marriage registrar would interview both partners and if satisfied that the marriage was taking place with “the full and free consent” of both, he would sign a document to that effect.
“This document could then be presented to the Home Office to grant a visa to enter the country for the purposes of marriage,” he said. “The Home Office are working on the practicalities of such a system, without prejudicing other minority groups.”
A Home Office spokesman said: “We have listened to the Jewish community’s concerns about the impact of the marriage visa age increase and their suggestion for an alternative system. Ministers are examining the proposal and this consideration is ongoing.”
Why would they want to have 18 year olds marrying in any event. There are plenty of responsible orthodox bochurim and girls over 21. This is totally unnecessary and make yidden look like they are from third world country where children are marriedn in their teens.
Why ar you so desperate to hear yourself speak that you talk when you have nothing to add to the conversation?
there are bigger shidduch related problems here in america!!!!!!!!!!!!
It doesn’t matter what we say. The proposal will pass, without the “jewish” ammendment, & we will have to live with it. The gov’t will have to make the same allowances for all religons & races. Doing that will totally negate the reason for the proposal in the first place. A Chinese official & a marriage resitrar will have the same chance to “change” it.
Let me tell u about this ugly country england no matter how old ur or the visa u get,if u have money$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ u can get married if u have torah with no $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
U should get a visa to enter isreal or the usa were torah is top of line in 21st century versios england were its only the $$$$$$$$
In addition to more fertile years and longer life expenctancy, in biblical times and premodern times, a huge percentage of children died before reaching 5. Therefore you have to have more babies and therefore start younger to increase the odds of having some reach adulthood. Also, years ago, a man could provide for a wife and children by herding sheep, farming, fishing, working as a carpenter, etc. as they had already spent many years learning these skills. Now, how many 18 year olds have the skills and ability to support a family?