Raising the Spouse Visa Age

Discusses the changes to the minimum age to establish an application for a visas for a spouse or partner from 18 years to 21 years, commenting on its role in preventing exploitation and forced marriages. Examines: (1) the development of the reasons for the changes, outlining the proposals of a 2007 Home Office consultation paper; (2) the importance of assessing those reasons; and (3) whether the reasons given are likely to satisfy the aims of preventing forced marriage. Provides a table of data relating to the age of victims of forced marriages dealt with by the Forced Marriage Unit