[user104658]

Originally Posted by bitontheslide

There are a lot of scammers that try to come to the UK and their easiest method is to marry a UK citizen. The other party can be completely innocent and blinded by "love", so the immigration authorities need to do their job and vet the legitimacy of all that apply.

Right but when it's, for example, a US citizen and the couple has two kids together, why is it still taking several years for people to sort out? It hardly needs an in-depth investigation. "Oh officer, my life in California was just awful! So I've married this British guy and had two children with him to gain access to your magical land of wonder here in the UK".

Obviously there need to be checks, but the current system is ridiculous in a globalised world. People don't meet and fall in love with their high-school sweetheart or the checkout boy from their local supermarket any more... people find love in all corners of the world and want to be together and it's only going to become more and more common. Immigration policies need to start adapting to reflect that.