Post
by rella » Tue May 17, 2005 12:56 pm
As far as I can tell, UK law only allows you to bring dependent children under 18, a legally married spouse, or an unmarried partner (either opposite or same sex if living together in a relationship akin to marriage longer than two years). There is no provision for more than one wife.
I know this puts you in a quandry, but the way to look at it is that local cultural values and norms vary from country to country. Many countries who allow more than one wife, would be abhored about same-sex or unmarried opposite sex partners and would never allow an immigrant to bring in such a partner legally, even if the immigrant were completely responsible for their partner and had been with them for many years.
On the other hand, same-sex and unmarried partners are acceptable as legal partners in many European countries, but not multiple spouses.
So, I don't think that there is an answer to your dilemma that you want to hear. The only thing I can think of, is to have the wife with more professional experience apply for her own WP or HSMP and come here under her own visa. Then, the other could come as your spouse. I'm still not sure how the HO would consider the marriage of one spouse, if there are other spouses. But, since they allow unmarried partners, I wouldn't think it'd be that big of an issue. But, I really don't know and it would be worth checking with the HO to see where they stand on this issue. I know that when people have applied for spousal visas, that divorce papers were required for anyone who had previously been married.
Can either one of your wives qualify for HSMP?
Good luck.