Love or Visa? Turkish marriage

Submitted by gardenia (Canada), May 20, 2007 at 00:51

I met my Turkish husband here in Canada. I married him less than 5 months later.

I found out less than a year later that he married me for his permanent resident status. I felt pressured to marry him or he'd be sent back. It's a long story and it doesn't have a happy ending. Also, It is hard to tell if someone is being genuine when they are half- way across the world.

You don't know these men, not really. If you are like me and you are romantic and fall in love easily, you can be an easy target for predators whose only ambition is to get out of their country because of poverty, lack of jobs, etc. Be careful! Do not spend money on, nor give money to, these men. A real man who loved you would not make you pay. A man who loved you would wait for you. He would not pressure to marry him. He would come to your country, get his visa, or Permanent Resident card and then marry you.

All I can say is to test his love. If it is real you will know it if he waits, even if he gets sent back and he has to reapply for residency. Maybe, in some cases, he might be genuine and really love you and you may have a great marriage. But, many women that I have talked to who have been through this are kicking themselves for not being cautious. Good luck and be careful!

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