Immigration Act 2014

Referral to Secretary of State

8 After section 28G insert—

“28H Referral of proposed marriage to Secretary of State

(1) On every occasion when notice of marriage is given under section 27, a superintendent registrar must decide whether or not each of the parties to the proposed marriage is an exempt person.

(2) But this section does not apply if section 39A applies to the proposed marriage.

(3) In making a decision under subsection (1) about a party to a proposed marriage, a superintendent registrar may rely on any advice given in relation to that decision by the Secretary of State.

(4) In a case where—

(a) section 27E applies to the notice of marriage, and

(b) specified evidence required by section 28C(2) or (3) in relation to a party to the proposed marriage is not produced in accordance with that section,

the superintendent registrar must decide that that party to the proposed marriage is not an exempt person.

(5) If the superintendent registrar decides that either of the parties is not an exempt person, or that both of the parties are not exempt persons, the superintendent registrar must—

(a) refer the proposed marriage to the Secretary of State;

(b) notify the parties to the proposed marriage that the proposed marriage must be referred to the Secretary of State;

(c) give the parties to the proposed marriage prescribed information about—

(i) the effects of the referral;

(ii) the requirement under regulations under section 28D to notify the Secretary of State of changes of address.

(6) The superintendent registrar must act in accordance with regulations when complying with the duty in subsection (5)(a) to refer a proposed marriage to the Secretary of State.

(7) Regulations may, in particular, make provision about—

(a) the form, manner or timing of the referral of a proposed marriage;

(b) information, photographs or evidence — or copies of any of those things — to be included with the referral of a proposed marriage.

(8) Regulations are to be made by statutory instrument; and a statutory instrument containing regulations is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

(9) If the superintendent registrar refers the proposed marriage to the Secretary of State, this Act has effect in relation to the proposed marriage subject to the modifications in Schedule 3A.

(10) In this section—

(a) a reference to a person being an exempt person has the same meaning as in section 49 of the Immigration Act 2014;

(b) “prescribed information” means information prescribed in regulations;

(c) “regulations” means regulations made by the Secretary of State after consulting the Registrar General.”.