Evidence of Valid Marriage

[ghuraba]

Do the people who issue the Spouse Visa take into consideration the religion of the two people and the way they are 'supposed' to marry in that religion.

Case example.

I am a Muslim and I am asked by a friend of mine if I am interested in a woman for marriage. I say yes. From there I have no communication with her, no private chats, no phone calls no MSN nothing. As it is not permissible to be alone in contact with her at this time unless she is accompanied by a male family member (in general as there are always exceptions.) So I fly to the country she is in, meet her and her family. I sit sit with her and her Father and talk to her to see if she is suitable and I for her. No pictures, videos or anything are taken at this meeting on religious grounds. This is just a meeting between her and I to see if we want to proceed.

Then I come back to my country which is the UK. Then I get in contact with her Father and let him know I would like to marry her, again there is no contact between her and I, no letters, phone calls nothing in line with my religion. There will be phone calls to her Father in the next few months to decide and plan the marriage. Anything she neds to ask me or I need to ask her will go between her Father and I. But not between her and I one on one.

Then I fly to Morocco to marry. I plan to stay 1 month, in this time the paper work needed to marry her might take 1 month so it could be a case of by the time we are given permission to marry by the Moroccon Goverment I have to return to the UK in a matter of days. There will be no pictures, videos or anything of the wedding due to me holding the view it is not permissible in my religion to take pictures and videos of things that are living like people and animals. Once married I would hand in the Spouse Visa application in Morocco and come back to the UK until a decision is made.

Based on the things I am reading what chance do I have of them accepting this as a genuine marriage? Do they take into consideration the 'Islamic' way of marrying? Which is that there is really no real contact between the man and woman until they are husband and wife. Other than the initial meeting or meetings after which you both decide if you want to marry or not. Along with the fact that I cannot stay in Morocco for a few months after the marriage and have to return to the UK due to my work.

Thanks

[Casa]

Asalam alaikum
The ECO will take into consideration religious customs regarding pre-wedding contact. There's a question in the application covering this where you are asked if the marriage was 'arranged'.
However...you may find it difficult to persuade the ECO that photos of any living person are prohibited for Muslims.
Show all contact between you after the wedding.

[ghuraba]

Wa alaykum assalam

Jazakallaah khair for the answer.

That is something I might have to do to satisfy the ECO, reluctantly. Just like we need pictures on a Passport or Driving license. We don't have much choice, or we can never travel or drive.