Workforce Opportunities and Residency Cayman (WORC) recently hosted a workshop to train marriage officers to identify bogus marriages and civil partnerships
Since 2022, WORC has investigated 175 marriage reports, of which 114 cases resulted in findings of sham marriages or or civil partnerships. Twenty-five cases currently remain pending investigations, while twenty RERC certificates were refused, 12 forfeited and 5 are subject revocation.
While such arrangements may be sought for many reasons, individuals usually enter into a marriage or civil partnership of convenience to gain an immigration related benefit such as remaining in the jurisdiction and legally obtaining employment. According to the government, most suspicious unions take place shortly before or after other means of remaining in the Cayman Islands have been exhausted and are usually accompanied by the promise of financial benefit on the part of the Caymanian spouse or partner.
A red flag checklist was provided to attendees during the workshop highlighting circumstances to consider before marrying or entering foreign nationals in civil partnerships with Caymanians.
