Marriage without Borders is...
. . . the direct response of those affected by the Alien Law which since January 1, 2006 has dramatically restricted binational couples in their means and ways to live their life together.
The initiative defines itself as a platform for binational families and partnerships as well as working as a pressure group lobbying for their cause in politics and in public.
Binational couples contribute their wealth of experience of merging and negotiating cultures and customs and provide the public with an insight to their willingness to make a joint life possible in Austria. MwB consists of dedicated persons directly affected by the new Alien Act; these persons are self-taught and have become savy experts in the complex area of the Alien Law and in the aggravating dealing with administrational discrimination.
MARRIAGE WITHOUT BORDERS focuses its work on binational married couples and partners, however, is supportive of and in solidarity with all persons discriminated against by the Alien Law. Some of these are: foreign researchers, students, artists, etc.
www.ehe-ohne-grenzen.at
Why MARRIAGE WITHOUT BORDERS exists:
Alien Law package 2005
The Alien Law package went into effect on January 1, 2006 and had an immediate and devastating impact on binational couples living in Austria.
Minimum income
Austrians married to citizens from non EU countries have to prove that they dispose of a minimum income of Euro 1091,14 plus rent so that their partners are eligible for a residence permit. At the same time foreigners are prohibited to work before holding a residence permit. This clearly discriminates against low income Austrians, e.g. students, unemployed, retirees, and child support recipients and de facto makes family life with persons from non EU countries impossible.
Submitting for ‘Residence Permit’ from abroad
Furthermore the law requires partners from Third Country nationals to submit for a residence permit from their country of origin and wait for the Austrian authorities’ decision before being allowed to come to Austria.
This results in families being separated for an indefinite time, brings on enormous costs for the families concerned and often causes imminent danger to the person submitting for a permit. Furthermore not every country has an Austrian authority responsible for issue of permits. Being allowed to submit for a permit from within Austria is only granted if the person has entered the country legally. Thus de facto asylum seekers are made to return to the country they fled from and are expected to wait out a decision there. This can last up to a year and longer.
Authority induced illegalisation
The law recognises no transitional regulation and submissions made in 2005 and before were declared nil and void. Moreover, asylum seekers wishing to submit for a residence permit were made by the authorities to withdraw their submission for asylum and thus became illegal aliens from January 1, 2006 onwards, thereby being threatened by detention and deportation.
All-inclusive suspicion of ‚sham’ marriages
Register offices are now required to inform Aliens’ Police of planned marriages of Austrian and Non EU citizens. Family members ‘aiding and abetting unwarranted residence’ are faced with up to six months’ imprisonment.
Discrimination against Austrian citizens
The Alien Law package discriminates against Austrians as EU member state nationals by establishing two separate laws for EU members and for Third Country citizens. This has been taken to court and awaits overruling by the supreme courts. (As of fall 2007)
MARRIAGE WITHOUT BORDERS demands:
... that the Republic of Austria recognise and protect binational families and guarantee equality of treatment of binational couples and an extensive adherence to Human Rights in the treatment of aliens in this country.
... recognition of the right to family life as declared by the European Human Rights Convention, article 8.
... unconditional right to reside and work for Third Country national partners of Austrians.
... immediate amendment of the Alien Law package:
- right to submit for a residency permit from within Austria
- cancellation of the minimum income requirement of 1091,14 € net (per couple)
- no anew submission for permit for those who already submitted for a permit in 2005 and before.
... an end to the general suspicion of sham marriage when marriage involves a Third Country national. This means immediate cancellation of the respective regulations and notifications as well as prompt cancellation of any articles reminiscent of racial laws drafted during the Third Reich.
... recognition of same sex marriages which were tied abroad and the right to reside for relatives of same sex unions.
... cancelling detention for deportation
Support MARRIAGE WITHOUT BORDERS!Sign our petitions and requests online!
Come join us at our weekly manifestations
weekly on Wednesdays at 5 pm
in front of the Ministry of Interior
Herrengasse 7, 1010 Vienna
Make our continual efforts possible by contributing:
Donate to the account of “Ehe ohne Grenzen” BAWAG 14000
account nr: 01-910-810-312
... or become a member!
DIE LISTE, German crime Alien Law mystery, by and with MARRIAGE WITHOUT BORDERS, available online or on DVD
Initiative: EHE OHNE GRENZEN, Zollergasse 15, 1070 Wien
Our telephone number is 01-9291309 during our office hours:
Mo 14:30 - 18:30
Mi 10:00 - 16:00
Do 14:30 - 19:30
for very urgent requests outside of our hours call: 0699/81868336
For more in depth counselling please call in advance for an appointment!
office@ehe-ohne-grenzen.at, www.ehe-ohne-grenzen.at
Imprint: Initiative: Ehe ohne Grenzen, Zollerg. 15, 1070 Wien
Supported by the BDfA
The initiative defines itself as a platform for binational families and partnerships as well as working as a pressure group lobbying for their cause in politics and in public.
Binational couples contribute their wealth of experience of merging and negotiating cultures and customs and provide the public with an insight to their willingness to make a joint life possible in Austria. MwB consists of dedicated persons directly affected by the new Alien Act; these persons are self-taught and have become savy experts in the complex area of the Alien Law and in the aggravating dealing with administrational discrimination.
MARRIAGE WITHOUT BORDERS focuses its work on binational married couples and partners, however, is supportive of and in solidarity with all persons discriminated against by the Alien Law. Some of these are: foreign researchers, students, artists, etc.
www.ehe-ohne-grenzen.at
Why MARRIAGE WITHOUT BORDERS exists:
Alien Law package 2005
The Alien Law package went into effect on January 1, 2006 and had an immediate and devastating impact on binational couples living in Austria.
Minimum income
Austrians married to citizens from non EU countries have to prove that they dispose of a minimum income of Euro 1091,14 plus rent so that their partners are eligible for a residence permit. At the same time foreigners are prohibited to work before holding a residence permit. This clearly discriminates against low income Austrians, e.g. students, unemployed, retirees, and child support recipients and de facto makes family life with persons from non EU countries impossible.
Submitting for ‘Residence Permit’ from abroad
Furthermore the law requires partners from Third Country nationals to submit for a residence permit from their country of origin and wait for the Austrian authorities’ decision before being allowed to come to Austria.
This results in families being separated for an indefinite time, brings on enormous costs for the families concerned and often causes imminent danger to the person submitting for a permit. Furthermore not every country has an Austrian authority responsible for issue of permits. Being allowed to submit for a permit from within Austria is only granted if the person has entered the country legally. Thus de facto asylum seekers are made to return to the country they fled from and are expected to wait out a decision there. This can last up to a year and longer.
Authority induced illegalisation
The law recognises no transitional regulation and submissions made in 2005 and before were declared nil and void. Moreover, asylum seekers wishing to submit for a residence permit were made by the authorities to withdraw their submission for asylum and thus became illegal aliens from January 1, 2006 onwards, thereby being threatened by detention and deportation.
All-inclusive suspicion of ‚sham’ marriages
Register offices are now required to inform Aliens’ Police of planned marriages of Austrian and Non EU citizens. Family members ‘aiding and abetting unwarranted residence’ are faced with up to six months’ imprisonment.
Discrimination against Austrian citizens
The Alien Law package discriminates against Austrians as EU member state nationals by establishing two separate laws for EU members and for Third Country citizens. This has been taken to court and awaits overruling by the supreme courts. (As of fall 2007)
MARRIAGE WITHOUT BORDERS demands:
... that the Republic of Austria recognise and protect binational families and guarantee equality of treatment of binational couples and an extensive adherence to Human Rights in the treatment of aliens in this country.
... recognition of the right to family life as declared by the European Human Rights Convention, article 8.
... unconditional right to reside and work for Third Country national partners of Austrians.
... immediate amendment of the Alien Law package:
- right to submit for a residency permit from within Austria
- cancellation of the minimum income requirement of 1091,14 € net (per couple)
- no anew submission for permit for those who already submitted for a permit in 2005 and before.
... an end to the general suspicion of sham marriage when marriage involves a Third Country national. This means immediate cancellation of the respective regulations and notifications as well as prompt cancellation of any articles reminiscent of racial laws drafted during the Third Reich.
... recognition of same sex marriages which were tied abroad and the right to reside for relatives of same sex unions.
... cancelling detention for deportation
Support MARRIAGE WITHOUT BORDERS!
Sign our petitions and requests online!
Come join us at our weekly manifestations weekly on Wednesdays at 5 pm
in front of the Ministry of Interior
Herrengasse 7, 1010 Vienna
Make our continual efforts possible by contributing:
Donate to the account of “Ehe ohne Grenzen” BAWAG 14000
account nr: 01-910-810-312
... or become a member!
DIE LISTE, German crime Alien Law mystery, by and with MARRIAGE WITHOUT BORDERS, available online or on DVD
Initiative: EHE OHNE GRENZEN, Zollergasse 15, 1070 Wien
Our telephone number is 01-9291309 during our office hours:
Mo 14:30 - 18:30
Mi 10:00 - 16:00
Do 14:30 - 19:30
for very urgent requests outside of our hours call: 0699/81868336
For more in depth counselling please call in advance for an appointment!
office@ehe-ohne-grenzen.at, www.ehe-ohne-grenzen.at
Imprint: Initiative: Ehe ohne Grenzen, Zollerg. 15, 1070 Wien
Supported by the BDfA
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