Page 123 - The Circle of Life

this impractical. This not the same as the mile high club where you don't need to

be married but the usual precautions against rape is applicable. Surely you don't
need the pilot for that! Besides, you won't easily be allowed to disturb the pilot's
peace during flight with such requests. May be shot or otherwise sorted out for

asking.

What about your local embassy personal when you are in a different country?
The short answer is no. They are not appointed as marriage officers and though

the embassy is theoretically part of the country it represents (always in another
country all together) it is full of loopholes. It can seriously affect your chances

when in the divorce court. We never trust diplomats and I would advise you to
do the same. Not sure what good they do to be honest. Must be behind the

scenes for you never hear of them. Is ironic if you think of the noise they make
in talking nonsense.

As you know life happens when you don't expect it and where a person who is

not legally a marriage officer acts as one under good faith believing that he is
one the Minister of Home Affairs may (not must) retrospectively validate the

marriage performed by him. The same where the marriage was performed by a
person who is not a marriage officer but the spouses had in good faith believed

that he was one. In such cases you should see your lawyer and claim damages
from the fake marriage officer for this will most probably mean an application to

court to force the Minister to do his job.

In African countries it is a good idea to obtain a marriage certificate every
second year to ensure you were not fraudently "married" to a foreigner by
corrupt officials. It happens all the time and the Victims only find out when they

are arrested or want to get married only to find out they are "married" already.

It is a mess and go to your lawyer when this happens.

Americans will be surprised to read this but green card scams happen

everywhere and not only in America. We have ten million (some say is much
more) illegal immigrants in South Africa and they came from all over Africa and

Asia. It is so bad that they are now attacked and killed by local citizens.
Xenophobia is a terrible thing. It is sad.

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