ABSTRACT
In fact, the language certificate does not only have an excluding effect, but leads to the hierarchisation of marriage migrants: while some get excluded others get included, at least in the utilitarian logic of the migration regime. Those who already have a certain education level and do not have difficulty in affording the language courses, will have no problem in learning German and passing the exam. For them, the integration argument even holds, as they will become more qualified for the German labour market through their language skills and will have fewer difficulties in communicating in their new environment. Two young Moroccan women I interviewed even continued with the language courses up to the B1 level before their departure, enabling them to participate in the ‘Studienkolleg’ – a preparatory course for studying in Germany – and to register at the university afterwards. Consequently, the required language certificate only reinforces existing inequalities between marriage migrants in terms of education and financial means. This hierarchisation is part of a migration management system that follows neo-liberal thinking and aims first and foremost at the utilisation of migrants’ economic potential and competitiveness.
