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Canadian immigration warns against migrant marriage fraud
| Published: | 22 Mar at 6 PM |
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Canada’s Citizenship and Immigration Ministry is preparing to launch a campaign warning its nationals to beware of being caught by would-be migrants seeking an easy way to get into the country.
Marriage fraud is an increasing problem both for the spouse who was duped into the marriage and for immigration, and the numbers unwittingly involved are soaring. A video will be uploaded to Canada’s immigration site telling the sad tale of three citizens who married and were immediately deserted.
One woman met a Cuban man whilst on holiday on the island, and married him three years later in 2005. Her husband came to Canada in 2007, having gained permanent residence through his Canadian wife, and left her shortly after he arrived.
Another Canadian woman met her future husband online, and married him a few weeks later. He disappeared soon after he arrived in the country, leaving his wife and sponsor to repay CA$30,000 he’d received in benefits.
These examples are just two of a huge number of marriage frauds affecting spouses all over Canada, and the incidences are expected to grow as the country tightens its immigration laws. Immigration minister Jason Kenney told reporters he’d heard tales of marriage fraud causing financial and emotional devastation to victims all over the country.
Kenney added that the best protection is to be informed, mentioning immigration’s online video and upcoming TV commercials. New laws which came into force in 2012 state that sponsored spouses must have been married for at least two years before they can apply for permanent residency status, with deserted partners also banned from further sponsorship for five years.
Marriage fraud is an increasing problem both for the spouse who was duped into the marriage and for immigration, and the numbers unwittingly involved are soaring. A video will be uploaded to Canada’s immigration site telling the sad tale of three citizens who married and were immediately deserted.
One woman met a Cuban man whilst on holiday on the island, and married him three years later in 2005. Her husband came to Canada in 2007, having gained permanent residence through his Canadian wife, and left her shortly after he arrived.
Another Canadian woman met her future husband online, and married him a few weeks later. He disappeared soon after he arrived in the country, leaving his wife and sponsor to repay CA$30,000 he’d received in benefits.
These examples are just two of a huge number of marriage frauds affecting spouses all over Canada, and the incidences are expected to grow as the country tightens its immigration laws. Immigration minister Jason Kenney told reporters he’d heard tales of marriage fraud causing financial and emotional devastation to victims all over the country.
Kenney added that the best protection is to be informed, mentioning immigration’s online video and upcoming TV commercials. New laws which came into force in 2012 state that sponsored spouses must have been married for at least two years before they can apply for permanent residency status, with deserted partners also banned from further sponsorship for five years.
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