Some
people think marriage to a Canadian citizen will be their ticket to Canada.
It
is a crime for a foreign national to marry a Canadian citizen or permanent
resident only to gain entry to Canada. CIC is working to prevent these false
marriages.
In
many cases, sponsors and foreign applicants set up a “marriage of convenience.”
This is a marriage or common-law relationship whose sole purpose is to let the
sponsored spouse or partner immigrate to Canada.
CIC
officers are trained to recognize real immigration applications. They
know how to detect false marriages. They have many ways to spot marriage fraud,
including:
• document checks,
• visits to people’s homes and
• interviews with both sponsors and
applicants.
Canadian
citizens or permanent residents who are in a marriage of convenience for
immigration reasons may be charged with a crime.
New regulations
Were
you sponsored to come to Canada as a spouse or partner on or after October 25,
2012? If so, you must now live with your sponsor in a genuine relationship for
two years from the day you get permanent residence status in Canada. This is a
new rule.
As
a spouse or partner being sponsored, this applies to you if:
• you have been in a relationship
with your sponsor for two years or less,
• you have no children in common and
• Citizenship and Immigration Canada
(CIC) got your application on or after October 25, 2012.
Learn
more about ARCHIVED – “The Jig is Up on Marriage Fraud,” says Minister Kenney.
Don’t become a victim of marriage
fraud
Are
you a Canadian citizen or permanent resident? Have you met someone from another
country on the Internet or while travelling? If so, think carefully before
marrying them and sponsoring them to come to Canada.
Sponsors
must give financial support to their spouse for three years, even if the
marriage or relationship fails. If your spouse uses social assistance, you will
have to repay the money. Also, you cannot sponsor anyone else until you repay
the debt.
Sponsorship
is a legal contract with the Government of Canada. You must meet its terms.
Sponsors:
Do not be tempted by offers of money or other rewards to marry a person just so
he or she can immigrate to Canada. If you do this, you may face serious
criminal charges. You will also still have to meet the terms of the
sponsorship.
Do
not feel you must help somebody by being part of a marriage of convenience, no
matter what the reason. It is not worth the risks.
Visa applicants:
Do not get involved in a false marriage. CIC will refuse your visa and may ban
you from travel to Canada for two years. This will stay on your CIC record
forever.
CIC
knows that even genuine marriages can fail. But, if you enter into a marriage
of convenience and come to Canada as an immigrant, Canada may:
• take legal action against you and
• deport you from Canada.
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