Ottawa: Canadian immigration authorities have issued a fresh warning against marriage fraud, cautioning citizens, permanent residents (PRs) and foreign nationals that relationships entered into solely to obtain Canadian immigration or permanent residency can have serious legal consequences.
The advisory was issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) on social media. It raised concerns over attempts to obtain visas through fake marriages and “relationships of convenience”.
IRCC has advised Canadian citizens to carefully check a prospective partner’s background before sponsoring them, particularly if the person has been recently met, is putting pressure on them to marry quickly or has been married several times previously. Authorities have also advised caution if a person is reluctant to share information about their family background or personal circumstances.
According to the Canadian immigration department, a “relationship of convenience” is one entered into primarily to bring a foreign national to Canada rather than to live together as genuine spouses.
Authorities said immigration officers receive specialised training to identify fraudulent marriages. Document checks and interviews are among the tools used to distinguish genuine relationships from fraudulent ones. The advisory also warns that Canadian citizens or PR holders who sponsor someone through a fraudulent marriage could face criminal proceedings.
The warning comes amid claims of increasing cases in Punjab involving so-called “contract marriages” linked to IELTS and alleged cheating by brides. In such cases, the supplied account says, a man who is unable to secure the required IELTS bands may pay for a woman’s education, travel and expenses in Canada with the expectation that she will later sponsor him for a spouse visa. It further alleges that in some cases the woman cuts ties with the man and his family after reaching Canada, leading to police cases and legal disputes in Punjab.
The Canadian government has also tightened monitoring of temporary residents and student visa holders as part of measures aimed at maintaining transparency in the immigration system, according to the report.
At the same time, IRCC has clarified that women or spouses facing domestic violence or abuse are not required to depend on an abusive partner for their immigration status. They can seek legal assistance in cases of abuse without losing their immigration status.
