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shibuya
Guest
Canadian immigration, marriage and relationship fraud
The Conservative government is reportedly using new tactics to crack down on foreigners who fraudulently get married to gain
Canadian immigration.
There are some people who think marriage to a Canadian citizen will be their ticket to Canada. It is a crime.
Marriage of convenience
There are some people who think marriage to a Canadian citizen will be their ticket to Canada. It is a crime for foreign nationals to marry Canadian citizens or permanent residents only to gain entry into Canada. Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) is working to prevent these fraudulent marriages.
In many cases, sponsors and foreign applicants arrange a “marriage of convenience”: a marriage or common-law relationship where the sole purpose is for the sponsored spouse to immigrate to Canada.
CIC officers are specially trained to recognize genuine immigration applications, and they know how to detect marriages of convenience. They use several methods to uncover marriage fraud, including document checks, site visits and interviews with sponsors and applicants. Canadian citizens or permanent residents found to be part of a marriage of convenience for immigration purposes may be charged with a crime.Don’t become a victim of marriage fraud
If you are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident and you meet someone from another country on the Internet or while travelling, you should take care if you are considering marrying them and sponsoring them to Canada.
Sponsors must financially support 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, and you won’t be able to sponsor anyone else until the debt is repaid. Sponsorship is a legally binding financial commitment with the Government of Canada.
Sponsors: Do not be tempted by offers of money or other rewards to enter into a marriage of convenience just so the person can immigrate to Canada. If you do this, you can face serious criminal charges, and you will still have to meet the terms of the sponsorship.
Do not feel you are obligated to help somebody by being part of a marriage of convenience, no matter what the reason. It is not worth the risks.
Visa applicants: Don’t get involved in a marriage of convenience. You will be refused a visa and may be banned from travel to Canada for two years. This will remain permanently on your CIC record.
CIC recognizes that even genuine marriages can fail. However, if you enter into a marriage of convenience and come to Canada as an immigrant, enforcement action can be taken against you. This enforcement action could end with your being deported by the Canada Border Services Agency.
Marriage fraud isn’t the only scam
A common scam is for a person overseas to start an e-mail exchange with a Canadian. The person presents himself or herself as an attractive, interesting person in a foreign country. After a while, this “friend” says he or she wants to visit and asks for money to pay for the visa, airfare or other related costs. He or she may even send an electronic scan of what looks like a Canadian visa.
At the last minute, the person will say there are problems with their passport, or a family member is seriously sick, and they need even more money to deal with the situation. The person never arrives at the airport and is likely not booked on the flight. Victims can lose thousands of dollars.
Remember, processing fees are the same at all Canadian visa offices around the world. Fees in local currency are based on official exchange rates and correspond to the amount in Canadian dollars.
Note: The Canadian government cannot help you recover any money sent overseas. The “friend” is usually fictitious and the people behind the scam, as well as your money, are often untraceable.
Document Fraud (Misrepresentation)
It is a serious crime to misrepresent yourself by making false statements, or submitting false information or false documents when dealing with CIC.
Document fraud includes both false and altered documents, such as:
passports and travel documents
visas
diplomas, degrees and apprenticeship or trade papers
birth, marriage, final divorce, annulment, separation or death certificates
police certificates
Lying on an application or in an interview with a CIC officer is also fraud and a crime.The Government of Canada has officers in Canada and overseas who are highly trained to detect fraud.
If you submit false documents or information, your application will be refused. You will also face serious consequences. Depending on the situation, these may include:
no entry into Canada for at least two years
a permanent record of fraud in CIC’s database
having your permanent resident status or Canadian citizenship revoked
being charged with a crime or
removal from Canada
What CIC is doing to prevent immigration fraud
CIC works with the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and foreign law enforcement services and offices that issue identity documents to gather intelligence on document fraud and train officers—in Canada and overseas.
CIC is working with the CBSA and the RCMP to phase in biometrics, such as the use of fingerprints to confirm identity, in the near future.
Biometric verification will make it much more difficult for a person to hide their identity. Biometrics will help reduce identity fraud and increase the safety and security of Canadians
The Conservative government is reportedly using new tactics to crack down on foreigners who fraudulently get married to gain
Canadian immigration.
There are some people who think marriage to a Canadian citizen will be their ticket to Canada. It is a crime.
Marriage of convenience
There are some people who think marriage to a Canadian citizen will be their ticket to Canada. It is a crime for foreign nationals to marry Canadian citizens or permanent residents only to gain entry into Canada. Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) is working to prevent these fraudulent marriages.
In many cases, sponsors and foreign applicants arrange a “marriage of convenience”: a marriage or common-law relationship where the sole purpose is for the sponsored spouse to immigrate to Canada.
CIC officers are specially trained to recognize genuine immigration applications, and they know how to detect marriages of convenience. They use several methods to uncover marriage fraud, including document checks, site visits and interviews with sponsors and applicants. Canadian citizens or permanent residents found to be part of a marriage of convenience for immigration purposes may be charged with a crime.Don’t become a victim of marriage fraud
If you are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident and you meet someone from another country on the Internet or while travelling, you should take care if you are considering marrying them and sponsoring them to Canada.
Sponsors must financially support 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, and you won’t be able to sponsor anyone else until the debt is repaid. Sponsorship is a legally binding financial commitment with the Government of Canada.
Sponsors: Do not be tempted by offers of money or other rewards to enter into a marriage of convenience just so the person can immigrate to Canada. If you do this, you can face serious criminal charges, and you will still have to meet the terms of the sponsorship.
Do not feel you are obligated to help somebody by being part of a marriage of convenience, no matter what the reason. It is not worth the risks.
Visa applicants: Don’t get involved in a marriage of convenience. You will be refused a visa and may be banned from travel to Canada for two years. This will remain permanently on your CIC record.
CIC recognizes that even genuine marriages can fail. However, if you enter into a marriage of convenience and come to Canada as an immigrant, enforcement action can be taken against you. This enforcement action could end with your being deported by the Canada Border Services Agency.
Marriage fraud isn’t the only scam
A common scam is for a person overseas to start an e-mail exchange with a Canadian. The person presents himself or herself as an attractive, interesting person in a foreign country. After a while, this “friend” says he or she wants to visit and asks for money to pay for the visa, airfare or other related costs. He or she may even send an electronic scan of what looks like a Canadian visa.
At the last minute, the person will say there are problems with their passport, or a family member is seriously sick, and they need even more money to deal with the situation. The person never arrives at the airport and is likely not booked on the flight. Victims can lose thousands of dollars.
Remember, processing fees are the same at all Canadian visa offices around the world. Fees in local currency are based on official exchange rates and correspond to the amount in Canadian dollars.
Note: The Canadian government cannot help you recover any money sent overseas. The “friend” is usually fictitious and the people behind the scam, as well as your money, are often untraceable.
Document Fraud (Misrepresentation)
It is a serious crime to misrepresent yourself by making false statements, or submitting false information or false documents when dealing with CIC.
Document fraud includes both false and altered documents, such as:
passports and travel documents
visas
diplomas, degrees and apprenticeship or trade papers
birth, marriage, final divorce, annulment, separation or death certificates
police certificates
Lying on an application or in an interview with a CIC officer is also fraud and a crime.The Government of Canada has officers in Canada and overseas who are highly trained to detect fraud.
If you submit false documents or information, your application will be refused. You will also face serious consequences. Depending on the situation, these may include:
no entry into Canada for at least two years
a permanent record of fraud in CIC’s database
having your permanent resident status or Canadian citizenship revoked
being charged with a crime or
removal from Canada
What CIC is doing to prevent immigration fraud
CIC works with the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and foreign law enforcement services and offices that issue identity documents to gather intelligence on document fraud and train officers—in Canada and overseas.
CIC is working with the CBSA and the RCMP to phase in biometrics, such as the use of fingerprints to confirm identity, in the near future.
Biometric verification will make it much more difficult for a person to hide their identity. Biometrics will help reduce identity fraud and increase the safety and security of Canadians
