In an attempt to crack down on marriage fraud, the Canadian government has announced a five-year wait period before new citizens can sponsor a spouse for immigration.
The new rule, announced this month by Immigration Minister Jason Kenney, was a response to online consultations held with Canadians who have had experience with fraud. Sponsors are responsible for their partner for three years, even if the partner leaves them upon arriving in Canada.
“I held town hall meetings across the country to hear from victims of marriage fraud,” said Kenney.“In addition to the heartbreak and pain that came from being lied to and deceived, these people were angry. They felt they had been used as a way to get to Canada. We’re taking action because immigration to Canada should not be built upon deceit.”
The new rule is already in place and the government is looking for further ways to deter marriage fraud, such as implementing conditional permanent-residency to sponsored partners to ensure that they do not abandon their sponsor once they have attained status.
Such regulations have already been successfully implemented in other nations such as the United States and Australia.
Source: National Post