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About the Problem - Marriage Fraud is Fraud As explained in these articles, Canadians of all origins are being duped into sham marriages by unscrupulous immigrants. Once they have successfully short-cutted the immigration system and obtained permanent resident status they desert their sponsor/spouse sticking them with an ongoing tab for their upkeep. In addition to heartbreak these deceptions cause, they leave victims having to pay the government for all welfare and other benefits paid to the deserting spouse. Reports to government offices routinely go unanswered while specific cases remain uninvestigated. Consequently no statistics exist, either, for how many of these fraud artists go on to take money from tax payers in the form of welfare. Victims are left with no legal protection from acts of fraud such as restitution from the victimizer or deportation (if appropriate) to help mitigate an unfair liability. Simply put, there is no consequence for these actions of immigration fraud through sham marriages. It would seem that fraud marriage is an effective strategy as immigration enforcement is known not to persue cases of alleged immigration fraud. Currently, a spouse is awarded permanent resident status as soon as they enter the country. In many other countries there are probationary periods before prior to resident status being granted. Because of apparent weaknesses in enforcement of Canadian immigration laws, unscrupulous foreigners (who have no consience over financially breaking their victims) looking to gain entry to a more prosperous country are targeting Canadians for sham marriages and a free ride.
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