Road To Canada Forums

Those that commit fraud should be deported or make it a criminal offence with automatic deportation. It makes no sense to be financially responsible for 3 years for anyone that uses another person.

I think that a probationary period might work, or it might not.

But I also think that the one being sponsored should sign a form to say the marriage was real. And that should they abandon their sponsor (spouse) in any way shape or form that it will be considered the the sponsored person committed fraud which is grounds for automatic deportation which would include no recourse to appeal.

Also, should the sponsored person abandon the marriage and disappear that the sponsor would not be financially responsible in any way.

Just some ideas........

The problem with requiring a waiting period, is that women might feel compelled to stay with an abuser rather than get deported. I\'d like to see a waiting period with an exception for abusive situations. It might also help if someone who is a new PR couldn\'t sponsor a spouse within a certain time period. Seems like a lot of these fraudsters have a bf/gf back home they want to bring over immediately after landing and abandoning their Canadian spouse.

Australia has a two year \"probationary\" period for new spousal PRs. However, there is an exception in the case of abuse, or if the sponsoring spouse dies in that time, and the likelyhood is that the marriage would have continued, they will be granted full PR. And in the cases of documented abuse, they can leave their spouse without fear of being deported for leaving the relationship. I think it\'s a good system, but it is a bit frusterating to be on \"probation\" for two years in a country, especially for people that have already lived there for years before that (on some kind of temporary visa), and you just want your life to be decided and settled and to still be dealing with immigration for so many years feels like the process will NEVER end and you\'ll never be finally settled.

It would cut down on fraud, possibly, if CIC had a system like this, but I think the vast majority of couples are legit, and imagine how frustrating it would be for them, to know that after they land the process is NOT over.

I posted this not too long ago http://www.roadtocanada.com/forums/showt...p?tid=1071