Canada Targets Marriage Fraud to Prevent Deportation Risks

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has stated that marriage fraud is a significant risk that could lead to the deportation of foreign spouses. Immigration officers are trained to assess the legitimacy of spousal sponsorship applications before granting permanent residence.

If a relationship is later found to be non-genuine, the sponsored spouse may face an investigation and potential revocation of their status due to misrepresentation, which can result in deportation. The IRCC actively investigates suspected marriage fraud cases even after the sponsored spouse has arrived in Canada.

If evidence indicates that the marriage was primarily for immigration purposes, the individual can lose their permanent resident status. Additionally, there is a five-year bar on sponsorship, meaning that a sponsored spouse must wait five years from receiving their permanent residence before sponsoring a new partner.

This measure aims to prevent the misuse of marriage for immigration benefits. The IRCC previously used a conditional permanent residence system, which was removed due to concerns for vulnerable individuals in abusive relationships.