True Love or Marriage Fraud? - New Documentary Shines Light on Marital Immigration Fraud, its Victims and the Government that puts up with it
November 08, 2010 @ 09:15AM
What’s the dirty little secret about spousal immigration sponsorships in Canada? Many Canadians are being duped into marriage, not for love, but for residency. The real kicker is, even if the fraud is discovered, the fraudsters are not deported from Canada — and the victims are financially responsible for them for three years! These are the startling facts introduced in True Love or Marriage Fraud? The Price of Heartache which airs Monday, November 15, 10pmET / 7&10pmPT on CBC News Network’s The Passionate Eye www.cbc.ca/documentaries/passionateeyeshowcase/2010/truelove/
Canada is, in fact, the easiest place among all developed countries in which to commit marriage fraud — and with few, if any, repercussions. Fraudsters who can’t get into Canada through regular channels, are finding unsuspecting Canadians, to marry and then dump, and then sponsor their own family — even secret spouses and children— over to Canada afterward.
Lainie, of Ottawa, is seen wearing a wedding dress with a door strapped to her back, to symbolize she’s been used by her husband as a doorway into Canada. Her voice is tinged with anger and betrayal as she speaks to the judge in the real-life scenes from her husband’s removal hearing. Akra admits he has no intention of going back to Guinea despite being found inadmissible to Canada. The reality is it is near impossible to get a permanent resident out of the country. “The easiest way to become a permanent resident in this country is to get married. As soon as you step into the country you are granted permanent residency status. There’s no other country that grants this,” says Lainie.
Some cases are extreme. Abdollah’s wife secretly moved to Canada without telling him. Citizenship and Immigration Canada and the Canada Border Services Agency told Abdollah that it happens a lot in Canada. “They asked me to go and basically live my life.” Abdollah is financially responsible for his wife for three years of her life in Canada, no matter what.
Immigration Minister Jason Kenney says in the film that if the government removes the financial obligation of sponsors, he fears there will be more false marriages than now, only with Canadian taxpayer stuck with the bill.
“Marriage fraud victims are too heavily penalized for falling in love,” says director Julia Ivanova, a Russian-born immigrant in Canada.
Is it possible to see the truth before a sponsored spouse moves to Canada? The film takes the audience to the narrow streets of Medina in Marrakesh, Morocco, to witness the flourishing love stories of Roxanne and Abdel and of Stephanie and Abderrahim. Both women know the risks but they are clearly lovestruck and willing to take a leap of faith.
Federal government is currently consulting the public on the topic of marriage fraud also known as marriage of convenience (www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/protection/fraud/marriage.asp) but there is no word yet when any solutions will be presented.
True Love or Marriage Fraud? The Price of Heartache was developed by Interfilm Productions, produced by Heartache Productions in association with Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and Knowledge Network, and with the support of Canada Media Fund, Rogers Cable Network Fund, the Canadian Film and Video Production Tax Credits, and Film Incentive BC.
Boilerplate
About Interfilm Productions:
Interfilm Productions is a Vancouver based documentary production company that focuses on combining entertainment and intelligence in high definition. Documentaries to date include “From Russia, For Love” on adoption, “Fatherhood Dreams” on gay parenting, and “Love Translated” on dating tours to Eastern Europe.
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@CNWGroupSMR
True Love or Marriage Fraud? - New Documentary Shines Light on Marital Immigration Fraud, its… http://goo.gl/fb/DuX8F
November 08, 2010 @ 02:16PM
@lesleyflies
RT @atastefortravel: Fall in love on your holiday? Hear my friend\'s story in the new documentary: True Love or Marriage Fraud? http://tinyurl.com/354qfww #travel
November 10, 2010 @ 01:25AM
@atastefortravel
Fall in love on your holiday? Hear my friend\'s story in the new documentary: True Love or Marriage Fraud? http://tinyurl.com/354qfww #travel
November 09, 2010 @ 11:39PM
@cutureshaw
True Love or Marriage Fraud? - New Documentary Shines Light on Marital Immigration Fraud http://tinyurl.com/354qfww #cnw
November 11, 2010 @ 04:14AM
Maggie Gutierrez ( Cook)
Thanks for making this documentary, it is great. I am there in it, I will be watching the Passionate Eye for the whole thing Monday, November 15th as well.
November 14, 2010 @ 10:58AM
Grace
All these people are blinded by hollywood philosophy to get spouses that have a 6-pack or looks like Angelina Jolie but hey we are suppose to feel sorry because they are stupid enough to go abroad to find a Brad Pitt, when no one in Canada will take them. It doesn't register in their head that Canadian women are just as happy with a regular Joe. I really can't find any pity for them. They asked for trouble.
November 14, 2010 @ 04:41PM
Doris Dobberthien
Good Documentery,,,i myself was duped into marrige fraud,,,after 1 month he was gone and now hiding in Guelph,,,After seeing this documentary,,,I myself will also start making my voice heard,,,Thanks for the information
November 15, 2010 @ 11:16PM
serife Gungor
I got maried in 2003 my husband was acting as a good person he make me tusat him. I trust him I aply his citizen year 2009 he got it after I aply his pasport 5 moths later he kick me out and his son out of his house he said I was with for this 7 years now I get my gouls he said to me and he also said 1 year later he is going to get maried with other gril and bring her to Canada. He said he loved her he could mary with her because he was poor now he is canadian working he can mary her now he said.(Now I fell used I give 7 year to make happy family I even stop going to school I couln't go caloge because of him. Now I look my back I have nothing. I stared using madication it doesn't even help somtime
November 18, 2010 @ 02:26PM
Find a Love
Nice article, it's open my mind. Like it!
March 21, 2011 @ 07:18PM
Dating Site
Well, this post would be of great help to anyone who would come to read this one. Thanks a lot for sharing your thoughts..
March 24, 2011 @ 07:21AM
Winnipeg Press
The Government has proposed the New Rules of Engagement for marriages involving immigrants. Two year waiting period for sponsored spouses to receive Permanent Residency status and five year ban for the spouses to sponsor any other spouses.
View the Winnipeg Press link above for more info.
March 29, 2011 @ 04:08PM
@CNWGroupSMR
True Love or Marriage Fraud? - New Documentary Shines Light on Marital Immigration Fraud, its… http://goo.gl/fb/DuX8F
November 08, 2010 @ 02:16PM
@lesleyflies
RT @atastefortravel: Fall in love on your holiday? Hear my friend\'s story in the new documentary: True Love or Marriage Fraud? http://tinyurl.com/354qfww #travel
November 10, 2010 @ 01:25AM
@atastefortravel
Fall in love on your holiday? Hear my friend\'s story in the new documentary: True Love or Marriage Fraud? http://tinyurl.com/354qfww #travel
November 09, 2010 @ 11:39PM
@cutureshaw
True Love or Marriage Fraud? - New Documentary Shines Light on Marital Immigration Fraud http://tinyurl.com/354qfww #cnw
November 11, 2010 @ 04:14AM