Marrying for immigration

Just finished watching the w5 news program on immigration marriage fraud.

Julie Taub, an Ottawa immigration lawyer, suggests that immigration law be changed to grant only conditional status in Canada to the sponsored spouse. I'm not sure I agree. This could result in abuse and coercion as well - a method of control by the sponsor over the immigrant spouse.

Immigration minister Jason Kenney is indicating changes and reforms are imminent. To some degree I am in agreement with what Kenney stated. Individuals need to be responsible for their own choices. Immigration to Canada is a significant benefit and could be an incentive to unscrupulous individuals. As a result, sponsors need to take appropriate precautions.

As it stands visa officers test the bona fides of a marriage by way of an interview of the sponsored spouse. This may be insufficient to protect duped sponsors or the integrity of the system. Given the actions of unscrupulous immigration consultants (Pinnacle Immigration was captured on video by w5 discussing a sponsorship for 40000) and the plethora of fraudulent marriages perhaps follow up interviews should be done by immigration after the immigrant spouse arrives in Canada.