Marrying for immigration, not love

[Vinny_121_DDS]

Broken Vows: Marrying for immigration, not love


Lainie Towell had the kind of wedding any bride would envy. A handsome, charismatic groom, an exotic location, and hundreds of people dancing in the streets. Little did she know the love of her life was really only interested in her for her Canadian citizenship.

Towell met her future husband, Fode Mohamed Soumah, when she traveled to Guinea West Africa in 2004 to study choreography. He was a drummer in a band and they seemed to have an immediate connection. "We spent a lot of time together and we became very close and we became romantically involved," said Towell.

Three more trips followed and in 2007 Lainie and Soumah -- known as Akra to his friends -- were married in a spectacular ceremony that culminated in 300 guests dancing and drumming in the streets. "I was the happiest woman alive."
But that marital bliss wouldn't last long. Ten days after the couple returned to Towell's hometown of Ottawa she caught Akra writing an email back to Guinea. She was shocked to see the man of her dreams was writing about a baby that he had fathered while they were engaged. Confronting Akra about his duplicity, led to an admission that, in fact, he was the father.
A few days later, Akra disappeared. After a frantic search, Towell finally reached her husband on his cell phone. "He said to me he never loved me. He told me that he could go on welfare and that I was responsible for paying back the government."

Towell's dreams were shattered and she realized that, as his sponsor, she would indeed be responsible for him for three years, until he could apply for Canadian citizenship.

Marriage fraud
Every year over 30,000 new immigrants get married, become permanent residents and move to Canada. While most of those marriages are legitimate and long lasting, some people will go to any length to make Canada their home. Citizenship and Immigration Canada insists that it does what it can to make sure the marriages are legitimate, but admit that there are thousands of Canadian men and women who find out, once their spouse arrives here, that they have been duped, and have become victims of marriage fraud.

Immigration lawyer Julie Taub has heard dozens of stories like Towell's. "Unfortunately, Citizen and Immigration Canada and Canada Border Services Agency doesn't get around to investigating the vast majority of complaints that are submitted," said Taub.

She argues that the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, which gives people their permanent residency the minute they land in Canada, is the root of the problem. "In the United States and Australia, for example, citizens of course can sponsor their spouses. But the spouses, once they are accepted and processed, do not acquire permanent resident status upon landing," says Taub. "They acquire conditional status or temporary status for two or three years. And if the marriage is still intact...then they can apply for their permanent status."

Ottawa's view
It may sound like a sensible idea to some, but don't expect that kind of change to Canada's immigration laws any time soon. Immigration Minister Jason Kenney says he sympathizes, but that victims like Towell need to acknowledge their role in creating the problem. "They have to accept some responsibility though for marrying this person and for vouching for them and for sponsoring them into the country," said Kenney in an interview with W5's Victor Malarek. "At the end of the day, the government's not responsible for people's individual decisions."
As for Lainie Towell, she complained repeatedly to immigration officials and eventually her husband was ordered deported. Not for marriage fraud, but because he didn't disclose the fact he had fathered a child. As a permanent resident though, Soumah has appealed the decision and until all his legal avenues are exhausted he can continue living in Canada.

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNew...1024?hub=WFive

I think Canada should put these new immigrants on a 5 year probation list before becoming full fledged Canadians.

if you click on the link, there's a 20 minute video about the outrage the people felt when their spouse left.

[Gawel1410]

Yea not suprised, as a Polish-American, I hear stories that a couple would split up, marry and pay a native and get citizenship from them, then divorce and remarry their origional wife or husband. Very messed up. But that's what they do if they don't come here legally, thankfully my parents came here legally and did not have to even think about this.

[Vinny_121_DDS]

Originally Posted by Gawel1410

Yea not suprised, as a Polish-American, I hear stories that a couple would split up, marry and pay a native and get citizenship from them, then divorce and remarry their origional wife or husband. Very messed up. But that's what they do if they don't come here legally, thankfully my parents came here legally and did not have to even think about this.

At least they were honest about it.

[hidayatnw]

I am not surprised, It is old news, I ever get offered some money to marry girls from Philippine/Chinese/eastern Europe even Indonesian just to get citizenship ( I have Dutch and British passport) but I nver dare to do it...

It works a mafia actually...

[HollywoodMarine]

Originally Posted by hidayatnw

I am not surprised, It is old news, I ever get offered some money to marry girls from... eastern Europe... just to get citizenship... but I nver dare to do it...

Uh... about these eastern European girls you talk about... you have a pic and how much are they offering?

[Soldat_Américain]

Originally Posted by HollywoodMarine

Uh... about these eastern European girls you talk about... you have a pic and how much are they offering?

Remember, the only English words they know must be: Yes, Please and I do.

[Breerman]

White Trash women and desperate old men both taking in imports is indeed a problem here as well. They get tricked and society foots the bill.

[wagon]

It's a pretty old trick. Don't forget people who marry much older (usually) men - and once the old bloke drops off she gets his fortune.

Maybe 'shopping locally' is a good policy?

(btw, the above comment is not intended to be racist in any way; if you have nothing to offer but love and companionship you aren't going to get conned into a marriage for immigration purposes.)

[dave81]

www.LoveMe.com

[Rugal09]

I'm not surprised. You can make pretty good money as well.

One friend of mine (who I would rate as 5 out of 10) told me she was offered 10,000 dollars for a fake marriage. And being a jackass that I am, I was like, "10k??!! For you???!!!"


I haven't heard from her since...

[Soldat_Américain]

Originally Posted by dave81

www.LoveMe.com

lemme take a stab here, that's how you found yours.

[HollywoodMarine]

Originally Posted by dave81

www.LoveMe.com

WTF!? Where are the Scandinavian broads?

[Soldat_Américain]

You don't like Ukrainian, I found one for you she was 19 and said she was down if the guy was 38 and below...also you have to want your woman.

[sepheronx]

Wait...................Your telling me that women would marry me AND pay me to simply move to Canada?

Hmm.. Buisness idea!

Since I am poor anyway, she can take half my stuff. At least I will still have more money!

Score.

[HollywoodMarine]

Originally Posted by Soldat_Américain

You don't like Ukrainian, I found one for you she was 19 and said she was down if the guy was 38 and below...also you have to want your woman.

Nope! They and Russian chicks look hot, but they sure smoke a lot. Besides, I prefer dating Scandinavian women. I almost married one.