Quote:
Originally Posted by xamaicano
I agree. It still happens here in the States even with the 2 year conditional period. Same situation but more time for further emotional investment. I would think that being financially responsible for their spouses for a few years would make Canadians a bit more cautious in entering these arrangements.
|
I think that making some stricter reverse onus rules that would apply to the person coming to Canada would be far more effective than adding years, etc. to the person's responsibility here in Canada. The person here in Canada truly believes that their spouse is marrying them for love and good intentions (with the exception of a few who may be doing it as a business deal) so I doubt adding more years to their responsibility would deter people because by the time they are in love, they are willing to do anything to get their spouse here.
I don't know what the answer is because you have to be very careful not to punish those in a situation where things just didn't work out which is 50% of Canadians in any event so marrying someone from abroad doesn't change that statistic.
The government could simply change immigration rules to say that anyone living in Canada under the
PR class who was sponsored by a spouse, does not qualify to receive welfare regardless of the situation. That does not stop someone from using someone to get into Canada but it stops them from collecting government money and if they want to leave their spouse, they will have to work to support themselves. Another thing could be that in order to receive citizenship within the first 6 years in Canada or something like that, you must remain married and in a relationship with the person that brought you here. These people would not be living in Canada if not for their spouse so citizenship should not be a right but a privilege and contingent on the fact that they remain in a relationship with their sponsor.
I know a lot of couples here (Can/Dom) that didn't work out once their spouse got here but I also know of lots (although fewer than the flip side) that have been together for years, have children, a home together, etc. I think the Dominicans that are using someone strictly for a visa with absolutely no intention whatsoever of staying with their spouse once in Canada, are probably less than you think. A lot of Dominicans are thinking sure, I'll get married to this person, I do care about them, I have nothing to lose because the situation in my country is not great, but then when they get here, things are harder than they thought and things don't work out. It goes both ways, I see a lot of couples where the Canadian doesn't realize where these men and women are coming from and the Dominican ends up feeling trapped and controlled or they want to go out every night and leave their spouse at home, etc, etc, etc, so the relationship breaks down and they leave. That cannot be seen as someone who just used their spouse to get here but knowing that they can collect government money probably makes the choice a bit easier.
I am not disputing that the spouses who arrive in Canada and leave within weeks or even months have married in bad faith because in those circumstances, there was obviously a plan in place on their part to not make a future with the person who sponsored them. Often times, they already have someone else here waiting for them so they just have to get here. Perhaps in these situations, if someone leaves within the first year, they should just get deported? There has to be something in place to make is less appealing for those just using someone to get here.