True Love or Marriage Fraud? - New Documentary Shines Light on Marital
Immigration Fraud, its Victims and the Government that puts up with it

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VANCOUVER, Nov. 8 /CNW/ - 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 taxpayers 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.

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.

For further information:

Boris Ivanov
[phone]
[email protected]
www.interfilm.ca