(The Epoch Times)
It can go both ways. If the law changes too much, so that immigrant spouses are easily deported if the marriage breaks up prior to a 3-year probation, it might be easy for a man to get married, collect a dowry, then kick his foreign wife out on the street and say she was the one that left. Thus, having her deported while he keeps her money. Or a man may put her through all kinds of abuse if she must stay in the relationship to keep her visa. It is not easy for some to return home after a failed marriage, with the stigma and cost that could befall them.
Sure, Canada should do a little more to protect our citizens against obvious fraud, but marriage is a promise among two people and the less the government gets involved the better.
Get to know your partner, their friends, how they treat other people, know how they provide for themselves and how they help their extended family. If he/she is undesirable there, he'll be undesirable here. If you're the only one he/she is nice toward, watch out! The Canadian government and taxpayers should not be responsible for cleaning up your mess. The sponsorship guarantee is there so the rest of us do not end up paying for your whimsical marriage. What happens when they leave after 3 years, maybe you will have to pay spousal support?
What is most disturbing is some of these cases want their debt waved so they can do it again.
I married a Thai nurse, I love her and I am supporting her while she upgrades to apply for her nursing license here. I also give help to her extended family, as she had been helping them before coming here. If things go bad, I will remember the good times and she will soon be able to support herself and contribute greatly to Canada. She has been here a year and brings a light into my life every day that was not there before. I hope the few fraudulent cases do not make it harder for the real marriages.
If you bring a dead beat into this country you should pay the costs. People will lie to get here; you owe it to yourself and Canada to make sure they are worth it. I hope I did my best to get to know who I married.
Tim Eymundson
Vancouver,
BC, Canada
