Amid increased scrutiny of immigration applications and visa compliance, Canada’s immigration authorities have issued a fresh warning against marriage fraud, cautioning citizens, permanent residents and foreign nationals about the legal consequences of entering into relationships solely for immigration purposes.The advisory was issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) through a social media post highlighting concerns over fraudulent marriages and “relationships of convenience” used to obtain Canadian immigration status.In its message, the IRCC urged Canadians to exercise caution before sponsoring a spouse or partner for immigration, especially in situations where they have only recently met the person, are being pressured into a quick marriage, or when the individual has a history of multiple marriages or common-law relationships.The department also advised people to be wary if a prospective partner is unwilling to share details about their family background or personal history.According to the IRCC, a “relationship of convenience” refers to a marriage, common-law partnership or conjugal relationship entered into primarily to help a foreign national immigrate to Canada rather than being based on a genuine relationship.The department stressed that immigration officers are trained to identify fraudulent applications and have several tools at their disposal, including document verification and interviews with sponsors and applicants, to detect sham marriages and false relationships.“Canadian citizens or permanent residents who are in a relationship of convenience for immigration reasons may be charged with a crime,” the IRCC advisory said.The advisory comes amid reports of increasing incidents of alleged contract marriages involving cheating brides in Punjab.In several cases, a groom who fails to meet the eligibility requirements for the IELTS examination reportedly finds a prospective bride who performs well in the test and pays for her education, travel and stay, with the expectation that she will later sponsor or facilitate his move to Canada on a spouse visa.After reaching Canada, the woman allegedly cuts ties with the groom and his family, leading in some cases to litigation and police complaints in India.The warning comes as Canadian authorities have intensified oversight of immigration programmes and visa applications.The Canadian government has in recent months announced measures aimed at strengthening the integrity of the immigration system, including stricter scrutiny of temporary residents and student visa applications.The IRCC also used the advisory to reassure immigrants facing domestic abuse that their immigration status does not depend on remaining in an abusive relationship.“You don’t have to stay in an abusive relationship to keep your status in Canada,” the department said.It added that spouses and partners of Canadian citizens or permanent residents have the right to seek help and do not need to continue living with an abusive sponsor to maintain their permanent resident status.