'Marriage of convenience' by Indian students in Canada mentioned in internal email: Even advertised on dating apps

Canadian media reported email exchange between New Delhi and Ottawa on Indians doing sham marriages for spouse visa in Canada before 2024. Indian students coming to Canada arranged 'marriages of convenience' through newspaper advertisements and dating apps only to gain residency in the country, and the government became aware of it, internal communication has revealed. The Globe and Mail reported that a 2025 email sent to IRCC officials from Canada's High Commission in New Delhi discussed a number of integrity issues involving Indian students. A change in the rules in 2024 by Marc Miller, then-immigration minister, closed the avenue and Indian students started opting for countries with spousal visas such as Germany, Sweden and Finland.What did the email say?The email was sent to Sean McLuckie, IRCC director, irregular migration and risk intelligence, and another senior Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship official. It came from Han Duan, first secretary (migration) in Canada’s High Commission to India in New Delhi.“Given the high cost of studying and living in Canada, many Indian applicants relied on marriages of convenience to secure financial support in exchange for spousal open...