Wife used my name as co-sponsor for her mother's immigration without my consent

[Isthisreal]

Hello Everyone,
This is my first post here so hoping for some support in tough times.

To give you a little background, I have been living in Canada for more than 16 years now and sponsored my wife about 4 years ago. She is a citizen now.
So I recently found out that my wife's mother just arrived in Canada as PR and I had not idea how or when it happened (the sponsoring part). Now my wife recently left me (not divorced) to live in community housing few months back. Her mother is also living with her after she landed in Canada.

Just few days back, I got an email from LDNIMMIGRATION@international.gc.ca asking for me to provide them with my address so they can return original documents. The email looks legit but it came as a surprise because I wasn't aware that I am also the one who is involved in this without being aware of it. I looked up a bit and found out that if my wife sponsored her mother she would have used me as a co-sponsor and that's the reason why I was getting this email. My wife didn't work so she must have also used my earning documents etc to support the immigration application. I wasn't even aware if it possible to do that without ones concent. I am sure she faked my signaures etc but there are so many check points and controls, so quite surprised with that.

Before I report it to any authorities I wanted to check if I have any legal grounds to report this incident given that she has already landed in Canada. I don't mind her being in Canada but at this point I would rather be completely detached from her mother in any and all way possible.

I will be reporting this incident in the next couple of days to local police however I wanted to get the input from the community to get feedback on the legal process.

PS: I feel like I have grounds to get her mom deported (not quite sure but my wife as well).

Thank you in advance

 

[scylla]

Hello Everyone,
This is my first post here so hoping for some support in tough times.

To give you a little background, I have been living in Canada for more than 16 years now and sponsored my wife about 4 years ago. She is a citizen now.
So I recently found out that my wife's mother just arrived in Canada as PR and I had not idea how or when it happened (the sponsoring part). Now my wife recently left me (not divorced) to live in community housing few months back. Her mother is also living with her after she landed in Canada.

Just few days back, I got an email from LDNIMMIGRATION@international.gc.ca asking for me to provide them with my address so they can return original documents. The email looks legit but it came as a surprise because I wasn't aware that I am also the one who is involved in this without being aware of it. I looked up a bit and found out that if my wife sponsored her mother she would have used me as a co-sponsor and that's the reason why I was getting this email. My wife didn't work so she must have also used my earning documents etc to support the immigration application. I wasn't even aware if it possible to do that without ones concent. I am sure she faked my signaures etc but there are so many check points and controls, so quite surprised with that.

Before I report it to any authorities I wanted to check if I have any legal grounds to report this incident given that she has already landed in Canada. I don't mind her being in Canada but at this point I would rather be completely detached from her mother in any and all way possible.

I will be reporting this incident in the next couple of days to local police however I wanted to get the input from the community to get feedback on the legal process.

PS: I feel like I have grounds to get her mom deported (not quite sure but my wife as well).

Thank you in advance

You can and should certainly report the incident. Whether any action is taken will be up to IRCC and not for you to decide.

Having said that, I would very strongly encourage you to report this. If you have in fact been listed as a sponsor in the application and she has become a PR through your wife's sponsorship (with you as a co-signer), this means you're financially on the hook for your mother-in-law for a period of 20 years.

Report this to IRCC / CBSA.

Information on how to report here:

https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/protect-fraud/report-fraud.html

 

[canuck78]

Hello Everyone,
This is my first post here so hoping for some support in tough times.

To give you a little background, I have been living in Canada for more than 16 years now and sponsored my wife about 4 years ago. She is a citizen now.
So I recently found out that my wife's mother just arrived in Canada as PR and I had not idea how or when it happened (the sponsoring part). Now my wife recently left me (not divorced) to live in community housing few months back. Her mother is also living with her after she landed in Canada.

Just few days back, I got an email from LDNIMMIGRATION@international.gc.ca asking for me to provide them with my address so they can return original documents. The email looks legit but it came as a surprise because I wasn't aware that I am also the one who is involved in this without being aware of it. I looked up a bit and found out that if my wife sponsored her mother she would have used me as a co-sponsor and that's the reason why I was getting this email. My wife didn't work so she must have also used my earning documents etc to support the immigration application. I wasn't even aware if it possible to do that without ones concent. I am sure she faked my signaures etc but there are so many check points and controls, so quite surprised with that.

Before I report it to any authorities I wanted to check if I have any legal grounds to report this incident given that she has already landed in Canada. I don't mind her being in Canada but at this point I would rather be completely detached from her mother in any and all way possible.

I will be reporting this incident in the next couple of days to local police however I wanted to get the input from the community to get feedback on the legal process.

PS: I feel like I have grounds to get her mom deported (not quite sure but my wife as well).

Thank you in advance

Would also suggest speaking to a lawyer. If she claims welfare you will be paying the amount of money back to the government.

 

[Isthisreal]

Thank you so much for the information. I read a bit about the accountability when it come to welfare. Sooner or later this will cwarl up to me anyways.
I have just reported the incident and will keep this post updated.
Thank y

 

[Isthisreal]

Very devastating to find out. A major set back on so many levels.

 

[scylla]

Thank you so much for the information. I read a bit about the accountability when it come to welfare. Sooner or later this will cwarl up to me anyways.
I have just reported the incident and will keep this post updated.
Thank y

Good luck.

And yes, the welfare / social assistance is the bit you need to be worried about. Assuming you were fraudulently included as a co-sponsor, you are on the hook right now for 20 years if the mother takes any payments. If you do end up filing a police report (which is probably a good idea), include this in the evidence you submit to CBSA / IRCC. I would personally pull out all of the stops to get this fixed.

 

[scylla]

Very devastating to find out. A major set back on so many levels.

One more comment... It can take time for IRCC / CBSA to investigate. Just because you hear nothing doesn't mean nothing is happening. My recommendation would be to submit follow up requests if more information relevant to the case becomes available (i.e. if you file a police report then submit that as a follow up, if the police report becomes a charge then submit that info, if you get more documents that support your case then submit those).

 

[canuck78]

Agree that taking out all the stops is really necessary. You really should file a police report and would still suggest consulting with a lawyer.

 

[canuck78]

Agree that you should be filing a police report and would still suggest speaking to a lawyer. IRCC takea a long time to process the things. You should be documenting everything including any communication with your ex. Would make sure it is via text or email and capture screen shots. Would try and to get a copy of the application