Jollygoodfellow Posted July 26, 2009 Posted July 26, 2009 Hundreds of overseas-born spouses are being deported from Australia each year after failing intimacy tests.Authorities have intensified efforts to expose sham marriages amid a surge in spouse visa applications, News Limited reports.The Immigration Department said a special unit would assess whether relationships were genuine, the Herald-Sun reported on Monday.About 40,000 visas were issued to married and de facto spouses in 2007-08, up from 26,000 a decade ago.The Department of Immigration and Citizenship's Bona Fides Unit investigated more than 1150 couples in 2007-08 over "irregularities".About 220 partner visas were cancelled after inconsistencies emerged in couples' stories. Another 3146 visa applications were rejected outright.Immigration department spokesman Sandi Logan said a two-stage visa process was used to deter rorters.Partner visas are first issued for two years.Couples must prove their relationship is genuine and ongoing for permanent residency to be granted after a temporary visa expires.The report says Indian and Pakistani newspapers have many advertisements seeking brides for expat men. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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