Authorities uncover sham marriages

About 20 cases of immigration scams involving sham marriages have been prosecuted in the past three years - but many more attempt to dupe authorities, immigration officials say.

According to figures released yesterday, Labour Department staff carried out almost 190 "relationship checks" between April 22, 2004, and November 25, 2005.

In the financial year to date (starting July 1), 2990 people have applied for residency under the department's partnership policy, which covers marriages and de facto relationships as well as same-sex partnerships.

Of those applications, 2868 were approved and 122 declined.

Department spokeswoman Justine Auton said investigation of alleged marriage fraud was one of the main areas of activity of the fraud unit set up in 2002.

Most relationships turned out to be genuine.

Of the 20 prosecutions since the unit was set up, most involved charges relating to false or misleading documents being submitted in support of an application for residence based on marriage.

But these prosecutions represented a small number of the marriage scams uncovered by the department, Ms Auton said.

"A majority are uncovered early on, during the application process."

It was not an offence under the Immigration Act for a person to exchange money or other items as part of a marriage agreement. But it was an offence to provide misleading information to immigration officers, she said.

Simply marrying a New Zealand resident does not automatically give a foreigner residence in New Zealand.

Under the department's partnership policy, applicants must prove they have been living together for 12 months or more in a partnership that is "genuine and stable", with a New Zealand citizen or resident.

Applicants must also meet health and character requirements.

Anyone found guilty faces up to seven years in prison or a fine of up to $100,000. Both partners in a bogus marriage may be prosecuted, while the non-New Zealand resident is also likely to be removed from the country.

Brokers of marriage scams are also liable for prosecution.

In November, Jing Cheng Jiang, a New Zealand citizen, appeared in court in Auckland on charges of arranging at least eight fraudulent marriages between 1998 and 2003. He was sentenced to two years' imprisonment for arranging marriages.

The factory worker from Glenfield admitted matchmaking for Chinese businessmen, students and those on work permits, who paid him for arranging marriages with New Zealanders.

Ms Auton said there did not appear to be any increase in the number of marriage scams that were being uncovered.

- NZPA