Immigration authorities in Canada have allegedly pooh-poohed an NRI's marriage, refusing to grant his wife citizenship because the pair looks too 'stiff' in some wedding pictures to be a real couple.
Singh married his second wife Ranjit in November 2002 in India and ever since, he claims, he has been trying to bring her to Canada and the Federal Immigration Department have been persistently refusing to grant her citizenship, the Vancouver Sun daily quoted Singh as saying.
"Your marriage is not genuine and was entered into primarily for the purpose of acquiring permanent residence in Canada," Singh's 2005 rejection letter states.
The pair, a rejection letter signed by a High Commission official in Delhi said, 'do not depict the comfort level that is visible in photographs of a married couple. You (Ranjit) and (Singh) look distant and aloof in the photographs."
A widower for the last three years, 55-year-old Singh claims he married 36-year-old Ranjit in front of 150 people in India after courtship and applied for her to join him in Canada as soon as he returned.
But Canadian officials, who say the marriage is a sham, have repeatedly rejected her, the Sun said.
Singh said he has spent more than USD 50,000 on legal bills and trips to Punjab to be with his wife over the last three years.
"Why would someone do that if it is not real?" Singh, a mill worker by profession, said adding, "I am willing to put up a bond to support her for 10 years if necessary. She will not be a burden to Canada."