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Common law proof when the partner is a vistor

rmtl

Hero Member
Aug 27, 2021
232
89
Hi,
My partner came on a visitor visa to Canada, and we've been living together for a year, and we would like to apply for sponsorship under common law.
Since my partner is on a visitor visa, can't be in my rent contract, I already asked the building (they have to perform a credit check), I have the email from them.
We are sharing a credit card together, we can't have a bank account (visitor visa too). A mobile phone under my partner name but with my credit card.
The visa extension records showing the address where we live, pictures and letters from friends to proof that we are together.
Any one have similar experience, with their common law is on a visitor visa and they have to proof that?
Marriage is not an option for us
 

scylla

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Jun 8, 2010
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Category........
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Hi,
My partner came on a visitor visa to Canada, and we've been living together for a year, and we would like to apply for sponsorship under common law.
Since my partner is on a visitor visa, can't be in my rent contract, I already asked the building (they have to perform a credit check), I have the email from them.
We are sharing a credit card together, we can't have a bank account (visitor visa too). A mobile phone under my partner name but with my credit card.
The visa extension records showing the address where we live, pictures and letters from friends to proof that we are together.
Any one have similar experience, with their common law is on a visitor visa and they have to proof that?
Marriage is not an option for us
How long ago did you get the shared credit card? If it's been at least a year, that is good proof. I thought it was in fact possibile to set up the joint bank account. It was certainly possible a few years ago. Maybe that has changed.

Get your landlord to write a letter or sign an affidavit stating you've been living together for a full year at that shared address.

Photos are proof you are in a relationship but do not prove you are common law.

Letters from family / friends can help.
 

rmtl

Hero Member
Aug 27, 2021
232
89
How long ago did you get the shared credit card? If it's been at least a year, that is good proof. I thought it was in fact possibile to set up the joint bank account. It was certainly possible a few years ago. Maybe that has changed.

Get your landlord to write a letter or sign an affidavit stating you've been living together for a full year at that shared address.

Photos are proof you are in a relationship but do not prove you are common law.

Letters from family / friends can help.
At least in RBC, they required to have a proof of resident. We are planning to sign the affidavit too. The credit card been a year, also the initial visa application, when my partner visited me our address is written there. And we have shared expenses together too, we can proof that. Also we are planning to sigh a cohabitation agreement
 

Sonikell

Hero Member
Apr 24, 2023
238
88
Hi,
My partner came on a visitor visa to Canada, and we've been living together for a year, and we would like to apply for sponsorship under common law.
Since my partner is on a visitor visa, can't be in my rent contract, I already asked the building (they have to perform a credit check), I have the email from them.
We are sharing a credit card together, we can't have a bank account (visitor visa too). A mobile phone under my partner name but with my credit card.
The visa extension records showing the address where we live, pictures and letters from friends to proof that we are together.
Any one have similar experience, with their common law is on a visitor visa and they have to proof that?
Marriage is not an option for us
If your partner has a valid TRV then you can hold a joint account with TD. RBC is a bit stricter and probably won’t approve it.
 

Deividas

Star Member
Apr 3, 2023
65
18
I am a visitor and to prove common law I used things such as: Life insurance beneficiary(sponsor), taxes(sponsor), Financial Support between each other (Money Transfers). You can also sign Statutory Declaration of common law (which is required when applying for Visitor record anyways.

Other things : Joint Accounts, Joint Mobile Accounts / Gym memberships as well as Car insurance.

Hope this helps
 
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canuck78

VIP Member
Jun 18, 2017
55,587
13,519
Informing CRA that you are common law on the day you have lived together for 1 year is good proof but also required. When it comes to the credit card what is important is to have proof of the date where you started sharing the card and that you continued sharing the card. If you have the initial paperwork signing up for the card or your first bill they should have both the date, both your names and your address on them. What IRCC really wants to see is something with your address and the date on it especially at the start date of the common law period. If you have more than 1 year it can be around the start of the common law period.
 

Kay1976

Member
Apr 21, 2023
10
0
Your tax papers would be a good one too as proof. You don't have to be a resident to pay or declare taxes.
 

rmtl

Hero Member
Aug 27, 2021
232
89
Also must declare common-law relationship when declaring taxes and same address.
Thanks Yes I am planning to do to notify CRA about the change and my common law. and we sign the declaration paper.
But my partner can't declare tax because doesn't work and isn't allow work.

Can you add someone in your life/car insurance if they are visitors? i tired to add my partner to my life insurance my work told me we can't since they don't recognized common law partnership!

Does the visa record count as a proof since the address is there and it shows that we are staying together from first day in Canada?
 
Last edited:

rmtl

Hero Member
Aug 27, 2021
232
89
Informing CRA that you are common law on the day you have lived together for 1 year is good proof but also required. When it comes to the credit card what is important is to have proof of the date where you started sharing the card and that you continued sharing the card. If you have the initial paperwork signing up for the card or your first bill they should have both the date, both your names and your address on them. What IRCC really wants to see is something with your address and the date on it especially at the start date of the common law period. If you have more than 1 year it can be around the start of the common law period.
I did the credit card application online but I will attached the several statements for different months to show that. Also planning to attach the communications between and building management saying that we need to do a credit check and we can't have a joined lease.
 

rmtl

Hero Member
Aug 27, 2021
232
89
I am a visitor and to prove common law I used things such as: Life insurance beneficiary(sponsor), taxes(sponsor), Financial Support between each other (Money Transfers). You can also sign Statutory Declaration of common law (which is required when applying for Visitor record anyways.

Other things : Joint Accounts, Joint Mobile Accounts / Gym memberships as well as Car insurance.

Hope this helps
Why do you need to sign it Statutory Declaration of common law for a visitor record?
 

Sonikell

Hero Member
Apr 24, 2023
238
88
If you both wish to hold a joint a/c together then like I said earlier TD is likely to be more accommodating than RBC.
RBC won’t let anyone with TRV have a bank a/c( in my experience)
 
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Badge1

Star Member
May 3, 2023
97
41
If you both wish to hold a joint a/c together then like I said earlier TD is likely to be more accommodating than RBC.
RBC won’t let anyone with TRV have a bank a/c( in my experience)
I attest that this statement is valid. RBC will allow you to open an account with TRV however, they will close it after 6 months if you can't provide PR documents. They may however, extend you account depending on the status of your PR application.

TD is not only more accomodating but they do allow TRVs to open account. They will however require you to declare your TIN or tax number from your home country.
 
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rmtl

Hero Member
Aug 27, 2021
232
89
If you both wish to hold a joint a/c together then like I said earlier TD is likely to be more accommodating than RBC.
RBC won’t let anyone with TRV have a bank a/c( in my experience)
It is not too late now to open one since we've been aklready together for more than a year