Getting a shared bill or bank account with PA on Visitor Status

[itsbecca]

Has anyone found a good way to get a shared bill or bank account for a common-law partner on visitor status? This is a struggle for us.

• We have a joint lease, but all utilities are paid by the building, other than our internet.
• Videotron internet which does not allow two people on the bill.
• I (sponsor) don't have the credit history yet to get a normal cellphone plan, and I haven't found a prepaid plans that lets you share/add a line with another person.
• My bank will not let me add my husband without a SIN#.

For IRCC we just loaded them with other types of proof to hopefully make up for not having a shared bill or bank account, but MIFI in Quebec is a lot stricter. We gave them all the same relationship proof as the IRRC, including a letter about our situation, and they still sent us a document request for a shared bill or bank account. I think we will probably be rejected if we only provide a letter of explanation, and not a fitting document. We filed for an OWP for my husband last August and have heard nothing, I have a feeling that even though it's not required, the IRCC is waiting on Quebec to issue a CSQ before they'll approve his OWP.

 

[steaky]

Has anyone found a good way to get a shared bill or bank account for a common-law partner on visitor status? This is a struggle for us.

• We have a joint lease, but all utilities are paid by the building, other than our internet.
• Videotron internet which does not allow two people on the bill.
• I (sponsor) don't have the credit history yet to get a normal cellphone plan, and I haven't found a prepaid plans that lets you share/add a line with another person.
• My bank will not let me add my husband without a SIN#.

For IRCC we just loaded them with other types of proof to hopefully make up for not having a shared bill or bank account, but MIFI in Quebec is a lot stricter. We gave them all the same relationship proof as the IRRC, including a letter about our situation, and they still sent us a document request for a shared bill or bank account. I think we will probably be rejected if we only provide a letter of explanation, and not a fitting document. We filed for an OWP for my husband last August and have heard nothing, I have a feeling that even though it's not required, the IRCC is waiting on Quebec to issue a CSQ before they'll approve his OWP.

How about your insurance provider on your tenant's insurance annual bill or your life insurance bill?

 

[Buda01]

Has anyone found a good way to get a shared bill or bank account for a common-law partner on visitor status? This is a struggle for us.

• We have a joint lease, but all utilities are paid by the building, other than our internet.
• Videotron internet which does not allow two people on the bill.
• I (sponsor) don't have the credit history yet to get a normal cellphone plan, and I haven't found a prepaid plans that lets you share/add a line with another person.
• My bank will not let me add my husband without a SIN#.

For IRCC we just loaded them with other types of proof to hopefully make up for not having a shared bill or bank account, but MIFI in Quebec is a lot stricter. We gave them all the same relationship proof as the IRRC, including a letter about our situation, and they still sent us a document request for a shared bill or bank account. I think we will probably be rejected if we only provide a letter of explanation, and not a fitting document. We filed for an OWP for my husband last August and have heard nothing, I have a feeling that even though it's not required, the IRCC is waiting on Quebec to issue a CSQ before they'll approve his OWP.

I added my wife as an authorized user for a credit card, under my bank. Now my bank (RBC) has some sort of profile for her, showing our address as together, and her under my main account. You could try that, maybe it works.

Initially when we went to the bank personally to do this, they would reject our application stating the same reason you said, but online it went through like nothing.

 

[itsbecca]

Oh, I think this might have worked... I actually have an account with RBC too, but didn't have a credit card. I just applied even though I still don't have credit here in Canada, because why not try? And I adding him as an authorized user during the application. It said it was approved!

The message did say at the bottom, "Approved applications may be subject to further review," so we'll see! But excellent suggestion, thank you!

@steaky I'm self-employed so I use public medical atm, but if the credit card falls through, we'll probably go with tenant insurance. Thanks!