Common Law Sponsorship. Please Help !

[jascampy]

Hi everyone!!

I’m currently in the process of sponsoring my partner from the U.S. We got a visitor extension for him in December 2024 (for 1 year) so we can reach the full 12 months of cohabitation required for common-law sponsorship.

The issue we’re having is finding solid documents to prove that he lives with me, since he’s here as a visitor and not on a lease or any bills. We do live together, but we live with my mom, and I can’t add him to the lease or utilities because I am on family plans that he is unable to get added to.

So far, we’ve opened a joint chequing account, and I added him as an authorized user on my credit card — so that’s the only “mail with his name and our address” we have. We also have lots of photos (including trips together and with family), but I know that’s not enough on its own.


I’m starting to get a bit stressed since it’s April and I want to make sure we’ll have enough proof of cohabitation by the time we apply.

Does anyone have advice on other ways we can show that he’s been living with me while still on visitor status? Would really appreciate any tips or ideas! (e.g., would having my mom write a letter to confirm he is living in our home be good?)


Thanks so much

 

[steaky]

Hi everyone!!

I’m currently in the process of sponsoring my partner from the U.S. We got a visitor extension for him in December 2024 (for 1 year) so we can reach the full 12 months of cohabitation required for common-law sponsorship.

The issue we’re having is finding solid documents to prove that he lives with me, since he’s here as a visitor and not on a lease or any bills. We do live together, but we live with my mom, and I can’t add him to the lease or utilities because I am on family plans that he is unable to get added to.

So far, we’ve opened a joint chequing account, and I added him as an authorized user on my credit card — so that’s the only “mail with his name and our address” we have. We also have lots of photos (including trips together and with family), but I know that’s not enough on its own.


I’m starting to get a bit stressed since it’s April and I want to make sure we’ll have enough proof of cohabitation by the time we apply.

Does anyone have advice on other ways we can show that he’s been living with me while still on visitor status? Would really appreciate any tips or ideas! (e.g., would having my mom write a letter to confirm he is living in our home be good?)


Thanks so much

How about travel insurance for both persons?

 

[scylla]

Hi everyone!!

I’m currently in the process of sponsoring my partner from the U.S. We got a visitor extension for him in December 2024 (for 1 year) so we can reach the full 12 months of cohabitation required for common-law sponsorship.

The issue we’re having is finding solid documents to prove that he lives with me, since he’s here as a visitor and not on a lease or any bills. We do live together, but we live with my mom, and I can’t add him to the lease or utilities because I am on family plans that he is unable to get added to.

So far, we’ve opened a joint chequing account, and I added him as an authorized user on my credit card — so that’s the only “mail with his name and our address” we have. We also have lots of photos (including trips together and with family), but I know that’s not enough on its own.


I’m starting to get a bit stressed since it’s April and I want to make sure we’ll have enough proof of cohabitation by the time we apply.

Does anyone have advice on other ways we can show that he’s been living with me while still on visitor status? Would really appreciate any tips or ideas! (e.g., would having my mom write a letter to confirm he is living in our home be good?)


Thanks so much

I assume the joint bank account and credit card authorization dates back to December 2024? Both of those are good evidence.

Yes, your mother should write a letter but better to make it an affidavit.

Change your status to common law with CRA once you have lived together for 1 year continuously.

Does your partner have a cell phone in Canada?

 

[James Russo]

Take a family phone plan. Telus or Rogers are fair options.

 

[MJSPARV]

I’m going to be that person who asks, why not get married? If it’s serious enough to sponsor him it’s serious for a legal marriage. That reduces some of the need for documents like the ones you say you lack.

 

[jascampy]

I’m going to be that person who asks, why not get married? If it’s serious enough to sponsor him it’s serious for a legal marriage. That reduces some of the need for documents like the ones you say you lack.

How about travel insurance for both persons?

Unfortunately no

 

[jascampy]

I’m going to be that person who asks, why not get married? If it’s serious enough to sponsor him it’s serious for a legal marriage. That reduces some of the need for documents like the ones you say you lack.

Because we are saving towards a big wedding in the future (we both have big families). I am only 24 and he is 22, yes it is serious enough for a sponsor but we do not have the funds we need for the wedding we want currently, so we do not want to rush it simply for the paper work.

 

[jascampy]

Take a family phone plan. Telus or Rogers are fair options.

I assume the joint bank account and credit card authorization dates back to December 2024? Both of those are good evidence.

Yes, your mother should write a letter but better to make it an affidavit.

Change your status to common law with CRA once you have lived together for 1 year continuously.

Does your partner have a cell phone in Canada?

The joint chequing dates back to Dec. 2024, however, the credit card only dates back to this month. Also, we did sign the papers that we are common-law back in Dec. 2024.

Also, thank you! I am going to try to get the affidavit to make it more official. Thanks a lot.

 

[scylla]

The joint chequing dates back to Dec. 2024, however, the credit card only dates back to this month. Also, we did sign the papers that we are common-law back in Dec. 2024.

Also, thank you! I am going to try to get the affidavit to make it more official. Thanks a lot.

So you started living together in December 2023 and been continuously living together since then?

 

[jascampy]

So you started living together in December 2023 and been continuously living together since then?

We have been physically together without any breaks since July 2024. Before that he'd go back & forth. December 2024 is when he got the visitor extension so from then is when we started to collect evidence, so that we will be able to apply for sponsorship in for December 2025.

 

[canuck78]

We have been physically together without any breaks since July 2024. Before that he'd go back & forth. December 2024 is when he got the visitor extension so from then is when we started to collect evidence, so that we will be able to apply for sponsorship in for December 2025.

This is problematic. You really need proof of continuous cohabitation starting from July 2024 and then throughout the 1 year period.

 

[scylla]

We have been physically together without any breaks since July 2024. Before that he'd go back & forth. December 2024 is when he got the visitor extension so from then is when we started to collect evidence, so that we will be able to apply for sponsorship in for December 2025.

In that case you weren't common law in December 2024. The earliest you can say you are common law is July 2025. You must live together for a year first continuously before you can declare common law status.

Don't submit that declaration you signed in Dec 2024 saying you are common law. That is not a factual statement. You weren't common law at this time. This declaration will just confuse IRCC and possibly result in them asking for evidence you don't have / doesn't exist.

 

[armoured]

Because we are saving towards a big wedding in the future (we both have big families). I am only 24 and he is 22, yes it is serious enough for a sponsor but we do not have the funds we need for the wedding we want currently, so we do not want to rush it simply for the paper work.

You are claiming to be spouses 'for the paperwork.' Marriage by law is paperwork.

Do what many, many others do in Canada who are residing together: have a small(ish) civil wedding. Have your bigger, fancier 'traditional' or whatever wedding you like, whenever you like.

 

[canuck78]

You are claiming to be spouses 'for the paperwork.' Marriage by law is paperwork.

Do what many, many others do in Canada who are residing together: have a small(ish) civil wedding. Have your bigger, fancier 'traditional' or whatever wedding you like, whenever you like.

Agree but would certainly be best to have a few people especially family attend the civil service. A little celebration afterwards can be as simple as a backyard bbq or lunch at a restaurant although I’d splurge on a few simple wedding themed decorations and maybe a small but simple cake that looks like a wedding cake. You should be prepared to go public with the marriage on places like social media which is a stumbling block for some who want to get married for immigration purposes but want people to think that they got married for the first time during their larger wedding ceremony.

 

[armoured]

Agree but would certainly be best to have a few people especially family attend the civil service. A little celebration afterwards can be as simple as a backyard bbq or lunch at a restaurant although I’d splurge on a few simple wedding themed decorations and maybe a small but simple cake that looks like a wedding cake. You should be prepared to go public with the marriage on places like social media which is a stumbling block for some who want to get married for immigration purposes but want people to think that they got married for the first time during their larger wedding ceremony.

I don't outright disagree with this (all useful points) but would say less critical overall for couples living together and who can document that.

Put differently: sure, small-ISH. Not zero people or evidence. I'll let them work out the balance of the choices.

The point remaining, if someone wants to plan their disney-fantasy wedding with unicorns and castles and all that and take time to save up money (to waste it on that fantasy), fine by me.

But marriages/common law are in fact the realm of 'Caesar' (government and admin), as in the expression of 'render unto Caesar', and people's wedding fantasies are interfering with their actual lives - mistakenly. IMO.