Proof of cohabitation rejected

[np08]

Yeah, we also shopped around for insurance and I got mine as visitor through Blue Cross in the end (but others offered it as well).

 

[Wayne72]

Update: I have checked out Blue Cross and they are only willing to cover only within 30 days after previous travel insurance expiry. Since my wife passed that 30 day window she can't go with Blue Cross. We called Manulife and they have no such restriction so we're going with Manulife. Thank you!

Another question. Her visa extension is due in March and I just want to ensure that we get it extended before that time just in case of a PR processing delay. I was told that if she extend the visa for 6 months then no medical checkup is required. Is it true that as long as we only ask for 6 months extension at a time then no medical checkup is required? If she have to do medical checkup regardless then we will apply for a longer visa extension.

 

[fatima1990]

Hi DollyM, sorry for being unclear. My wife was working in her country not in Canada and she wasn't making much as she had living expenses to cover as well there.

We did try opening a joint bank account but most of the banks we went to require her to have at least a PR. They won't let her open a joint bank account and I have asked Simplii, Tangerine, CIBC, Scotia, and TD. I should have gone to RBC as advised but at the time we didnt' bother. I read in another thread that the rules and policy for opening up a Canadian bank account has changed as of last year.

We always kept cash at home for emergency and much later on she did have a joint credit card. We were going to have a joint bank account as soon as she got the PR. I just didn't think this would be a big deal in the eyes of CIC because I understood at the start of the application that I will be solely responsible for her. As for emergency funds, my parents and sibling are there to help her out if need be. This wasn't an issue for us.

She had very little expenses in Canada as we try to save and be as economical as possible. So she didn't have a monthly cell phone plan or subscription to anything.

but you can add her as a secondery to your credit card. my husband did that. I live in Iran and he is in canada

 

[Wayne72]

Hi Fatima, that depends on the credit card company/vendor. Not all credit card company/vendor will have both the primary and supplementary card holder's name on the statement. She does already have a supplementary card her name is not on the statement or the online account. There is only my name.

 

[BABESANDI]

Hi Fatima, that depends on the credit card company/vendor. Not all credit card company/vendor will have both the primary and supplementary card holder's name on the statement. She does already have a supplementary card her name is not on the statement or the online account. There is only my name.

I have a joint credit card with hubby. But the statement only

 

[funboy101]

Hi Fatima, that depends on the credit card company/vendor. Not all credit card company/vendor will have both the primary and supplementary card holder's name on the statement. She does already have a supplementary card her name is not on the statement or the online account. There is only my name.

My credit card company is same as yours. Could you provide copies of your actual cards (with each's name on them), copy of the statement in your name and address, and highlight all the transactions done by your wife on her card in the statement? My statement states who did the actual transaction by name (wife or I) so if you did that, it may be acceptable. Especially if they are obviously Canadian transactions, like at Canadian retailers. I think I read in another thread where someone did that and IRCC accepted it as proof of a "joint" account. Haven't done it myself but it's an option if we questioned on cohabitation. The credit card company may also write a letter confirming your wife is a member on your credit card account, mine did when I asked for this.

 

[Wayne72]

Great, thanks for that advice funboy101. I will contact my credit card company and make the request.

Another question. Her visa extension is due in March and I just want to ensure that we get it extended because I am unsure how much longer the PR processing will take. Is it true that as long as we only ask for 6 months extension at a time then no medical checkup is required? If she have to do medical checkup regardless then we will apply for a longer visa extension.

 

[funboy101]

Great, thanks for that advice funboy101. I will contact my credit card company and make the request.

Another question. Her visa extension is due in March and I just want to ensure that we get it extended because I am unsure how much longer the PR processing will take. Is it true that as long as we only ask for 6 months extension at a time then no medical checkup is required? If she have to do medical checkup regardless then we will apply for a longer visa extension.

Hope it works! Also I think you mentioned your wife has Ontario photo ID? If so, depending on her passport you can open a joint account at CIBC without her being PR. We recently did this (also in Ontario, my wife isn't PR yet either) and this form of ID plus an eligible passport is considered acceptable documents for making an account, as per their website:

https://www.cibc.com/en/apply/acceptable-identification.html

You would just need to call them to confirm your wife's passport is on their list of eligible ones. Two pieces of ID are needed for joint accounts. Not sure if this will help demonstrate cohabitation since you applied but would demonstrate cohabitation from now onward, as per the document checklist. Thought I'd share this for what it's worth.

Sorry not sure about the medical requirement but hopefully someone with more knowledge on the forum can advise there.

 

[Wayne72]

Thanks for that info funboy101. Yes she has an Ontario ID card. Strange that CIBC allowed you to open a joined account for your wife because I am with them as well and they told me they can't open an account to non-PR. I have verified this with other banks as well but I will try again.

 

[np08]

Thanks for that info funboy101. Yes she has an Ontario ID card. Strange that CIBC allowed you to open a joined account for your wife because I am with them as well and they told me they can't open an account to non-PR. I have verified this with other banks as well but I will try again.

For what it's worth, we're with CIBC (in Alberta) and we couldn't open a joint account when I was a visitor (nor could I get an individual one or anything really). I was instead added as a supplementary user and we sent copies of both our credit cards as well as my wife's statement that showed purchases on the different cards. The only name on the statement was hers, but it clearly separated the two cards (by card number I think) so coupled with the card photocopies they could confirm those were our purchases.

We did that because we couldn't get the bank to give us any kind of official letter saying I was a supplementary user which was frustrating and we couldn't really figure out what the big deal was, but we went to the bank in person as well as called customer support several times and couldn't get it.

Once I got my work permit is when I was of course able to open accounts and do all sorts of other stuff I couldn't before.

 

[Wayne72]

Thanks for the info np08, I thought it's just us that's having trouble getting a bank account for my wife. In our case, the credit card transactions are grouped by the credit card number so as long as I can proof which card number is mine and which is my wife's. I hope that will do it.

 

[DollyM]

Just to touch on the banking thing, don't take what the teller tells you. Ask to speak to the manager at your branch and if you still get a negative response then tell him/her that you will take your business elsewhere then. We did that when we were in Vancouver recently. My partner wanted to open an account and he was given a hard time about not having an address in Canada (I'm a citizen and he's a PR, but we still live in Australia for now). So, I very politely told the manager of RBC that we would happily take our approximately $100k transfer from the sale of our Australian home across the street to TD instead. No surprise but he suddenly didn't need a permanent address in Canada! We used the address of the Air BnB instead and his credit card, bank card and account paperwork is being held at the branch until we move in May, at which time we will notify RBC of our permanent address.

Banks make money on keeping your business. Tell them what you want and be prepared to take your business elsewhere if they are not willing to accommodate your needs.

There is no reason why your wife could not be added to your account other than the bank was being difficult. There is no requirement for a customer to be a permanent resident in order to open an account either. If there was, how would all the temporary foreign workers be paid? Or the people on IEC visas?

 

[funboy101]

Thanks for that info funboy101. Yes she has an Ontario ID card. Strange that CIBC allowed you to open a joined account for your wife because I am with them as well and they told me they can't open an account to non-PR. I have verified this with other banks as well but I will try again.

Maybe the rules have changed? We did this just last week in Ottawa, for a joint chequing account. If you're anywhere near Ottawa I can PM you with the branch and financial advisor details.

 

[np08]

Just to touch on the banking thing, don't take what the teller tells you. Ask to speak to the manager at your branch and if you still get a negative response then tell him/her that you will take your business elsewhere then. We did that when we were in Vancouver recently. My partner wanted to open an account and he was given a hard time about not having an address in Canada (I'm a citizen and he's a PR, but we still live in Australia for now). So, I very politely told the manager of RBC that we would happily take our approximately $100k transfer from the sale of our Australian home across the street to TD instead. No surprise but he suddenly didn't need a permanent address in Canada! We used the address of the Air BnB instead and his credit card, bank card and account paperwork is being held at the branch until we move in May, at which time we will notify RBC of our permanent address.

Banks make money on keeping your business. Tell them what you want and be prepared to take your business elsewhere if they are not willing to accommodate your needs.

There is no reason why your wife could not be added to your account other than the bank was being difficult. There is no requirement for a customer to be a permanent resident in order to open an account either. If there was, how would all the temporary foreign workers be paid? Or the people on IEC visas?

For what it's worth, as I also had the same issue, this seems be tied specifically to visitors. Once I got my work permit (which made me a temporary foreign worker), there were no issues whatsoever. They also seemed to imply the issue was me not having a SIN or government paperwork with a Canadian address (both again rectified through the work permit).

But I agree with you that it's probably down to just threatening to take your business elsewhere. We talked to multiple customer support agents as well as went to the branch and talked to the manager there and it was a firm no. We didn't really desperately need it as we had a ton of other kinds of proof so we didn't really bother past that.

 

[Jazzercise]

For what it's worth, as I also had the same issue, this seems be tied specifically to visitors. Once I got my work permit (which made me a temporary foreign worker), there were no issues whatsoever. They also seemed to imply the issue was me not having a SIN or government paperwork with a Canadian address (both again rectified through the work permit).

But I agree with you that it's probably down to just threatening to take your business elsewhere. We talked to multiple customer support agents as well as went to the branch and talked to the manager there and it was a firm no. We didn't really desperately need it as we had a ton of other kinds of proof so we didn't really bother past that.

Can confirm it's an issue specific to those with only visitor status since they don't have SIN numbers/government paperwork. I can't open a personal bank account until I get my OWP; however, after some discussions with higher ups and fiddling around, an account specialist was able to open a joint account for me and my partner. She's been with this bank for many years now, which helped. It also helped that I had a fixed Canadian address (lease agreement).

Hope it works out for you.