Seperating After Obtaining PR Through Common-Law Family Class Sponsorship

[Shoobert]

I arrived in Canada under a family class sponsorship through common-law. My partner and I are having talks about separating, as our relationship is going in separate directions after my arrival to Canada. In the midst of this I was planning on going back to school here to improve some of my job prospects (it will have been a year since my arrival in Canada when I start school again). From my understanding, she is technically responsible for me financially through her undertaking as sponsor. As we are both amicable in our separation, I do not want to put her in any tough financial places if we do end up separating as she is looking to leave her job and start her own business (this changes her financial ability to support a sponsored partner). I am assuming if I pay my own way and do not take any government assistance, she wouldn't be on the hook for anything. I am also wondering how much the CIC checks up on relationships after receiving PR status, would it be more of a hassle than its worth to officially declare ourselves separated during the 3 year undertaking of sponsorship? Basically I do not want the CIC to think I only came here to go to school through the guise of a common-law sponsorship, we gave it an honest go, it just didn't work out. The main sticky part of this is I really do not want her to be held responsible for my financial decisions in the coming 3 years.

A few more questions regarding this situation:
Can I take out a government loan without her being liable to pay back any grant amounts if we are separated/does that count as social assistance?

further do we have to continue filing taxes together (reporting each others income) if we no longer live together?

Can she retroactively be denied as a sponsor if we separate and no longer live together as common-law partners, and would that effect my PR status?

 

[scylla]

I arrived in Canada under a family class sponsorship through common-law. My partner and I are having talks about separating, as our relationship is going in separate directions after my arrival to Canada. In the midst of this I was planning on going back to school here to improve some of my job prospects (it will have been a year since my arrival in Canada when I start school again). From my understanding, she is technically responsible for me financially through her undertaking as sponsor. As we are both amicable in our separation, I do not want to put her in any tough financial places if we do end up separating as she is looking to leave her job and start her own business (this changes her financial ability to support a sponsored partner). I am assuming if I pay my own way and do not take any government assistance, she wouldn't be on the hook for anything. I am also wondering how much the CIC checks up on relationships after receiving PR status, would it be more of a hassle than its worth to officially declare ourselves separated during the 3 year undertaking of sponsorship? Basically I do not want the CIC to think I only came here to go to school through the guise of a common-law sponsorship, we gave it an honest go, it just didn't work out. The main sticky part of this is I really do not want her to be held responsible for my financial decisions in the coming 3 years.

A few more questions regarding this situation:
Can I take out a government loan without her being liable to pay back any grant amounts if we are separated/does that count as social assistance?

further do we have to continue filing taxes together (reporting each others income) if we no longer live together?

Can she retroactively be denied as a sponsor if we separate and no longer live together as common-law partners, and would that effect my PR status?

If you go on social assistance / welfare within three years of landing and becoming a PR - she will have to pay this money back. I'm not sure what you mean by a government loan. Education loan? Technically this is a bank loan not a government loan?

 

[canuck_in_uk]

I arrived in Canada under a family class sponsorship through common-law. My partner and I are having talks about separating, as our relationship is going in separate directions after my arrival to Canada. In the midst of this I was planning on going back to school here to improve some of my job prospects (it will have been a year since my arrival in Canada when I start school again). From my understanding, she is technically responsible for me financially through her undertaking as sponsor. As we are both amicable in our separation, I do not want to put her in any tough financial places if we do end up separating as she is looking to leave her job and start her own business (this changes her financial ability to support a sponsored partner). I am assuming if I pay my own way and do not take any government assistance, she wouldn't be on the hook for anything. I am also wondering how much the CIC checks up on relationships after receiving PR status, would it be more of a hassle than its worth to officially declare ourselves separated during the 3 year undertaking of sponsorship? Basically I do not want the CIC to think I only came here to go to school through the guise of a common-law sponsorship, we gave it an honest go, it just didn't work out. The main sticky part of this is I really do not want her to be held responsible for my financial decisions in the coming 3 years.

A few more questions regarding this situation:
Can I take out a government loan without her being liable to pay back any grant amounts if we are separated/does that count as social assistance?

further do we have to continue filing taxes together (reporting each others income) if we no longer live together?

Can she retroactively be denied as a sponsor if we separate and no longer live together as common-law partners, and would that effect my PR status?

You are fine to separate. Do not pretend to CRA that you are still in a relationship.

She cannot be retroactively denied as a sponsor. You do not inform IRCC of the separation, as they don't care about your relationship at this point and are not going to check up on you.

 

[Shoobert]

If you go on social assistance / welfare within three years of landing and becoming a PR - she will have to pay this money back. I'm not sure what you mean by a government loan. Education loan? Technically this is a bank loan not a government loan?

I was referring to Canada Student Loans and Grants provided both through the province and federal gov.

https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/education/student-aid/grants-loans.html

From my understanding, there are grants amounts available depending on income. I was wondering if that grant amount counts as public assistance as it is distributed from the province.

 

[scylla]

I was referring to Canada Student Loans and Grants provided both through the province and federal gov.

https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/education/student-aid/grants-loans.html

From my understanding, there are grants amounts available depending on income. I was wondering if that grant amount counts as public assistance as it is distributed from the province.

No - they don't. No issue with these.

 

[canuck78]

Grants are definitely less available than they used to be if you are talking about Ontario and you’ll need to plan on loans. There were a few years were OSAP became more of a grant program and many people exploited the program. It has returned to mostly loans.