Proving Common Law cohabbitation - is this enough?

[SlovesF]

Hi,

We're applying for spousal sponsorship under common law and were wondering about the documents we need to prove cohabitation? Is what we have enough?

Edit to give more information at the top:

What we do have:

For both:
- Lease with both our names (we've been living together for almost 2 years now)
- Some letters from our rental agency
-Some envelopes from friends/family who sent cards
- We have also applied as common law for taxes, but I haven't yet been able to find anywhere that says we're common law that I can print off and add

For me:
- Internet bills for every month we've been living together, showing my address
- This month's statement from my bank account
- A couple of letters from the CRA regarding the OTB (not dated)
- A screenshot showing my address on my university site
- A couple of letters from Costco (my partner listed as my spouse there)
- A medical invoice, a vet invoice, and an optometrist invoice
- Envelopes from family/friends

For him:
- Pay slips from my partner (though some months are missing)
- T4
-SIN number reissue
- Tax assessment from this year
- Screenshot of bank showing address
- A letter from tax people back in England
- Letters from family/friends


What we don't have:

- None of my bank statements before this month - due to a clerical error while my bank information shows my correct address, none of my actual bank statements have my correct address (but my parents' address, where I lived before). I only noticed as I started to gather them, because I'd applied for e-statements only and hadn't realised before. That's been fixed, but I only have a single statement (from July) that shows my correct address.
- This same issue with the forms from my work (a university, they took my info from the bank)
- Some missing letters/payslips because we had a bedbug infestation from a hoarder neighbour and had to chuck almost half our stuff

I feel like this will seem really suspicious, but it's truly my stupid carelessness

 

[Joeydocs]

Hi,

We're applying for spousal sponsorship under common law and were wondering about the documents we need to prove cohabitation?

We have a lease showing we've lived together for almost two years now.
We also have extra documents (bank, reciepts, internet bills) - but only the internet bill really spans the whole time we've been living together. Is that alright? (And should I print off the internet bill for every month)?

Have you filed your taxes as common law ? You can also use that.

 

[SlovesF]

Have you filed your taxes as common law ? You can also use that.

We did yes, though I'm having trouble finding where in the documents it lists both our names as common law partners. I'll maybe call the CRA.


Is what we have enough? Does anyone have any suggestions?

What we do have:

For both:
- Lease with both our names (we've been living together for almost 2 years now)
- Some letters from our rental agency
-Some envelopes from friends/family who sent cards
- We have also applied as common law for taxes, but I haven't yet been able to find anywhere that says we're common law that I can print off and add

For me:
- Internet bills for every month we've been living together, showing my address
- This month's statement from my bank account
- A couple of letters from the CRA regarding the OTB (not dated)
- A screenshot showing my address on my university site
- A couple of letters from Costco (my partner listed as my spouse there)
- A medical invoice, a vet invoice, and an optometrist invoice
- Envelopes from family/friends

For him:
- Pay slips from my partner (though some months are missing)
- T4
-SIN number reissue
- Tax assessment from this year
- Screenshot of bank showing address
- A letter from tax people back in England
- Letters from family/friends


What we don't have:

- None of my bank statements before this month - due to a clerical error while my bank information shows my correct address, none of my actual bank statements have my correct address (but my parents' address, where I lived before). I only noticed as I started to gather them, because I'd applied for e-statements only and hadn't realised before. That's been fixed, but I only have a single statement (from July) that shows my correct address.
- This same issue with the forms from my work (a university, they took my info from the bank)
- Some missing letters/payslips because we had a bedbug infestation from a hoarder neighbour and had to chuck almost half our stuff

I feel like this will seem really suspicious, but it's truly my stupid carelessness

 

[Joeydocs]

We did yes, though I'm having trouble finding where in the documents it lists both our names as common law partners. I'll maybe call the CRA.


Is what we have enough? Does anyone have any suggestions?

What we do have:

For both:
- Lease with both our names (we've been living together for almost 2 years now)
- Some letters from our rental agency
-Some envelopes from friends/family who sent cards
- We have also applied as common law for taxes, but I haven't yet been able to find anywhere that says we're common law that I can print off and add

For me:
- Internet bills for every month we've been living together, showing my address
- This month's statement from my bank account
- A couple of letters from the CRA regarding the OTB (not dated)
- A screenshot showing my address on my university site
- A couple of letters from Costco (my partner listed as my spouse there)
- A medical invoice, a vet invoice, and an optometrist invoice
- Envelopes from family/friends

For him:
- Pay slips from my partner (though some months are missing)
- T4
-SIN number reissue
- Tax assessment from this year
- Screenshot of bank showing address
- A letter from tax people back in England
- Letters from family/friends


What we don't have:

- None of my bank statements before this month - due to a clerical error while my bank information shows my correct address, none of my actual bank statements have my correct address (but my parents' address, where I lived before). I only noticed as I started to gather them, because I'd applied for e-statements only and hadn't realised before. That's been fixed, but I only have a single statement (from July) that shows my correct address.
- This same issue with the forms from my work (a university, they took my info from the bank)
- Some missing letters/payslips because we had a bedbug infestation from a hoarder neighbour and had to chuck almost half our stuff

I feel like this will seem really suspicious, but it's

That’s unfortunate that you had to throw away your stuff. Just make sure that you have proofs showing your address for atleast one year. I used similar documents that your partner used in his. But as for the bank you can’t use that. And I don’t think only having one statement is “concrete” proof of cohabitation. However you having a lease for 2 years is defined as concrete evidence. Is your lease in both your names? If you can also get the common law paperwork that will strengthen your case as well.

 

[Joeydocs]

That’s unfortunate that you had to throw away your stuff. Just make sure that you have proofs showing your address for atleast one year. I used similar documents that your partner used in his. But as for the bank you can’t use that. And I don’t think only having one statement is “concrete” proof of cohabitation. However you having a lease for 2 years is defined as concrete evidence. Is your lease in both your names? If you can also get the common law paperwork that will strengthen your case as well.

Also check your account, I studied for one year and 2 years later I was able to find invoices from paying tuition fees in my student account with my address on them. Also does your partner have any correspondence from IRCC? Drivers license?

 

[SlovesF]

Thank you for your help! Yes, the lease is in both our names (with me being listed as primary). I will look into the common law declaration! I will also look at my tuition.

No driver's license, but I'll ask him to look for IRCC correspondence!

 

[canuck78]

Thank you for your help! Yes, the lease is in both our names (with me being listed as primary). I will look into the common law declaration! I will also look at my tuition.

No driver's license, but I'll ask him to look for IRCC correspondence!

Would look for any bit of mail or something with an address for him. Assume he may have applied for TRV extensions or maybe he was on IEC. You have a pretty strong case especially since you’ve lived together for 2 years.

 

[SlovesF]

Would look for any bit of mail or something with an address for him. Assume he may have applied for TRV extensions or maybe he was on IEC. You have a pretty strong case especially since you’ve lived together for 2 years.

Thank you, I'll do that! He's on IEC so hopefully there's something. (I also found the tuition T2202 form with my correct address on it as per your suggestion, so that's amazing thank you!)

Do you think I should write an explanation as to why I don't have the bank statements (previous to this month)?

 

[k.h.p.]

Thank you, I'll do that! He's on IEC so hopefully there's something. (I also found the tuition T2202 form with my correct address on it as per your suggestion, so that's amazing thank you!)

Do you think I should write an explanation as to why I don't have the bank statements (previous to this month)?

Bank statements themselves aren't a mandatory document, so you don't need to panic about not having them. If you feel strongly, you can include a note.

 

[canuck78]

Thank you, I'll do that! He's on IEC so hopefully there's something. (I also found the tuition T2202 form with my correct address on it as per your suggestion, so that's amazing thank you!)

Do you think I should write an explanation as to why I don't have the bank statements (previous to this month)?

No need to explain. You have quite a lot of information already. If your partner has payslips with his address on them covering at least a 1 Year period that is great. You don’t need every receipt just a few to show your period of cohabitation. Wouldn’t worry too much you have much more proof than most applicants.

 

[SlovesF]

Thank you all, for all your help!