Re-opening borders after September 31st

[myers1811]

Hello,

Me and my common-law partner intend to go back to Canada from England (she is originally from Canada)

I heard that they are only accepting immediate family at the borders right now, although I 100% am her immediate family and we have just sent our common law sponsorship application off, we are nervous.

In the application we have given alllll the information we have which includes, official letters with her name on it and also for me, letters from friends and family confirming our relationship and also a signed letter of my parents explaining that we have been paying rent for the last 2 years and also 20 pictures and social medias post.

Because we don't have joint utilities or a rental agreement, we are scared that they won't accept me at the border and I will be sent back to the UK.

Thank you

 

[Qwertypod]

It could go either way, as answered on your other thread. You will be stopped by the airline if they feel there is not enough proof for common law.

 

[myers1811]

It could go either way, as answered on your other thread. You will be stopped by the airline if they feel there is not enough proof for common law.

I guess there is no way to find out before buying tickets and stuff?

 

[Usa2canada<3]

I guess there is no way to find out before buying tickets and stuff?

Sadly not if you have any bills that show common adress or copies of any lease agreements that show both names etc you should be fine but there is no way to know for sure.

 

[myers1811]

Sadly not if you have any bills that show common adress or copies of any lease agreements that show both names etc you should be fine but there is no way to know for sure.

We both have bills and letters that have the same address but not joint. We do have a join letter from the place where we was going to get married (until covid hit) which has both our names and address on it and also the signed letter from parents.

Think that will be okay? I'm aware no one can say 100%

 

[scylla]

We both have bills and letters that have the same address but not joint. We do have a join letter from the place where we was going to get married (until covid hit) which has both our names and address on it and also the signed letter from parents.

Think that will be okay? I'm aware no one can say 100%

What you want is evidence of 1 year fo cohabitation. So the evidence from the place where you were going to get married doesn't really help. Focus on evidence that proves 1 year of cohabitation and the fact you have a shared address.

 

[myers1811]

What you want is evidence of 1 year fo cohabitation. So the evidence from the place where you were going to get married doesn't really help. Focus on evidence that proves 1 year of cohabitation and the fact you have a shared address.

We have plenty of stuff to prove this, just not shared bills or a tenant agreement.

The reason I mention the wedding venue is that the letter is within the 1 year and also has our names and address on it.

 

[scylla]

We have plenty of stuff to prove this, just not shared bills or a tenant agreement.

The reason I mention the wedding venue is that the letter is within the 1 year and also has our names and address on it.

Shared bills / bank accounts and lease agreements tend to be the strongest evidence of common law. However if you have other evidence that you feel is strong proof of 1 year of cohabitation, then hopefully you will be fine.

 

[canuck78]

The best person to ask is the airline. What are they using to determine who is common law.

 

[myers1811]

The best person to ask is the airline. What are they using to determine who is common law.

Yeah, I am going to do that.

In your honest opinion what do you think my chances are with what we have?

Also, even if the airline says yes, the border can still say no, surely?

 

[canuck78]

Yeah, I am going to do that.

In your honest opinion what do you think my chances are with what we have?

Also, even if the airline says yes, the border can still say no, surely?

Impossible for any of us to say. CBSA can do anything they want but would think the airline is likely to be the bigger obstavle.

 

[myers1811]

Impossible for any of us to say. CBSA can do anything they want but would think the airline is likely to be the bigger obstavle.

Oh really, I really didn't think the airline would be more of an issue.

Also, do I tell the border officer that I'm there to wait out my Visa application or just that I'm "visiting"

 

[myers1811]

So, I have just called WestJet and the lady told me that they would never check this, only the border will

 

[Bs65]

So, I have just called WestJet and the lady told me that they would never check this, only the border will

Interesting given other posters here have been reporting that airline checkin agents have a direct phone number to CBSA to check whether they can accept a passenger for boarding based on whether they would meet the immediate family travel exemption. Hopefully they will have clearer instructions once they get back into a full international operation and even better should the restrictions be eased post September 30th.

Note call center agents can be inconsistent so for piece of mind maybe call Westjet again.

 

[myers1811]

The plot thickens, I spoke to someone on their live chat and he confirmed that they will check my common law status at check in and just before we board, he said that the letters from the bank and stuff with our address will be enough to satisfy them.

however, I’ve just rang the customer service again and they’ve said that they DONT check anything before we fly???