a question about common-law proof!

[marie_ann]

Hi there,

I am finalizing paperwork for sponsorship under common-law with my boyfriend. I think we collected every possible proof we could think of: I am under his insurance plan, we have joint bank accounts, correspondence to the same address, 2 notarized affidavits from his family and 5 letters from other family and friends, 100 pictures, a detailed story of the relationship, plane tickets and boarding cards, an extract of e-mail correspondence and skype conversations before I joined him in Canada, tickets from events that we attended together, bills for gifts..

but:

we are afraid that we do not have enough proof (bills) of house expenses that we shared together. We also do not have any lease agreement because he owns the house we live in but our common address is mentioned in the notarized affidavits. Back to the bills: I was not working for the first 8 months and my boyfriend was covering the expenses. After I started to work, I also started contributing and we have a proof for that but its only like 3 or 4 months.. Actually it might put my boyfriend in a good light that he covered for us both.. But how should we explain that to make sure that our application will not be jeopardized because of a lacking proof for sharing the expenses?

 

[parker24]

Hi there,

I am finalizing paperwork for sponsorship under common-law with my boyfriend. I think we collected every possible proof we could think of: I am under his insurance plan, we have joint bank accounts, correspondence to the same address, 2 notarized affidavits from his family and 5 letters from other family and friends, 100 pictures, a detailed story of the relationship, plane tickets and boarding cards, an extract of e-mail correspondence and skype conversations before I joined him in Canada, tickets from events that we attended together, bills for gifts..

but:

we are afraid that we do not have enough proof (bills) of house expenses that we shared together. We also do not have any lease agreement because he owns the house we live in but our common address is mentioned in the notarized affidavits. Back to the bills: I was not working for the first 8 months and my boyfriend was covering the expenses. After I started to work, I also started contributing and we have a proof for that but its only like 3 or 4 months.. Actually it might put my boyfriend in a good light that he covered for us both.. But how should we explain that to make sure that our application will not be jeopardized because of a lacking proof for sharing the expenses?

Do you have the notarized copy of common-law union? While it's not REQUIRED, they do ask for it.

 

[marie_ann]

Yeah, we do have it.

 

[Sweden]

Hi there,

I am finalizing paperwork for sponsorship under common-law with my boyfriend. I think we collected every possible proof we could think of: I am under his insurance plan, we have joint bank accounts, correspondence to the same address, 2 notarized affidavits from his family and 5 letters from other family and friends, 100 pictures, a detailed story of the relationship, plane tickets and boarding cards, an extract of e-mail correspondence and skype conversations before I joined him in Canada, tickets from events that we attended together, bills for gifts..

but:

we are afraid that we do not have enough proof (bills) of house expenses that we shared together. We also do not have any lease agreement because he owns the house we live in but our common address is mentioned in the notarized affidavits. Back to the bills: I was not working for the first 8 months and my boyfriend was covering the expenses. After I started to work, I also started contributing and we have a proof for that but its only like 3 or 4 months.. Actually it might put my boyfriend in a good light that he covered for us both.. But how should we explain that to make sure that our application will not be jeopardized because of a lacking proof for sharing the expenses?

The best way to do it is to explain exactly like you did, and send proofs that he owns the house, that you have been living there but not working, and now working and paying the bills, etc... add an extra sheet, and explain all that. You seem to have quite a lot of proofs to show that your relationship is genuine, but you also need to concentrate on proving that you have been living together for 12 months to qualify as common-law. Once you have that covered, CIC will look at the rest of the proofs and assess if your relationship is genuine. As long as you have a good reason to not be on the lease of the house ( in that case, there is no lease) then you should be fine...
And as Parker24 suggested - get a notarized declaration of common-law. it will help in your case, especially because you don't have a rental agreement together.
Good luck,
Sweden

 

[davek1979]

Hi there,

I am finalizing paperwork for sponsorship under common-law with my boyfriend. I think we collected every possible proof we could think of: I am under his insurance plan, we have joint bank accounts, correspondence to the same address, 2 notarized affidavits from his family and 5 letters from other family and friends, 100 pictures, a detailed story of the relationship, plane tickets and boarding cards, an extract of e-mail correspondence and skype conversations before I joined him in Canada, tickets from events that we attended together, bills for gifts..

but:

we are afraid that we do not have enough proof (bills) of house expenses that we shared together. We also do not have any lease agreement because he owns the house we live in but our common address is mentioned in the notarized affidavits. Back to the bills: I was not working for the first 8 months and my boyfriend was covering the expenses. After I started to work, I also started contributing and we have a proof for that but its only like 3 or 4 months.. Actually it might put my boyfriend in a good light that he covered for us both.. But how should we explain that to make sure that our application will not be jeopardized because of a lacking proof for sharing the expenses?

What might help the most would be if your boyfriend were to add you onto the deed of the house. That would be serious proof. That is what my wifwe and I have done for our sponsership. It would show a serious financial commitment to one another.

 

[amikety]

Include a co-habitation agreement. You can find them free online. You'll need a friend or relative to witness you signing it (at least in Alberta that's all you need). Since you were unemployed for 8 months, you might include one for that time period and an amended one for after you started working.

 

[marie_ann]

Thanks a lot!