Advice required: CIC require more evidence of Common-Law relationship

[karlos_macca]

Hey all,

I applied in January for Inland PR through my spouse. At the time, we had been living together for 15 months. Today I received a letter from CIC saying I did not provide sufficient evidence that I am a common-law partner, and they require more, from year of date of application. When I applied we included everything we had to prove we were living together. I did not sign a lease until March last year (the landlord said to wait until lease was renewed to add me). I changed my bank details around the 12 months mark and included the bank change of address printout. We had letters from our parents to say we had been living together for the required time, and I included my notice of lease cancelation for my old apartmemt. I also included regular bank e-transfers to my partner to pay for the rent from October. Unfortunately I didnt change things like my drivers licence until March last year...

I don't know what else I could get to prove we were living together for 12 months....(in reality it was 15 months) from application.....If I reply back that I have no further evidence, will they I not be approved, or will it then go to an interview stage?

Failing that, do I just reapply again, as now I have the lease proves 12 months+ as does licence? If I reapply will I lsoe my OWP that I have been approved for?

 

[karlos_macca]

I also included a letter explaining why the lease was not signed until March and included receipts wthat had my new address the same time I canceled my old apartements lease. It looks like it seemed too hard for them.

 

[karlos_macca]

I'm also worried that I put an earlier date on application for Nov 2015...I didnnt submit then s they changed forms and so I applied in new year

 

[lukeaidan97]

The main things that are required for the Common Law Sponsorship as per the IMM5589E Document Checklist.

- Statutory Declaration of Common-Law Union
- Cohabitation/Rental Agreement

You have to provide 2 out of 3 of the following documents;

- Joint ownership of residential property or joint residential lease or rental agreements listing both the sponsor and the applicant
- Proof of a utilities account such as gas, telephone, and electricity
- Important documents for the applicant and sponsor showing same address such as Government issued identification documents, insurance policies, driver's license etc.

It is also an option for you to include printed letters, printed text messages, emails or social media conversations or captures (this is normally if you don't live together but it wouldn't harm anyone to include this)

You can also provide photos of both the applicant and the sponsor, a maximum of 20 photos but I have heard some people send more than stated and I did too.

You must also supply two documents from these three options such as;

- Proof of financial dependency on one another
- Documents that show you are recognized as each other's spouse such as employment or insurance benefits
- Other documents that show your relationship is recognized by your friends/family such as letters, social media captures showing a public relationship

All the above are on the checklist for the Common Law Sponsorship so try provide all of these if you can to make your case stronger. It does state at the bottom of the checklist that "A Departmental Official may still ask you to provide additional documentation, including proof of relationship, at a later date during processing if more information is required to assess your application".

Im not sure if they will refuse your application or not if you fail to provide any more evidence. Other people on here that have more knowledge will be able to advise you with that, all I can say is try your best to gather more evidence and send it to IRCC however they told you.

Good luck and I hope it works out for you and your partner so you can spend your life together happily!

 

[canuck_in_uk]

I did not sign a lease until March last year (the landlord said to wait until lease was renewed to add me). I changed my bank details around the 12 months mark and included the bank change of address printout. We had letters from our parents to say we had been living together for the required time, and I included my notice of lease cancelation for my old apartmemt. I also included regular bank e-transfers to my partner to pay for the rent from October. Unfortunately I didnt change things like my drivers licence until March last year...

If that's all you submitted, I'm not surprised you've received a request for more proofs. Did you submit any mail in individual and/or both names covering at least one year? Bank/credit card statements? Payslips? Utility bills? Letter from the landlord stating when you actually moved in ?

 

[karlos_macca]

Thanks for the reply.

If I call, do you know if they can tell me specifically what I need? I'm guessing they saw the lease was not 12 months and did not go through teh rest of the evidence that shows we have lived together for the required period. Lots of couple don't sign leases together initially based on landlord and lease timelines, so I hope the understand this.

I feel I will just be resending the same things....

 

[karlos_macca]

If that's all you submitted, I'm not surprised you've received a request for more proofs. Did you submit any mail in individual and/or both names covering at least one year? Bank/credit card statements? Payslips? Utility bills? Letter from the landlord stating when you actually moved in ?

yes to all of the above

I had, to use a common phrase, "shit loads" of material to prove we were living together for 12 months...

Phone Bills
Payslips
Bank statements
Airline receipts with address
Work conference receipts with address

Lots of others less than 12 months were also included to show out continuing common law relationship - taxes, insurance... etc

All of these were prior to the 12 months, with the only borderline one being the change of address from the bank, and my drivers licence

We included the Stat Dec, we included 6 notarised letters, 2 from each of our parents, stating when we moved in together...

The only reason I see it being rejected is the lease mot showing 12 months ( it was 9 months), but as i mentioned the Landlord was not intersted in making a new one (they are also Chinese based and this makes it even moe difficult to get a letter from them stating when contacted them about it).

 

[lukeaidan97]

I am really confused right now regarding your application, you included a lot of evidence so there must be some reason why they are requesting further evidence.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

yes to all of the above

I had, to use a common phrase, "*censored word* loads" of material to prove we were living together for 12 months...

Phone Bills
Payslips
Bank statements
Airline receipts with address
Work conference receipts with address

Lots of others less than 12 months were also included to show out continuing common law relationship - taxes, insurance... etc

All of these were prior to the 12 months, with the only borderline one being the change of address from the bank, and my drivers licence

We included the Stat Dec, we included 6 notarised letters, 2 from each of our parents, stating when we moved in together...

The only reason I see it being rejected is the lease mot showing 12 months ( it was 9 months), but as i mentioned the Landlord was not intersted in making a new one (they are also Chinese based and this makes it even moe difficult to get a letter from them stating when contacted them about it).

Looks pretty solid. Write a letter of explanation and submit everything again.

 

[karlos_macca]

I am really confused right now regarding your application, you included a lot of evidence so there must be some reason why they are requesting further evidence.

Yep, beats me. I don't mean to be presumtuous, but maybe the case worker saw the least <12 months and didn't go any further to see the other things with the addresses on it, or my explanation (with evidence) that I couldnt sign the lease sooner.

As canuck_in_uk said, I'll re-submit the evidence with a further explanation letter, and will also try to communicate with landlord to see if I can get something.

 

[Joeydocs]

Yep, beats me. I don't mean to be presumtuous, but maybe the case worker saw the least <12 months and didn't go any further to see the other things with the addresses on it, or my explanation (with evidence) that I couldnt sign the lease sooner.

As canuck_in_uk said, I'll re-submit the evidence with a further explanation letter, and will also try to communicate with landlord to see if I can get something.

Did you get approved?