Appendix A/B - Additional info request

[Kanada_San]

Hello everybody,

So I received via email, this morning, a letter stating an officer wasn't quite convinced me and my common law partner are common law partners. It seems they've only requested that I fill out and email to them an Appendix A, which was attached to the email. Confusingly, though seemingly mistakenly, also attached was Appendix B - Photograph specifications. The letter itself asked only for a completed Appendix A for everybody involved, but did not request that passports or photos be submitted.

I was VERY confident in our initial application that we had provided adequate proof of our common law relationship, but it seems the only issue at hand is verifying it's legitimacy be means of a one page questionnaire and an optional cover letter.

The Appendix A and B are labelled "Passport request - IRPA (11/2012 PHL)"

I'll be in touch with the Manila VO from now, but i was wondering if anybody had any similar stories to share or advice to give.

Thanks for your time as usual!

<3

 

[Amalthea]

Hello everybody,

So I received via email, this morning, a letter stating an officer wasn't quite convinced me and my common law partner are common law partners. It seems they've only requested that I fill out and email to them an Appendix A, which was attached to the email. Confusingly, though seemingly mistakenly, also attached was Appendix B - Photograph specifications. The letter itself asked only for a completed Appendix A for everybody involved, but did not request that passports or photos be submitted.

I was VERY confident in our initial application that we had provided adequate proof of our common law relationship, but it seems the only issue at hand is verifying it's legitimacy be means of a one page questionnaire and an optional cover letter.

The Appendix A and B are labelled "Passport request - IRPA (11/2012 PHL)"

I'll be in touch with the Manila VO from now, but i was wondering if anybody had any similar stories to share or advice to give.

Thanks for your time as usual!

<3

I'm not an expert on the common-law route, so I'll let someone else follow up who can assist you further. Sometimes officers will say that they feel a common-law couple is just boyfriend and girlfriend, and not in a marriage-like level of commitment. What evidence did you submit as proof that you are in a marriage-like relationship? What was your proof that you lived together consecutively for 12 months?

 

[Kanada_San]

Thanks, the info we sent was quite extensive:

-Letters addressed to us from the bank, from family/friends, from various subscriptions, and from the government.
-Passport info showing when she was in the country.
-Letters signed by family members declaring our common law status (I think those were called affidavits).
-Banks statements showing our savings and bank history.
-Photographs taken of our daily lives together

It's notable, I suppose, that we don't have any official documents showing we paid rent together, since We've always lived together with my family in Canada, but the application we sent included 20+ pages of photo's and essays explaining quite a lot about us.

I'm struggling to think of any other proof we could included as a cover letter when replying to this email.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Thanks, the info we sent was quite extensive:

-Letters addressed to us from the bank, from family/friends, from various subscriptions, and from the government.
-Passport info showing when she was in the country.
-Letters signed by family members declaring our common law status (I think those were called affidavits).
-Banks statements showing our savings and bank history.
-Photographs taken of our daily lives together

It's notable, I suppose, that we don't have any official documents showing we paid rent together, since We've always lived together with my family in Canada, but the application we sent included 20+ pages of photo's and essays explaining quite a lot about us.

Actually, your common-law proof is not that extensive and I am not surprised you are being asked for more. Her passport and the photos aren't common-law proofs. Do the bank statements go back a year and show both of you at the same address? Same with the mail; is it over the course of at least a year? The family letters are good but without other concrete proofs, they don't mean much.

 

[Kanada_San]

We made sure everything was dated for the full year, from day 1 to day 366, Bank statements, and Official letters included. I've been researching forms of certification for declaring a common law relationship, but I suppose attaching that now wouldn't mean much. We originally made the decision to live with family here instead of renting our own place with the intention of saving up for a house down payment... Is it possible at this point to prove anything one way or the other?

My plan so far is to fill out the Appendix A as requested, and include a cover letter detailing our past and present situation. At this point in time, what extra documentation would carry weight?

 

[Amalthea]

Any insurance policies in the same name? Life insurance? Did the letters from family say that you both lived with them? I am really sorry that you're going through this!

There was a woman and her common law spouse in my group of applications who was in a similar situation as you. The officer wasn't convinced. So they went and got married and sent in that as their additional evidence. Personally, if I was in your shoes, this late in the process and this close to a decision, I would do the same thing.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

We made sure everything was dated for the full year, from day 1 to day 366, Bank statements, and Official letters included. I've been researching forms of certification for declaring a common law relationship, but I suppose attaching that now wouldn't mean much. We originally made the decision to live with family here instead of renting our own place with the intention of saving up for a house down payment... Is it possible at this point to prove anything one way or the other?

My plan so far is to fill out the Appendix A as requested, and include a cover letter detailing our past and present situation. At this point in time, what extra documentation would carry weight?

Did you cut it super close and submit on day 366? Did you have a notarized letter from the family member you are living with? Did your notarized letters specifically say you were common-law and state the date?

You can submit continuing proof that you are still living together. You could also have the Stat Dec of Common-law done.