Can close friend also be providing neighbor's affidavit?

[wyho007]

I'm sponsoring my common law partner PR application, both living abroad.

I need to provide proof of cohabitation for 12 months and I have a close friend who happens to be my neighbor, can she write the affidavit for us attesting we've lived together for 12 months (June 2012 to June 2013)?

If above is positive, in filling out the form 5540E Qs 14 where I need to list whom my partner's have met, I've put my close friend's name there and the date of meeting to be 3 months after my partner and I moved in together (ie. Sep 2012). Does it look like a red flag to you?

Reason I put Sep 2012 on form 5540E is because I read on the forum that "date met" is actually meeting, like have a real conversation or formally introduced to each other as common law partner. But for being neighbor attesting we live under the same roof, simply coming across each other saying hi and bye would qualify. Am I right or wrong?

Any advise will be highly appreciated. Thank you!

PS. Form 5540E was already submitted, I'm gathering affidavits on proofing our cohabitation. Just wondering if this close friend is a good candidate.

 

[Shineon39]

For sure she can write an affidavit, my neighbour did for us. For the date you met you can explain to your neighbor. Then she can explain on her affidavit that the first 3 month she noticed that you were living together under the same roof. She can also explain that after 3 month she is been formaly introduce to your partner and start devolopping a friendship relation. That will explain the gap between the affidavit for co-habitation and date met on form 5540e

 

[Rob_TO]

I'm sponsoring my common law partner PR application, both living abroad.

I need to provide proof of cohabitation for 12 months and I have a close friend who happens to be my neighbor, can she write the affidavit for us attesting we've lived together for 12 months (June 2012 to June 2013)?

Sure you can get any friend, family, neighbour, etc to write an affidavit for you.

Of course these should not be the only proofs of cohabitation. You definitely need things like joint lease agreement, shared bills, mail going to same address, etc etc.

 

[wyho007]

Sure you can get any friend, family, neighbour, etc to write an affidavit for you.

Of course these should not be the only proofs of cohabitation. You definitely need things like joint lease agreement, shared bills, mail going to same address, etc etc.

Unfortunately, those are what I don't have as everything is only under my name. Not just my partner's mails, even my mails are sent to her mother's address. Since rental lease here is renewable every year, we just didn't change our address when her mother's property is owned and convenient.

That's why need to get neighbors to write affidavits.

 

[Nyhiraba]

Unfortunately, those are what I don't have as everything is only under my name. Not just my partner's mails, even my mails are sent to her mother's address. Since rental lease here is renewable every year, we just didn't change our address when her mother's property is owned and convenient.

That's why need to get neighbors to write affidavits.

Can her mother and other relatives swear a statutory declaration saying they have visited you both and you have been living together since ... and your mails go to her mother's because your lease is yearly and it is convenient for you to have a stable place for your mail? That will help much more than the neighbour's letter, IMO.

 

[wyho007]

Can her mother and other relatives swear a statutory declaration saying they have visited you both and you have been living together since ... and your mails go to her mother's because your lease is yearly and it is convenient for you to have a stable place for your mail? That will help much more than the neighbour's letter, IMO.

I already did these in the original application package (getting my partner's sister and her friend) to write affidavits. And also explained in detail why our mails all go to her mother's, and sent in our mails having her mother's address on them. Only on this forum I saw some thread's saying affidavits from neighbors (strangers) are stronger evidence than family/friends when no joint lease is available.

Country where I live is super difficult to find neighbors willing to swear a statutory declaration for neighbors. I also approached the landlords and he rejected right away.

What can I do now? I know I'll only have 30 days to respond should the VO asked me for more proofs, that's why I want to do as much preparations as I can now.