Can I sponser my common law partner (Inbound)?

[Sid1945]

Hi there,

I received my invitation to apply for PR a couple of days ago. I want to sponser my partner - we have been living together for 2 years here in Canada (ON) and have our rental lease agreement as a proof. When I created my PR profile...I didn't have much information regarding Common Law and thought that if want to apply for PR together then we have to be married. My consultant didn't give me enough information on this and basically misguided me.

My partner recently received her PGWP (3years) open work permit and is currently looking for a job.

My questions are - can I sponser her now? Can I update my profile and if yes, what are the implications? will that look fishy even though we have proof? Or can I sponser her after I receive my PR card on inbound comman law sponsorship?

I'm so confused and it's been really hard getting honest information from anyone.
Your help will be greatly appreciated! Thank you!

 

[1887CAN]

Hi there,

I received my invitation to apply for PR a couple of days ago. I want to sponser my partner - we have been living together for 2 years here in Canada (ON) and have our rental lease agreement as a proof. When I created my PR profile...I didn't have much information regarding Common Law and thought that if want to apply for PR together then we have to be married. My consultant didn't give me enough information on this and basically misguided me.

My partner recently received her PGWP (3years) open work permit and is currently looking for a job.

My questions are - can I sponser her now? Can I update my profile and if yes, what are the implications? will that look fishy even though we have proof? Or can I sponser her after I receive my PR card on inbound comman law sponsorship?

I'm so confused and it's been really hard getting honest information from anyone.
Your help will be greatly appreciated! Thank you!

There’s a lot of people on here who can help you in more detail, but if I’m reading correctly, you and partner would be sonsidered common law under Canadian law.

If you had been living together for a year prior to you submitting you PR application, you were common law at the point too. Failing to declare you partner on your PR application, if you were common law at the time, is misrepresentation. If you land as a PR, your partner will be excluded from ever being sponsored by you. No exceptions. There’s also a risk that your PR could be at risk, owing to the aforementioned misrepresentation. This I believe, is rare though.

I would await further advice before you make any decisions. This could be a tricky situation to navigate.

 

[zardoz]

Hi there,

I received my invitation to apply for PR a couple of days ago. I want to sponser my partner - we have been living together for 2 years here in Canada (ON) and have our rental lease agreement as a proof. When I created my PR profile...I didn't have much information regarding Common Law and thought that if want to apply for PR together then we have to be married. My consultant didn't give me enough information on this and basically misguided me.

My partner recently received her PGWP (3years) open work permit and is currently looking for a job.

My questions are - can I sponser her now? Can I update my profile and if yes, what are the implications? will that look fishy even though we have proof? Or can I sponser her after I receive my PR card on inbound comman law sponsorship?

I'm so confused and it's been really hard getting honest information from anyone.
Your help will be greatly appreciated! Thank you!

As you have only just received the ITA, your PR application must include your common-law partner from the start. There is no "sponsorship" involved. Your common-law partner is your dependent and you are the Principal Applicant.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Hi there,

I received my invitation to apply for PR a couple of days ago. I want to sponser my partner - we have been living together for 2 years here in Canada (ON) and have our rental lease agreement as a proof. When I created my PR profile...I didn't have much information regarding Common Law and thought that if want to apply for PR together then we have to be married. My consultant didn't give me enough information on this and basically misguided me.

My partner recently received her PGWP (3years) open work permit and is currently looking for a job.

My questions are - can I sponser her now? Can I update my profile and if yes, what are the implications? will that look fishy even though we have proof? Or can I sponser her after I receive my PR card on inbound comman law sponsorship?

I'm so confused and it's been really hard getting honest information from anyone.
Your help will be greatly appreciated! Thank you!

You were required to include your common-law partner when determining your CRS score. Generally, a person's score is less with an accompanying spouse/partner. A person can increase their score by declaring their partner as non-accompanying; however, this means that the partner will not get PR at the same time and will later have to be sponsored.

The key question is: with the inclusion of your partner as accompanying, does your CRS score drop below the ITA cut-off? If it does, then you would need to decline the ITA or include as non-accompanying and sponsor her after you become a PR. If your score does not drop below the cut-off with her as accompanying, then she will become a PR with you.

 

[Sid1945]

Thank you all! I'm meeting with a new lawyer next week and hopefully will get this sorted out soon. I will keep you updated

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Thank you all! I'm meeting with a new lawyer next week and hopefully will get this sorted out soon. I will keep you updated

You don't need a lawyer. The process is pretty straightforward.