Common-Law Evidence Possibly Insufficient (Same-Sex)

[layryeyrson]

Hello there,

My partner and I are currently collecting evidence to apply for common law sponsorship once we reach common law status at the end of this year. While sorting through our potential set of proofs, we realized that we had carelessly forgotten to add my name to any of the utility bills, nor do we have a shared bank account. The reason being is that I am an international student currently living with my partner who is working a well-paid job. He has been paying for all the utility bills, monthly rent, and what-not, so doing this had not really crossed either of our minds. We are both male and have the same age. Additionally, I had also neglected to change my phone/bank accounts into my current address until 6.5 months into living together, which was a completely careless mistake on my part.

Currently, we have these as proofs:

Cohabitation:

• A rental lease dated for a year in both our names
• Rental receipts covering one year with both of our names on it
• A letter from our building manager stating that we indeed live together
• A letter from hydro saying that I have authorized access to the account (even though not included in billing)
• A dated screenshot of a google calendar invite to our housewarming party for our friends when we started living together
• Pictures of said housewarming party
• Testimonials from those who attended said housewarming party and who have known us as being a couple from the moment we started dating, when we moved in together, up till now.
• A letter stating that we share the same medical services plan account once common law status is reached

Relationship Evidence:

• Chat logs from the time we first started dating until now via iMessage and Facebook
• Phone call history
• Photos of our trip to my home country
• Photos of me with his family
• Photos of him with my family
• Photo documenting our relationship progression
• Photos on social media together
• Relationship status on social media
• Written testimonials from both sides of the family
• A copy of my partner's bank account with a letter stating that he would be willing to financially support me throughout my time in Canada
• A joint bank account, internet bill, telephone bill that was created only 6 months into living together (thus not spanning up to a year)

Additional info:

• A letter of explanation in regards to why we don't have both our names on shared bank accounts/utility bills (for up to one year) which tells the officer that he had been 100% financially supporting to me during my time here as a student, which includes a cheque transfer in which he helped pay for a portion of my tuition fees

What do you think our chances of approval are? Is there anything else that we should add?

 

[canuck78]

What is really missing is any form of mail with each of your names at various points during the year. It seems like more of a concern for one person. Are you getting mail from school? Bank? Any form of mail? Phone? The fact that you are both on the lease and have lease receipts is good evidence. Joint accounts aren't necessary. Not every relationship share accounts. You are well prepared compared to most common law.

 

[layryeyrson]

What is really missing is any form of mail with each of your names at various points during the year. It seems like more of a concern for one person. Are you getting mail from school? Bank? Any form of mail? Phone? The fact that you are both on the lease and have lease receipts is good evidence. Joint accounts aren't necessary. Not every relationship share accounts. You are well prepared compared to most common law.

Unfortunately, most of my earlier mail was sent to the nearest post office as opposed to our residence, and I picked it up from there. I could possibly compile all of the previous mail and make a clear point that most of my things were initially sent to the nearby post office as opposed to my actual address. I could include a screenshot from google maps showing the proximity of that post office to my residence (a few minutes walks away). These were mostly Amazon delivery packages, however. All bank statements, phone bills, school mail were sent to my email instead since I prefer to go paperless, which I now realize might've been a mistake.

I do have some mail that was sent to our address, but those were sent after 6 months of living together. My partner, however, does have mail from various parts of the year sent to our address. Thank you so much for the uplifting comment!

 

[canuck78]

Unfortunately, most of my earlier mail was sent to the nearest post office as opposed to our residence, and I picked it up from there. I could possibly compile all of the previous mail and make a clear point that most of my things were initially sent to the nearby post office as opposed to my actual address. I could include a screenshot from google maps showing the proximity of that post office to my residence (a few minutes walks away).

I do have some mail that was sent to our address, but those were sent after 6 months of living together. My partner, however, does have mail from various parts of the year sent to our address. Thank you so much for the uplifting comment!

You have your lease and receipts. You can't change things. You are very well organized compared to many. Those with the least to worry about seem to worry the most

 

[layryeyrson]

You have your lease and receipts. You can't change things. You are very well organized compared to many. Those with the least to worry about seem to worry the most

Aw, thank you so much for your words of kindness, I really hope so! I would also like to say that I didn't change my address on my phone bill or bank account until 6/7 months into living together which was very careless on my part which I hope doesn't jeopardize things too much That probably can't be added on as a proof of common law since it doesn't span one complete year?

 

[canuck78]

Aw, thank you so much for your words of kindness, I really hope so! I would also like to say that I didn't change my address on my phone bill or bank account until 6/7 months into living together which was very careless on my part which I hope doesn't jeopardize things too much That probably can't be added on as a proof of common law since it doesn't span one complete year?

You can use it as additional proof that you were living together at the 6 month mark. When you filled in documents the beginning if the school year did you use your home address? A lease and rental receipts are good documents.

 

[layryeyrson]

You can use it as additional proof that you were living together at the 6 month mark. When you filled in documents the beginning if the school year did you use your home address? A lease and rental receipts are good documents.

Unfortunately, my school didn't ask me for any address update, I just updated it myself at the 6-month mark. I suppose I could use all of this as proof of staying at the 6-month mark to supplement my lease/rental receipts. Do you think I should delay my PR application to 6 months later so that all my documents span at least a year?