Common-law for visitor visa

[Xanmisc100]

I lived with my girlfriend for about an year in USA , now she is planning to apply for visitor visa. I am already in Canada on work permit.
1. Can she input common-law as martial status ?
2. Would she need to provide supporting documents to prove the relationship ?
3.There is no special section to upload the documents in point 2 ,can she upload in additional documents ?
4. Can she apply for visitor visa as well as open work permit simultaneously or should it be done one at a time.

 

[scylla]

I lived with my girlfriend for about an year in USA , now she is planning to apply for visitor visa. I am already in Canada on work permit.
1. Can she input common-law as martial status ?
2. Would she need to provide supporting documents to prove the relationship ?
3.There is no special section to upload the documents in point 2 ,can she upload in additional documents ?
4. Can she apply for visitor visa as well as open work permit simultaneously or should it be done one at a time.

1. If you lived together for a year continuously then yes.
2. Yes, she should provide evidence to support that you are common law.
3. Yes.
4. She would be best off applying for the open work permit (not a TRV). Note there is a travel restriction in place right now which only allows for essential travel.

 

[canuck78]

I lived with my girlfriend for about an year in USA , now she is planning to apply for visitor visa. I am already in Canada on work permit.
1. Can she input common-law as martial status ?
2. Would she need to provide supporting documents to prove the relationship ?
3.There is no special section to upload the documents in point 2 ,can she upload in additional documents ?
4. Can she apply for visitor visa as well as open work permit simultaneously or should it be done one at a time.

Assume you listed that you were in a common law relationship while filling out your WP. Did you declare your common law status in your tax filings if common law is defined as 1 year living together in the state you lived in or in Canada depending on how long you have lived here?

 

[Xanmisc100]

1. If you lived together for a year continuously then yes.
2. Yes, she should provide evidence to support that you are common law.
3. Yes.
4. She would be best off applying for the open work permit (not a TRV). Note there is a travel restriction in place right now which only allows for essential travel.

Thank you for your answers , wouldn’t she be allowed to enter on TRV based on being a common law partner , I was under the impression that spouse/ common-law were allowed to enter the country to regroup.
I was planning to apply for TRV since processing times are much shorter than WP.

 

[Xanmisc100]

Assume you listed that you were in a common law relationship while filling out your WP. Did you declare your common law status in your tax filings if common law is defined as 1 year living together in the state you lived in or in Canada depending on how long you have lived here?

No, when I filled my WP we had been living for 10 months so it was not mentioned on my form , is that going to be a problem ? Common law is not recognized in the US state I lived in.

 

[scylla]

Thank you for your answers , wouldn’t she be allowed to enter on TRV based on being a common law partner , I was under the impression that spouse/ common-law were allowed to enter the country to regroup.
I was planning to apply for TRV since processing times are much shorter than WP.

She would need to get a letter of authorization and demonstrate that her travel is essential at this time. IRCC may be relaxing these rules but we don't know exactly when or how. IMO, I would go for the OWP. I'm not sure processing times are really that different between the two right now. Everything is taking a long time unfortunately.

 

[scylla]

No, when I filled my WP we had been living for 10 months so it was not mentioned on my form , is that going to be a problem ? Common law is not recognized in the US state I lived in.

Is she American? That will make a difference.

 

[Xanmisc100]

She would need to get a letter of authorization and demonstrate that her travel is essential at this time. IRCC may be relaxing these rules but we don't know exactly when or how. IMO, I would go for the OWP. I'm not sure processing times are really that different between the two right now. Everything is taking a long time unfortunately.

Thanks you, is authorization not required for open work permit ?

 

[Xanmisc100]

Is she American? That will make a difference.

No, she is not. Would that be a problem that I did not state common law on my work permit when I came to Canada ? ( we were 10-11 months in living together at that time)