I am in a situation where I have been in a 4.5 year relationship. I am Canadian but my gf is Ukrainian. For 2 years, she lived with me under visitor status, before the war in Ukraine during covid times as we kept extending the 6 months limits since there was no way for her to fly back to me when Canada closed the borders. Then when the Canadian borders reopened she flew back to visit her mom for a short visit of 2 months. I didn't know back then that my relationship was called common law for the years she lived with me. Then due to the war, she had to take her sick with cancer mom with her back to Canada. The process to get her mom into Canada took another 2 months and during this time she was stuck in Romania then France to get the documents to get CAUET. When both of them came, I had a severe space restriction for where both of them could live with me in my 2bdm apartment, as 1 room was my work office and the other the bedroom. So, my gf tried to live with me and have her mom live in another city appropriately 2 hours away with her sister, whom was also Canadian. The problems arose was that her sister wasn't in Canada all the time due to her grandchildren living in Switzerland. So, due to her moms cancer issues, she was required to lease a place close to the hospital her mom was being treated at that was 20 minutes drive me and in the same city I live in now. So, now I want to sponsor my gf under common law status as her CAUET is expiring next year and I been saving for bigger place for all of us, but under the common law sponsorship agreement it says need to live together 12 months before application. So, I don't know how to explain that it's not my choice in that my partner can't live with me and it's not that we don't want to, but her mom goes to the hospital 2-3 times a week, my gf/partner can't have a proper job because she is taking care of her mom's needs which is significant for a terminally ill person with 3 types of cancers, plus has to fully support her to the point she is paying for a rental lease under her name to house her mom. So, what do I do? I understand this is a conjugal relationship for 4.5 years but we aren't living in separate countries and financial issues is what's stopping us from living together but Toronto is extremely expensive to buy a house in the millions of dollars literally to get a minimum 3 bedroom place or even rent is outside the financial capacity for both of us now. Her stuff occupies 50% of my place and she's at my place every few days and sleeps on the couch next to her mom the other days of the week, but my name is on the lease at my place and her name is on the lease for where her mom resides as her mom is terminally ill and retired with no Canadian income. Do I have a case for common law sponsorship or conjugal sponsorship? As officially I have pictures of us together 4.5 years and more than 50 people will say we act like we married but without the party or rings, but living together consecutively is iffy given her moms situation and I don't understand how to apply. The other issue is I can't move till August 2025 and her CAUET ends in April 2025 so I need to apply now. Any tips for what will work is appreciated.
Common Law Inquiry
- Thread starter NRGFLY
- Start date
Not if they apply inland. Would need to apply outland since they are not cohabitating.
Good point. Should work for outland. Would not, however, block applying for the work permit as now allowed under outland, and - I should think - not be a problem to apply for / request extension as a visitor. (I do not know exactly about conversion to a different status in-country).
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