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Common-law partner or Conjugal partner?

Steeden1

Member
Oct 26, 2014
12
0
Hello all. I would appreciate any advice on the following:

I have been with my Canadian fiance since June 2013 and we have been living together since May 2014 to present. My work visa expires in may 2015, and once I go home we will submit our papers as we believe it will be a much quicker process when I am out of the country.

We are unsure however if we will apply under common-law or conjugal? Both seem relevant, but we are unsure which is correct for our situation.

Many thanks!
 

zardoz

VIP Member
Feb 2, 2013
13,298
2,168
Canada
Category........
FAM
Visa Office......
London
App. Filed.......
16-02-2013
VISA ISSUED...
31-07-2013
LANDED..........
09-11-2013
Steeden1 said:
Hello all. I would appreciate any advice on the following:

I have been with my Canadian fiance since June 2013 and we have been living together since May 2014 to present. My work visa expires in may 2015, and once I go home we will submit our papers as we believe it will be a much quicker process when I am out of the country.

We are unsure however if we will apply under common-law or conjugal? Both seem relevant, but we are unsure which is correct for our situation.

Many thanks!
Common-law, not conjugal. Make sure that you have at least 365 days of cohabitation before you apply. Conjugal is not appropriate to your case.
 

Steeden1

Member
Oct 26, 2014
12
0
Thank you for your reply.

Is this 365 consecutive days? because we have lived together for 4 month in 2013.
 

zardoz

VIP Member
Feb 2, 2013
13,298
2,168
Canada
Category........
FAM
Visa Office......
London
App. Filed.......
16-02-2013
VISA ISSUED...
31-07-2013
LANDED..........
09-11-2013
Steeden1 said:
Thank you for your reply.

Is this 365 consecutive days? because we have lived together for 4 month in 2013.
Consecutive.. Significant gaps reset the clock to zero.
 

zardoz

VIP Member
Feb 2, 2013
13,298
2,168
Canada
Category........
FAM
Visa Office......
London
App. Filed.......
16-02-2013
VISA ISSUED...
31-07-2013
LANDED..........
09-11-2013
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/helpcentre/answer.asp?q=346&t=14
What does the Government of Canada consider to be a common-law relationship?

You may apply to sponsor a common-law partner, of the opposite sex or the same sex. If so, you have to prove you have been living with your partner for at least 12 consecutive months in a relationship like a marriage.

That means living together for one year without any long periods where you did not see each other. Either partner may have left the home for work or business travel, family obligations, and so on. However, that separation must have been temporary and short.

A common-law relationship ends when at least one partner does not intend to continue it.