Common Law Relationship made outside Canada!

[BlondeKoala]

Hello guys!

My questions is really simple: We`re are a Brazilian/Canadian couple, and already with a Stable union ( Common law union in Brazil ).

we would fit automatically like common law partners by the government of Canada? we would have trouble to have our Union recognized by the immigration office?

 

[Sweden]

Hello guys!

My questions is really simple: We`re are a Brazilian/Canadian couple, and already with a Stable union ( Common law union in Brazil ).

we would fit automatically like common law partners by the government of Canada? we would have trouble to have our Union recognized by the immigration office?

Hey BlondeKoala,

As long as you have lived 12 months consecutively,with your partner, anywhere in the world, and you have the proofs for that (rent contract with both names, bills etc, see on CIC website), you are considered common law for the Canadian Government, and you can apply for PR in Canada. If it is a status in Brazil, and you have the papers for that, you can add it to your application as a "proof", but it is not needed - it's just a bonus!

Good luck with your application,
Sweden

 

[BlondeKoala]

hey sweden! you are a truly ``hero member``! thank you.

So pretty much, doesn't matter if you already have a common law relationship made outside canada and recognized by other country. you need to get your common law recognized again by the Canadian government ? i think i got it.

a little bit weird, sounds like getting married two times

 

[scylla]

So pretty much, doesn't matter if you already have a common law relationship made outside canada and recognized by other country. you need to get your common law recognized again by the Canadian government ? i think i got it.

That's not quite right. As long as the common law relationship made outside of Canada meets Canadian requirements for a common law relationship - then you'll be fine. Canadian requirements are that you must have lived together for at least one full year.

If another country recognized a couple as being common law after six months, this relationship would not be common law in the eyes of Canada since Canada requires the full year.

Hope this important difference makes sense.

 

[BlondeKoala]

If another country recognized a couple as being common law after six months, this relationship would not be common law in the eyes of Canada since Canada requires the full year.

have you heard about someone, that went to Canada with a common law relationship already established before ? i couldn `t find nothing on google about that subject

This is a interesting rule!

 

[scylla]

have you heard about someone, that went to Canada with a common law relationship already established before ? i couldn `t find nothing on google about that subject

This is a interesting rule!

Sure - there are a number of people on this forum who lived together for a year or more outside of Canada and then applied for PR via common law.

Again, Canada doesn't care where you lived together - they just care that you lived together for at least one full year and can prove it.

 

[LeisaP]

blondekoala

Scylla is correct.
it doesnt matter where you lived together, as long as you have proof you lived together for 1 year.
even if you live in a country that common-law doesnt exist, you are still seen as common-law in the eyes of canada if you have the evidence to prove it.

go ahead and apply! ;D

 

[BlondeKoala]

For sure!

In Brazil they have Stable Union, and this is pretty much the same thing than a common law in Canada.

But it would be interesting to see our union recognized as common law, regardless of being together for six months, one year or five years