common law sponsorship - previous relationship

[GG2409]

Hi guys,

I'm trying to sponsor my common law partner for PR and have a question about previous relationship information asked in form imm5532. We entered into common law partnership when I was physically separated from my previous marriage for 6 months and in the process of divorce. The divorce was during COVID and took a really long time (21 months) due to court backlog, so in form imm5532 when it asks for my previous relationship and the start/end date, the divorce date is only going to be 7 months earlier than my application date, and my common law relationship will overlap with my marriage. Is this a situation I need to worry about? Should I explain it in detail in any supporting document to the visa officer?

Thanks,
GG

 

[armoured]

Hi guys,

I'm trying to sponsor my common law partner for PR and have a question about previous relationship information asked in form imm5532. We entered into common law partnership when I was physically separated from my previous marriage for 6 months and in the process of divorce. The divorce was during COVID and took a really long time (21 months) due to court backlog, so in form imm5532 when it asks for my previous relationship and the start/end date, the divorce date is only going to be 7 months earlier than my application date, and my common law relationship will overlap with my marriage. Is this a situation I need to worry about? Should I explain it in detail in any supporting document to the visa officer?

Thanks,
GG

It should not be an issue, you should explain it, but it can be a brief explanation. Stick to dates and facts: date of effective separation (eg end of residing together), date of beginning of the common law relationship, date of divorce, etc.

It's a relatively common scenario, just tell the truth - my own was common law (while still legally married) for some years, formal divorce only shortly before that common law was changed to marriage, and that only a month or so before submitting the spousal app. No problems or questions.

 

[GG2409]

It should not be an issue, you should explain it, but it can be a brief explanation. Stick to dates and facts: date of effective separation (eg end of residing together), date of beginning of the common law relationship, date of divorce, etc.

It's a relatively common scenario, just tell the truth - my own was common law (while still legally married) for some years, formal divorce only shortly before that common law was changed to marriage, and that only a month or so before submitting the spousal app. No problems or questions.

Understood. Thanks so much for your advice, truly appreciate it.