Common-Law Sponsorship Questions (American)?

[Subbanator]

Hi all!

I just have a few questions regarding the common-law sponsorship and how to ensure success. I am sponsoring my American girlfriend who is currently living with me in Canada on a work visa. We will have been living together for 12 months as of mid-July when her Visa expires. We think we have enough to prove common-law relationship (both names on our lease at least) and just have a couple more questions to be sure we can do this smoothly.

1. Once we send in our application and it is being processed, is it ok for her to leave and re-enter Canada as a Visitor?

2. Would she be able to extend her current stay but just as a visitor?

3. What exactly are they looking for for proof of our relationship?

Thanks for any help!

 

[little_apple]

Hi all!

I just have a few questions regarding the common-law sponsorship and how to ensure success. I am sponsoring my American girlfriend who is currently living with me in Canada on a work visa. We will have been living together for 12 months as of mid-July when her Visa expires. We think we have enough to prove common-law relationship (both names on our lease at least) and just have a couple more questions to be sure we can do this smoothly.

1. Once we send in our application and it is being processed, is it ok for her to leave and re-enter Canada as a Visitor?

2. Would she be able to extend her current stay but just as a visitor?

3. What exactly are they looking for for proof of our relationship?

Thanks for any help!

1. Yes, if it is an outland application through Ottawa. It's never a 100% sure that she will be allowed to re-enter, even as a citizen from a visa-exempt country

2. You can extend her status online http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/visitor.asp. You have to extend her status before her current status expires. Until a decision has been made, she has implied status and is allowed to stay in Canada BUT she has to stop working as soon as her work permit expires

3. joint lease, joint utility bills, very important: change status with Canada Revenue to common-law, mail to the same address, joint health insurance, joint life insurance, joint bank account, pictures, facebook/email/text messages, proof that you met each others family and friends, at least 2 statutory declarations of friends or family, trips together, you can write "a history of your relationship" http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/helpcentre/answer.asp?q=347&t=14

 

[Subbanator]

Thanks!

Jut a follow up question though.. You say an outland application through Ottawa but I was led to believe that Outland applications are processed outside of Canada? Maybe I am just misunderstanding.

Thanks again.

 

[little_apple]

Thanks!

Jut a follow up question though.. You say an outland application through Ottawa but I was led to believe that Outland applications are processed outside of Canada? Maybe I am just misunderstanding.

Thanks again.

Ottawa is an exemption. It's for US applicants and applicants who are already in Canada but want to apply outland. Sounds confusing but it isn't
US applications are usually only transferred to an US office if an interview is required. Applications through Ottawa took 6-10 months in average in the last few months but it depends on your case. If you don't have enough proof it will either take longer in Ottawa or your file will be transferred to the US where it can take up to 30 months in total

Check this out http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/cppottawa-t118769.5295.html