Common-Law vs Spouse

[KelseyTVS]

From what I can tell here, most people are doing spousal sponsorship, which tends to be more quickly approved by CIC. I'm wondering if anyone has done the common-law route? Did it take longer? What did you do to ensure your proof of relationship? Did you do anything out of the ordinary? That seems to be where most of the problems are, if CIC doesn't believe you're really together, and that's what makes me nervous.

 

[spinning_sponsor]

Standard procedure for proof is as follows:

-Joint signed lease agreement
-Lots of pictures together, and with people other than just the two of you (it helps prove others are aware of your relationship)
-Bills/invoices in both your names to the same address
-Other proof you've combined your household/living, such as joint bank accounts
-Although not required if there is no co-signer, the statutory declaration of common-law document wouldn't hurt to include
-2 statutory declaration Letters from people who know about your relationship (This was required in the USA appendix)
-Any other proof you want to include, such as chat logs or phone records

Personally, my common-law partner and I submit nearly everything above other than the joint lease since at the time we didn't realize that non-citizens could co-sign on a lease. Even with all the above I still feel like CIC may ask for more as it seems they like to scrutinize common-law applications heavily.

We applied May 2015, so I'll update again in December-ish if we've actually been approved yet or not...

 

[ashia]

From what I can tell here, most people are doing spousal sponsorship, which tends to be more quickly approved by CIC. I'm wondering if anyone has done the common-law route? Did it take longer? What did you do to ensure your proof of relationship? Did you do anything out of the ordinary? That seems to be where most of the problems are, if CIC doesn't believe you're really together, and that's what makes me nervous.

Kelsey, I have impression that there is the same amount of marriages and CL spouses. Maybe a bit more marriages, but still plenty of CL couples. Me being in one of them, got my decision two days ago, positive
It did not take longer than usual, CIC didn't doubt if we r really together, and I know few other couples who took the same route, already landed. No questions, no delays.
Just give them your whole story, lots of proof, pics, we also wrote pretty much about our relationship - timeline, development, both of us wrote independent one, so we had 2 stories, which covered both happy things and some less happy, that we had to struggle with a little.
And that's it Of course, we attached proof, such us bills, joint account, life insurance and stuff like that. And very warm letters from family and friends.

Good luck!

 

[bigredmoose]

I don't have a sense that married couples are handled quicker than common-law. I would say there's a higher burden of proof for common-law because you have to show you've lived together as a married couple for a year.

I would say that conjugal applicants have the hardest and longest time.

IIRC, one of you is American, right? I really wouldn't sweat it too much if that's the case. American reject rates are very, very low mostly due to the fact that the quality of life is the same. Virtually no American is going to marry a Canadian just to move to a better country. If you were coming from the developing world, that'd be a different story.

You'll want to include photos, joint bills and bank accounts, letters from family supporting you. Have a look through this forum, you'll find plenty of tips.

 

[Ponga]

Just to add to what has already been said...

A Common-Law applicant has to prove two things:

1. That they are in a genuine relationship with their sponsor, which would include photos, letters, text messages, etc.
(A married applicant needs to provide similar evidence).

2. That the applicant has cohabited with their sponsor for at least one full year prior to the application being submitted, which would include joint lease/rental agreement, mail delivered to each other at the same address (not just to the applicant), joint utility bills, etc.
A Common-Law applicant is also required to provide at least two Statutory Declarations (letters) from family or friends corroborating the relationship (including cohabiting).

This proof is not required for a married couple, which is why a Common-Law application/package is usually...thicker and heavier.

 

[bigredmoose]

Right, I forgot about the stat decs for common-law.

I'm all like "meh, just get married. Easier."

 

[Majromax]

I would say that conjugal applicants have the hardest and longest time.

"Conjugal partner" applicants have the hardest time because that category is an exceptional one. CIC needs to see a really good reason that the couple in question couldn't be married or common-law, and as one notable trap "we're not yet ready to marry" is not a valid reason.

I strongly recommend reading the CIC's own operational guidelines (pdf) for processing outland sponsorship applications. Section 5.47 has strong words on just what doesn't count as a conjugal partnership for immigration purposes.

 

[jomarcabiles]

I applied under CLaw and never had any problem.as long as you were able to prove that relationship is genuine. same thing with married couple they still have to prove that the marriage is not only because of immig purposes.

 

[lisa921]

I am in a relationship we married in Vancouver and then I had to go back to the east coast for one month to wait for him. He is relocating for me, dropping out of his engineering program for me and starting at college where I live...he decided to do this without hesitation even though he is a smart student.
We are not married by court yet. We married by religion iskamically only and over the phone with a real imam he knew from his country...its a long story and personal reasons that I can't share with the world online.
But he is much younger than me and we do look close age though, but technically I am older.
We want to do a nice wedding with our families to get the civil legal marriage but we don't have money for it yet.
So should we just live together one year and then sponsor him when we marry a legal way.
As far as I know we didn't do anything wrong.we just wanted the religious marriage before the civil marriage because it allows you to live together like a normal couple, get to know each other then plan a wedding