Do we have enough proof (Common-law)

[jb1989]

I know this gets asked a lot and there's no way of anyone saying yes or no for sure..just looking for some opinions as peace of mind before I submit. I'm a little concerned about the amount of evidence we have for proof of common-law (proof of relationship should be no problem).

My common law partner owns the apartment we live in. My name is not on the property in anyway or the mortgage and I don't pay rent or anything so there's nothing to attach me to the apartment in that sense. I'm studying here as an international student which isn't cheap and so I'm not paying anything towards the mortgage or any bills etc.
I did pay the property tax through my bank account and a hydro bill but that's it (The bills themselves are still in his name but I can prove payment from my account).

Other than that we have other evidence such as mail addressed to this address for over a year, our health cards and drivers licences have this address, we have our declaration of common-law union plus 6 statutory declarations from friends all stating that we've lived together for over a year. We have a joint bank account, both have life insurance policies with each other as beneficiaries, changed our tax status to common-law and I'm a dependent on his works benefit plan etc.

Do you think the lack of lease/purchase/mortgage with my name on and minimal bill payment be enough of an issue?

(Also, I'm a UK citizen)


Any advice would be appreciated!! Thanks.

 

[Panamai]

Sounds like your situation is similar to mine. I'm only here as a visitor, but my partner also had the mortgage before we got together, so only his name is on it. I got my Ontario driver's licence last autumn with our address on it and I made a copy of his and mine together to show the addresses are the same. I made copies of a Time magazine from January 2013 with my name and this address, as well as a few other pieces of mail and a prescription receipt. We also have a joint bank account and he recently added me to his life insurance, pension, and medical benefits through his employer. We also changed his status in CRA to common-law, though his option C states "divorced" since it was for the 2013 tax year and we were not common-law until Dec 2014. I think we'll both be ok.

 

[Panamai]

I also haven't paid any bills since I can't work.

 

[jb1989]

Sounds like we're in a pretty similar situation then. I'm probably going to attach a short explanation letter about the mortgage and bill etc. being due to the financial situation which should hopefully be enough for them.

 

[jamsham12]

I know this gets asked a lot and there's no way of anyone saying yes or no for sure..just looking for some opinions as peace of mind before I submit. I'm a little concerned about the amount of evidence we have for proof of common-law (proof of relationship should be no problem).

My common law partner owns the apartment we live in. My name is not on the property in anyway or the mortgage and I don't pay rent or anything so there's nothing to attach me to the apartment in that sense. I'm studying here as an international student which isn't cheap and so I'm not paying anything towards the mortgage or any bills etc.
I did pay the property tax through my bank account and a hydro bill but that's it (The bills themselves are still in his name but I can prove payment from my account).

Other than that we have other evidence such as mail addressed to this address for over a year, our health cards and drivers licences have this address, we have our declaration of common-law union plus 6 statutory declarations from friends all stating that we've lived together for over a year. We have a joint bank account, both have life insurance policies with each other as beneficiaries, changed our tax status to common-law and I'm a dependent on his works benefit plan etc.

Do you think the lack of lease/purchase/mortgage with my name on and minimal bill payment be enough of an issue?

(Also, I'm a UK citizen)


Any advice would be appreciated!! Thanks.

Get urself added to her credit card as an authorized user and beneficiary if her employer has a group life insurance policy.

 

[surleplateau]

I found this explanation on the CIC website:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/helpcentre/answer.asp?q=347&t=14

Items that can be used as proof of a common-law relationship include:

a statutory declaration of a common-law union,
statements for shared bank accounts,
shared credit cards,
proof of shared ownership of residential property,
shared residential leases,
shared rental receipts,
bills for shared utilities accounts, such as
electricity,
gas or
telephone,
proof of shared management of household expenses,
evidence of shared purchases (especially of household items),
mail addressed to either or both of you at the same address,
important documents for both of you showing the same address, such as
identification documents,
driver’s licences and
insurance policies and
any other documents that show you have been living together.

You do not need to include all these items to prove your relationship is real. Citizenship and Immigration Canada may consider other proof as well

Photos, telephone bills and letters will not be returned. Do not send videos or CD-ROMs. Documents such as marriage certificates and passports will be returned. However, you should send certified photocopies, not originals.

I am no expert, but it seems like you have a lot of other proof and it doesn't seem like it's absolutely necessary to have a joint lease or joint ownership, especially since you have so much other concrete documentary evidence. Just my opinion.

 

[cortic]

I have just been through all the common-law sponsorship process, so I can tell you a bit about my experience (I am from Switzerland)

Your application looks pretty sound, you have plenty of proof which is really good.
I would advise you to look for any proof that shows since when you are living at the same address as your common law partner.
-Maybe when you applied for your studying visa, you gave that address? and have any documentation from the government?
-Have any communication from the university (letter with date) that was sent to your address?
- Driver license that shows when it was issued?
Also you mentioned that you are on your partner's work benefit. I am not sure in your case but my partner could only add me to his benefits after a certain period of time we lived together, so if it is the same in your case you can ask a copy from the company he work for stating the date.

I don't think it a problem that you do not show on the lease or mortgage, the important is that you find documentation that shows the moment you started living at the same address as your partner. For example I started living with my partner in December 2012 and therefore I sent proof that at that time and from then on I was living at the same address as him.

I wish you luck and lotsssss of patience

 

[jb1989]

I have just been through all the common-law sponsorship process, so I can tell you a bit about my experience (I am from Switzerland)

Your application looks pretty sound, you have plenty of proof which is really good.
I would advise you to look for any proof that shows since when you are living at the same address as your common law partner.
-Maybe when you applied for your studying visa, you gave that address? and have any documentation from the government?
-Have any communication from the university (letter with date) that was sent to your address?
- Driver license that shows when it was issued?
Also you mentioned that you are on your partner's work benefit. I am not sure in your case but my partner could only add me to his benefits after a certain period of time we lived together, so if it is the same in your case you can ask a copy from the company he work for stating the date.

I don't think it a problem that you do not show on the lease or mortgage, the important is that you find documentation that shows the moment you started living at the same address as your partner. For example I started living with my partner in December 2012 and therefore I sent proof that at that time and from then on I was living at the same address as him.

I wish you luck and lotsssss of patience

Thanks. I have lots of mail from the day I moved in, especially official government type things (health coverage, SIN number issue papaers etc.). I'm pretty confident in the application asides from the lease/mortgage thing which seems to be the most obvious type of proof to provide.
I guess we'll wait and see.

 

[jb1989]

I found this explanation on the CIC website:


I am no expert, but it seems like you have a lot of other proof and it doesn't seem like it's absolutely necessary to have a joint lease or joint ownership, especially since you have so much other concrete documentary evidence. Just my opinion.

Thanks for that. I think as long as we can explain the reasoning it should be fine.