Formal ceremony and reception to celebrate common law?

[alasken]

I'm a Norwegian trying to get sponsored by my Canadian girlfriend. We have lived together for almost 2 years now and I'm working on this darn application and need some help.

I'm a little confused by the questions in IMM5490 (question 22 and 23).

First of all, question 22 goes: Was there a formal ceremony to recognise/celebrate the relationship, eg commitment or partnership ceremony?
At what point would this be? When you have officially lived together for a year? Or when we first moved in together? Or when we first decided to be bf/gf? I mean, we had a party after she moved in, but it wasn't formal or anything. I doubt we can provide proof that we had one too. We certainly did not have a ceremony to announce that we were together when we first decided we wanted to be together, and we did not have a ceremony after we had lived together for a year? Do people do this? If not, then why do they even ask this question?

Question 23: Was there a reception?
What in the world does this mean? Again, I just dont understand how this applies to me (or anyone else for that matter). Like I said, we have lived together for almost two years, but we have never had a reception or anything. Is that normal for people to have? I cant even think of an example of anyone doing that? I mean, do they expect people to have a reception when you have reached the 1 year mark of living together which defines your relationship as common law? If your answer is no, they ask you to explain if you plan to have a reception later and to give date and place. I just dont understand what they want from me. Why do they think we want to have a reception?

Thirdly (bonusquestion ) , under maintaining contact, questions 24 and 25 on the same page as the above mentioned questions ask whether or not you have visited each other during the period of our relationship. We have lived together the whole time, so what do they mean about visiting? How can I visit her if we live together? At one point we lived in Australia, and we visited her family in Canada and my family in Norway. Is this what they are asking?

Thanks for any help I can get, I've been working on this application since last summer and I just hate it. Im hoping to get it sent in this week, and the day that I get this thing sent out will be the happiest day in a long time!

 

[rjessome]

I'm a Norwegian trying to get sponsored by my Canadian girlfriend. We have lived together for almost 2 years now and I'm working on this darn application and need some help.

I'm a little confused by the questions in IMM5490 (question 22 and 23).

First of all, question 22 goes: Was there a formal ceremony to recognise/celebrate the relationship, eg commitment or partnership ceremony?
At what point would this be? When you have officially lived together for a year? Or when we first moved in together? Or when we first decided to be bf/gf? I mean, we had a party after she moved in, but it wasn't formal or anything. I doubt we can provide proof that we had one too. We certainly did not have a ceremony to announce that we were together when we first decided we wanted to be together, and we did not have a ceremony after we had lived together for a year? Do people do this? If not, then why do they even ask this question?

Question 23: Was there a reception?
What in the world does this mean? Again, I just dont understand how this applies to me (or anyone else for that matter). Like I said, we have lived together for almost two years, but we have never had a reception or anything. Is that normal for people to have? I cant even think of an example of anyone doing that? I mean, do they expect people to have a reception when you have reached the 1 year mark of living together which defines your relationship as common law? If your answer is no, they ask you to explain if you plan to have a reception later and to give date and place. I just dont understand what they want from me. Why do they think we want to have a reception?

Thirdly (bonusquestion ) , under maintaining contact, questions 24 and 25 on the same page as the above mentioned questions ask whether or not you have visited each other during the period of our relationship. We have lived together the whole time, so what do they mean about visiting? How can I visit her if we live together? At one point we lived in Australia, and we visited her family in Canada and my family in Norway. Is this what they are asking?

Thanks for any help I can get, I've been working on this application since last summer and I just hate it. Im hoping to get it sent in this week, and the day that I get this thing sent out will be the happiest day in a long time!

As far as your first and second questions go, if you haven't done it, you answer NO. The reason given is that this type of thing is not normal in our cultures. The rationale behind this type of question "I think" has to do particularly with same sex couples but also couples who choose not to marry but may want to have a celebration of family and friends to publically celebrate their relationship. These are often called commitment ceremonies. They were common especially for same sex couples in countries where marriage is illegal yet they still wanted to declare their relationship and celebrate in a "wedding-like" fashion. By know means is it necessary to have one or even common, especially for hetero couples.

Third question, you answer NO and say we live together so it's not applicable.

 

[alasken]

Excellent, thanks for your help. I assumed it had to do with gay relationships where they can't get married for whatever reason, or long-lasting relationships where neither are interested in getting married but they still have a "commitment ceremony" as you say.

Since we are both online right now I'm gonna see if you can help me with one more thing

In the application for permanent residence in canada, question 5 asks for country of residence. I am in Canada as a visitor, and am still registered in Norway as living at my parents´address. I never bothered changing this even though I moved out 10 years ago Does this matter, or can I write Canada as my country of residence and then provide them my Canadian address in question 15 (where they ask for residential address)?

Cheers.

 

[missmini]

this thread could also help u (u r not and will not be the only one being confused about these questions)

http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/commonlaw-partner-questionnaire-question-22-23-t67947.0.html;msg687036#msg687036

 

[mmhughes]

When my hubby and I filled out our application one of the questions was "did you have an engagement ceremony" and we didn't. So all we did was explain that we didn't have a formal engagement ceremony/party but a few friends did take us out for supper. I think you could do the same. Just explain why you didn't. My husband and I were initially considered "common-law" since we lived with each other for 4 years before getting married and we never thought after a year we would be like "hey, babe, let's have a party for living with each other for one year". When I read this question I thought it was kind of weird. The government just brands us "common-law" after we live with each other for one year (which works out in our favour for immigration purposes). Anyways...I think if you just explain why you didn't you will be okay. Perhaps explain what you did on your one year anniversary! Hopefully you took your girlfriend out for dinner!

 

[rjessome]

can I write Canada as my country of residence and then provide them my Canadian address in question 15 (where they ask for residential address)?

Cheers.

Yes.

 

[canadianwoman]

I'm a little confused by the questions in IMM5490 (question 22 and 23).

First of all, question 22 goes: Was there a formal ceremony to recognise/celebrate the relationship, eg commitment or partnership ceremony?
...
Question 23: Was there a reception?

You could mention that you had a party when you first moved in together for question 23.

 

[Gemauru]

You don't have to, and you don't need to enter any ceremonies or "party" for your common law relationship.
The only reason why this is asked is because is the same form for married or common law.

About visiting each other, kind of make sense for the majority of "sponsorship applications".
Most likely one being Canadian and the other not, you had to visit each other, if is not applicable at your situation
just answer "not applicable"

Cheers!

 

[andrei0917]

Is a civil wedding ceremony considered a formal one? Stuck to question 9.