Living apart after common-law sponsorship application?

[kingpot]

Hello to all. I obtained my PR through Express Entry last year, enrolled in university, and my partner came to Canada to the same university to be with me. She is coming as an international student, right now we are studying & living together. But I have been thinking of transferring to another university in a nearby city as soon as we satisfy the one-year cohabiting requirement by IRCC. The plan is to complete the application in late August, and in September we'll be continuing our studies while living apart.

I understand (from viewing some threads here) that IRCC states that because of family, work, or educational reasons, living apart after applying for common-law sponsorship can be understandable. I would like to make sure of this since this is very important to us. We are concerned that IRCC would be doubtful of our relationship or think that we're "cheating" the system for the PR.

Could anyone share similar experiences? Any input would be appreciated, thank you so much.

 

[k.h.p.]

If you're planning an inland sponsorship, you have to cohabitate. If you apply in Canada as an outland application, it's not. Mandatory, but then the validity and genuineness of the relationship is questioned.

Are you opposed to getting married?

 

[kingpot]

If you're planning an inland sponsorship, you have to cohabitate. If you apply in Canada as an outland application, it's not. Mandatory, but then the validity and genuineness of the relationship is questioned.

Are you opposed to getting married?

Thank you for your response!

I don't think we are prepared to get married just yet. However it is very important for her to get PR as soon as possible for financial reasons. Her parents are taking out all their savings as her international tuition and they don't know about our relationship. It is very frowned upon in our country since we are same-sex partners, and apparently this gives us a lot of guilt (to our parents who are spending so much practically for us to get together).

We would like our parents to know before we get married, but, again, this is not the right timing.

Would applying outland be similar? The university I was intending to go has better locations for job-seeking and a better program, she could have transferred with me but couldn't because of higher GPA restrictions for international students. Would explaining this to IRCC help in any way?

We are really having a dilemma here! Thank you so much for your answer.

 

[k.h.p.]

Are you talking about Kelowna to Vancouver?

An outland application doesn't give the applicant an open work permit and it means they may need to leave the country for interviews.

Regardless, I would be concerned about separating very soon after meeting the common law threshold. It makes it look like the relationship is for immigration purposes - like it is certainly genuine, but you're entering it for immigration purposes.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Hello to all. I obtained my PR through Express Entry last year, enrolled in university, and my partner came to Canada to the same university to be with me. She is coming as an international student, right now we are studying & living together. But I have been thinking of transferring to another university in a nearby city as soon as we satisfy the one-year cohabiting requirement by IRCC. The plan is to complete the application in late August, and in September we'll be continuing our studies while living apart.

I understand (from viewing some threads here) that IRCC states that because of family, work, or educational reasons, living apart after applying for common-law sponsorship can be understandable. I would like to make sure of this since this is very important to us. We are concerned that IRCC would be doubtful of our relationship or think that we're "cheating" the system for the PR.

Could anyone share similar experiences? Any input would be appreciated, thank you so much.

As long as you have solid common-law proofs and apply outland, it's fine.

 

[kingpot]

Are you talking about Kelowna to Vancouver?

An outland application doesn't give the applicant an open work permit and it means they may need to leave the country for interviews.

Regardless, I would be concerned about separating very soon after meeting the common law threshold. It makes it look like the relationship is for immigration purposes - like it is certainly genuine, but you're entering it for immigration purposes.

Your input has been so helpful - thank you so much. Yes, it's to Vancouver, but from Victoria.

We will make sure to provide as much evidence and good reasons as possible. This was a good reminder. Again, thank you!

 

[kingpot]

As long as you have solid common-law proofs and apply outland, it's fine.

Thank you for your response!