Hi thank you all for your helpful information. Just a quick one from me: my boyfriend and I will be common law on September 1st 2015. My IEC Visa runs out on the 5th of September, but I am planning on submitting a visitors visa to stay here for a couple more months. I am starting to get my PR application ready now, so that when it comes to the time we are common law, I can submit the application to CIC. However, I need to work back in the UK whilst it is in progress. Will my boyfriend and I lose common law status if I go back to the UK to work whilst the application is in progress? I want to stay with him, but there is no way of supporting myself if I stay. Thanks for any information.