Partner getting a Student Visa, I'm accompanying as common-law dependent

[saniflare]

Hi there,

My girlfriend and long-time partner (4 years) is applying for a Student Visa and is in the process of waiting for her letter of acceptance from SAIT. Our plan is for me to accompany her as her common-law partner. At the moment, we are planning to submit both her Student Visa application and my accompanying common-law partner application at the same time. If all goes well, we will be submitting our applications around JULY.

-We have been living in the same house for 3 years now. It is my father's house and so all bills are under his name except for ONE home internet bill.
-We don't have a joint account but we are planning on opening a joint account this month and pooling all our funds there to support our cohabitation (about 23,000CAD).
-I have an uncle who will sponsor us and show bank statements/certificates showing more than 80,000CAD in one account.

Our worries are:
1. Purpose Letter - Where we write our plans of staying in Canada for a set period of time and returning home right after my partner finishes her studies and post-studies work. I don't know what supporting documents a VISA officer would like to prove that she and I will return home after my partner's studies.
2. My common-law dependent application - I've heard stories of common-law partners getting denied but is it as strict with Student VISA applications? We will be returning home right after her studies anyway.


What are the chances of us getting denied? Any tips?
Any insights would be of great help.. Thank you!

 

[scylla]

Hi there,

My girlfriend and long-time partner (4 years) is applying for a Student Visa and is in the process of waiting for her letter of acceptance from SAIT. Our plan is for me to accompany her as her common-law partner. At the moment, we are planning to submit both her Student Visa application and my accompanying common-law partner application at the same time. If all goes well, we will be submitting our applications around JULY.

-We have been living in the same house for 3 years now. It is my father's house and so all bills are under his name except for ONE home internet bill.
-We don't have a joint account but we are planning on opening a joint account this month and pooling all our funds there to support our cohabitation (about 23,000CAD).
-I have an uncle who will sponsor us and show bank statements/certificates showing more than 80,000CAD in one account.

Our worries are:
1. Purpose Letter - Where we write our plans of staying in Canada for a set period of time and returning home right after my partner finishes her studies and post-studies work. I don't know what supporting documents a VISA officer would like to prove that she and I will return home after my partner's studies.
2. My common-law dependent application - I've heard stories of common-law partners getting denied but is it as strict with Student VISA applications? We will be returning home right after her studies anyway.


What are the chances of us getting denied? Any tips?
Any insights would be of great help.. Thank you!

Your common law evidence is quite weak right now. You must prove you have cohabitated for a full year. The joint account you are opening this month will be of no use since it doesn't go back a year. You should get an affidavit from your father stating that you have been cohabitating there for three years. You also need to find additional evidence that shows your joint address such as employment or school documents.

Generally speaking, it's more difficult to get approved when you are not sponsoring your studies yourself or through your parents. Having your uncle sponsor you will weaken your application and reduce chances of approval.

 

[saniflare]

Your common law evidence is quite weak right now. You must prove you have cohabitated for a full year. The joint account you are opening this month will be of no use since it doesn't go back a year. You should get an affidavit from your father stating that you have been cohabitating there for three years. You also need to find additional evidence that shows your joint address such as employment or school documents.

Generally speaking, it's more difficult to get approved when you are not sponsoring your studies yourself or through your parents. Having your uncle sponsor you will weaken your application and reduce chances of approval.

You put out very valid points, thanks! We were hoping to explain our newly-opened joint account through our SOP (statement of purpose) letter, stating that we opened a joint account to pool our money together as funds for my partner's study plans in Canada and our daily living accommodations. Between the both of us, we probably have around 23,000CAD, and our sponsor uncle will show bank statements of about 80,000CAD.

What do you think?

 

[scylla]

You put out very valid points, thanks! We were hoping to explain our newly-opened joint account through our SOP (statement of purpose) letter, stating that we opened a joint account to pool our money together as funds for my partner's study plans in Canada and our daily living accommodations. Between the both of us, we probably have around 23,000CAD, and our sponsor uncle will show bank statements of about 80,000CAD.

What do you think?

Ideally your joint account would have closer to 30 or 35 to show you can cover first year tuition and living expenses. But that could very well suffice.

The joint acccount still doesn't help at all when it comes to proving common law. You need to focus on finding strong evidence for that before you apply.

 

[saniflare]

Ideally your joint account would have closer to 30 or 35 to show you can cover first year tuition and living expenses. But that could very well suffice.

The joint acccount still doesn't help at all when it comes to proving common law. You need to focus on finding strong evidence for that before you apply.

Thanks. Any other solid evidence you think would make good on our application? I've done my research and they all point out the same documents. There might be some unorthodox document or paraphernalia that could help our application and give us an edge since our current situation is weak. Would you happen to know of any?

 

[scylla]

Thanks. Any other solid evidence you think would make good on our application? I've done my research and they all point out the same documents. There might be some unorthodox document or paraphernalia that could help our application and give us an edge since our current situation is weak. Would you happen to know of any?

Nothing unorthodox I can think of apart from the affidavit from your father stating that you have been living together. Common law proof is pretty specific. You need evidence that you have had a shared address for a minimum of one full year. So any statements showing your address work - provided they date back at least one full year. Normal stuff is leases, property ownership, join bank accounts, joint utilities, etc. However people have used proof such as employment records and school records.