PR Sponsored by Common-Law Boyfriend But Not Enough Proof?

[takoy]

Hey guys, I've been living with my boyfriend for over a year but he never changed his drivers licence or any legal address to mine. All our bills are under my name, he simply pays me half of it. There isn't any legal records that I can think of that can prove our common-law status :-[ :-X

We've got photos together.. that's all I can think of. He's from North Vancouver and his family can support our claim, so are our friends. But I doubt that's enough? Is there still a chance for me? Has anyone been in a similar situation before?

Thanks!

A bit more on my situation: I'm 23, Chinese, came here in 2009 and went to SFU for Finance till fall 2014.
My work experience: did 8 month full-time co-op internship (marketing assistant) during school, 1 month full-time role as a marketing coordinator in May 2015, and started at a new company as a online community manager (marketing coordinator + client support) this August.

Additional info:
1. I've been with my boyfriend who's a Canadian citizen since summer 2013, we've been living together for almost 2 years.
2. I took IELTS when i first got here and got 8, so I don't think language ability would be a problem;
3. I own a property in Vancouver. It's under me and my dad's names, 50/50. Paying monthly mortgage, obv.
4. Definitely got enough $$ in the bank, current salary 40k+/year.

 

[Aquakitty]

Hey guys, I've been living with my boyfriend for over a year but he never changed his drivers licence or any legal address to mine. All our bills are under my name, he simply pays me half of it. There isn't any legal records that I can think of that can prove our common-law status :-[ :-X

We've got photos together.. that's all I can think of. He's from North Vancouver and his family can support our claim, so are our friends. But I doubt that's enough? Is there still a chance for me? Has anyone been in a similar situation before?

Thanks!

A bit more on my situation: I'm 23, Chinese, came here in 2009 and went to SFU for Finance till fall 2014.
My work experience: did 8 month full-time co-op internship (marketing assistant) during school, 1 month full-time role as a marketing coordinator in May 2015, and started at a new company as a online community manager (marketing coordinator + client support) this August.

Additional info:
1. I've been with my boyfriend who's a Canadian citizen since summer 2013, we've been living together for almost 2 years.
2. I took IELTS when i first got here and got 8, so I don't think language ability would be a problem;
3. I own a property in Vancouver. It's under me and my dad's names, 50/50. Paying monthly mortgage, obv.
4. Definitely got enough $$ in the bank, current salary 40k+/year.

Get a joint bank account, and have him change his license to your current address. Switch a bill to his name. You will also need I think 2 letters from family notarized and it's a good idea to fill out the Statutory Declaration of Common-Law Union and have that notarized. Problem solved.

Money has nothing to do with a spousal sponsorship, your job info should be enough to show how you are supporting yourselves. Are you on a PGWP I assume?

Also, no longer use the "B" word. He is now your common-law husband.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Get a joint bank account, and have him change his license to your current address. Switch a bill to his name. You will also need I think 2 letters from family notarized and it's a good idea to fill out the Statutory Declaration of Common-Law Union and have that notarized. Problem solved.

Problem not solved. Changing that stuff now does absolutely nothing to change that fact that they have pretty much no proof for the past few years. Letters from family/friends and the Stat Dec mean pretty much nothing without other common-law proofs.

OP, you need to dredge up anything and everything you can find. Look for mail received in either name or both names at the address going back at least a year. A letter from your employers stating your addresses on file with them and payslips with your addresses. Bank statements showing his payments to you and the corresponding bills. If you took any trips together, matching tickets, passport stamps etc. Letters from neighbors confirming you've been living together. Proof you've both changed status to common-law with CRA.

Think outside the box. You are going to need more than just letters and the Stat Dec.

 

[Aquakitty]

Problem not solved. Changing that stuff now does absolutely nothing to change that fact that they have pretty much no proof for the past few years. Letters from family/friends and the Stat Dec mean pretty much nothing without other common-law proofs.

OP, you need to dredge up anything and everything you can find. Look for mail received in either name or both names at the address going back at least a year. A letter from your employers stating your addresses on file with them and payslips with your addresses. Bank statements showing his payments to you and the corresponding bills. If you took any trips together, matching tickets, passport stamps etc. Letters from neighbors confirming you've been living together. Proof you've both changed status to common-law with CRA.

Think outside the box. You are going to need more than just letters and the Stat Dec.

Oh yes it does, it is part of what is asked for in the document checklist. They have to start somewhere.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Oh yes it does, it is part of what is asked for in the document checklist. They have to start somewhere.

You stated "Problem solved", as if your suggestion meant they wouldn't need to do anything else. That was very bad advice. Your suggestion doesn't solve their problem unless they plan to apply a year from now.

It doesn't matter that those are required documents (the Stat Dec actually isn't even required); without actual proof of the one year of continuous cohabitation, they mean pretty much nothing.

 

[scylla]

You stated "Problem solved", as if your suggestion meant they wouldn't need to do anything else. That was very bad advice. Your suggestion doesn't solve their problem unless they plan to apply a year from now.

It doesn't matter that those are required documents (the Stat Dec actually isn't even required); without actual proof of the one year of continuous cohabitation, they mean pretty much nothing.

Agreed. They need proof that goes back a year if they want to apply now (which is what they want to do).

 

[katathfx]

As andrewbrit said "think outside the box"

If he is here working the employer can write a letter indicating his address as the same. Does he have a doctor? They can print off all his office visits indicating the common address. The pharmacy if he ever got prescriptions can also print off list with his address. Ever applied for visitor visa extension? Use cic correspondence as well. Any mail delivered to the same address ?

 

[kettle]

If you have a positive relationship with your landlord, you should be able to get your landlord to write a letter indicating you have both been living in the same premise since _____ date.


My common-law partner and I had been living together for about two years when we applied, the only proof of cohabitation we had was two years of tax returns addressed to the same address, the joint address listed on his bank account information, and with the phone company, his drivers licence, a joint bank account with our shared address.

All utilities were in my name only, and the house/mortgage was in my name only. We explained this on the application, but also had documents indicating we had the same shared address. I don't think any of those documents had any sort of time stamping on them, but perhaps I am wrong.


Agreed, ditch the boyfriend term. He's your common-law spouse/partner/husband if you intend to go through with this process.



We did have the statutory declaration as well, even though it was not required.

 

[rs33]

What about the economic classes? Instead of family sponsorship, would express entry or BC PNP (in 2016... 2015 is closed) be an option?

 

[magtatah0]

seriously, get married! ;D

 

[scylla]

What about the economic classes? Instead of family sponsorship, would express entry or BC PNP (in 2016... 2015 is closed) be an option?

Already explored - not viable. OP lacks the work experience required to apply and is still quite a ways away from gaining it.

 

[andrew-brit]

As andrewbrit said "think outside the box"

canuck_in_uk said that not me!

 

[kettle]

We also had joint auto insurance and a car we purchased together.

Are either of those things you and your spouse have?

 

[katathfx]

canuck_in_uk said that not me!

Thank you Andrew and sorry about that Canuck. I hadn't finished my coffee before I posted lol

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Thank you Andrew and sorry about that Canuck. I hadn't finished my coffee before I posted lol

No prob!