Proof of co-habitation - Question

[renee.tk]

Hello! This is my first time posting on a forum, so sorry if I should have found an old similar topic rather than starting a new one!

I have a quick question about co-habitation. I'm Canadian and my boyfriend/partner is British. We've been together 6 years (today is our anniversary!!) and I almost have our whole application together to send. Besides many super-long visits, we officially lived together for 1 year when he came on an IEC visa, then he went back to the UK for 2 months waiting for second IEC visa, and now he is here on his second one-year IEC visa which ends in September. ANYWAYS!
I am not allowed to add anyone to my current lease, which I signed before he came, so obviously I don't have something like that from when he arrived on his first visa.
I did just find out that I could add him as an occupant, which I have recently done. So my housing association sent me a letter saying that he is an occupant as of April 2015.
My question is - should I include this letter or will it confuse things and make them think that our common-law year will have to start from April 2015??
We have lots of other proof, like tax filed as common-law, official mail to him at our address, trips taken together, statutory declarations, proof that he buys all of the groceries (and household items and meals out) etc. Unfortunately we don't live in the sort of residence where a landlord knows you personally and would know when he arrived. Obviously I should have added him as an occupant when he first arrived, but I didn't know that it was an option at the time, just that I couldn't add anyone to the lease.
Thank you for any advice that you can provide!

 

[Ponga]

Having a letter showing that he is an authorized occupant from April 2015, doesn't do anything to prove that you have meet the required 1 year cohabiting rule.

Having mail that was addressed to each/both of you at that address over the span of him being there could help. Proof of him buying groceries, trips taken together, etc., won't help at all, but they will help to add credence to the relationship itself.

Proving the cohabiting is the absolute foundation for your Common-Law sponsorship.

Good luck!

 

[renee.tk]

Thanks for responding!
Put more clearly:
I know that the letter doesn't prove co-habitation, I'm just wondering whether to add it or not with an explanation that I did not previously know that he could be added as an occupant, so that there is at least proof of us living together now (in addition to what we will provide dating back to when he arrived).
So are you saying that it would be best to leave it out?
Thank you!

 

[Ponga]

I'd wait for CIC to request proof of continued cohabiting, which they have done recently for some applicants.

Sorry, I thought that you had already submitted your application. You can certainly include the letter if it makes you feel better.
Hindsight, regarding not adding him as an occupant before now, won't be of any importance to CIC...unfortunately.

Will you be including copies of mailed envelopes that you have both received (over the span of your tenancy)? Next to the signed lease/rental agreement, it's good evidence.

 

[renee.tk]

We have a wedding invitation addressed to both of us from last year, cards sent to both of us, important mail for him at my address, such as from Service Canada, CRA (including a letter determining that he is a resident of Canada for tax purposes) from his first year, our taxes at this address etc. He hasn't ever lived anywhere else in Canada, so lots of things with this address.
Just unfortunate to not have lease or official things like that... I really hope it doesn't end up getting us rejected!

 

[Ponga]

You should be fine.

CIC will usually ask for additional documentation/proof before simply rejecting an application.


Good luck!

 

[renee.tk]

Thank you for your help! I guess all we can do is our best!!

 

[Ponga]

Are you submitting an Outland application?

It is substantially faster than an Inland application for him!

 

[renee.tk]

Yep, that's the plan! I don't think an IEC visa can even be extended in any way, so I don't think we could really do Inland! Although I could be wrong about that, but either way, definitely going Outland!

 

[SchnookoLoly]

Outland for sure is the way to go. There's a FAQ linked in my signature which you may find useful as you finish up your application. Also be sure to check in on the Timeline thread for London applicants and get yourself added to the spreadsheet, also linked in my signature. Good luck!

(FWIW, I completely agree with all the advice Ponga has given you! Spot on!)

 

[renee.tk]

Thank you, will do for sure! Hoping to get it sent out by the end of this week, as soon as my option C arrives!

I found your statutory declaration format very informative a while ago, so thank you for that as well!

 

[SchnookoLoly]

Ah glad you found that helpful! Always nice to know it's been used!

 

[Ponga]

Yep, that's the plan! I don't think an IEC visa can even be extended in any way, so I don't think we could really do Inland! Although I could be wrong about that, but either way, definitely going Outland!

Although the IEC visa cannot be extended, an Inland applicant (that remains in status) is now eligible for an Open Work Permit long before first stage approval (AIP), thanks to a pilot program that was announced last December. It's giving many Inland applicant the authorization to work in ~ 4 months, compared to ~ 17 months.

However...you should still continue with your Outland plan, IMHO.

 

[renee.tk]

Ah, thank you for the info!
But I agree, we'll be sticking with Outland.

 

[Rob_TO]

Can you simply tell your housing association he was living there from when he actually first arrived on IEC, and get them to back-date the letter stating when he was first an occupant there?

To strengthen your app I would also suggest to get some joint accounts. So look into joint back account, a supplemental credit card in spouses name, joint utility accounts, life insurance on each other, anything you can list each other as beneficiaries/dependents for (i.e. work benefits), etc. Basically any account where it shows both your name and 1 address. Lots of these won't be dated, they will simply show you share the same address and that you have joined lots of your finances together.