Proof of common law sponsorship

[superman2012]

hi guys, I just want to ask what kinds of proof should we submit to CIC? according to CIC website we should submit some of this:
Joint bank accounts or credit cards;
Joint ownership of a home;
Joint residential leases;
Joint rental receipts;
Joint utilities (electricity, gas, telephone);
Joint management of household expenses;
Proof of joint purchases, especially for household items; OR
Correspondence addressed to either person or both people at the same address.

however, I don't know what kind papers should we submit since they are asking for Joint utilities, Joint management of household, proof of joint purchase etc. what if we buy some home items in Mall are we going to ask the store to put our both names and our address on the receipt?
another question, Can we buy some Home things separately using our joint credit card?

what additional proof should we gather guys?

 

[Panamai]

I bought some furniture, decorations, and some wooden blinds for our house, but there were no names on the receipt, so I had no way of proving I bought them for our house so I didn't bother including them. Also, my partner purchased the house 2 years before we met, so we have no joint lease. I have no job, so then I'm not on any of the utility bills. What I did include was:

Evidence that I've been named the beneficiary of his pension plan
Evidence of joint savings account
Evidence that he is an authorised user on one of my credit cards
Papers showing that I'm on his work health/dental/eye insurance as a dependent
2 statutory declarations from friends and family (required)
Copies of both our Ontario driver's licences with the same address on them
Copies of various mail I've received at the address
Picture of a TIME magazine from January 2013 with my name and this address
Statutory declaration of common-law status notarised at city hall
A couple of text conversations where we were talking about moving together and things like asking what groceries to pick up on our way home, etc.

I think that's everything. I feel we have a pretty solid case. My partner also made sure to change his marital status with the CRA right away. His Option C states 'divorced,' but that was for the 2013 tax year.

 

[superman2012]

I bought some furniture, decorations, and some wooden blinds for our house, but there were no names on the receipt, so I had no way of proving I bought them for our house so I didn't bother including them. Also, my partner purchased the house 2 years before we met, so we have no joint lease. I have no job, so then I'm not on any of the utility bills. What I did include was:

Evidence that I've been named the beneficiary of his pension plan
Evidence of joint savings account
Evidence that he is an authorised user on one of my credit cards
Papers showing that I'm on his work health/dental/eye insurance as a dependent
2 statutory declarations from friends and family (required)
Copies of both our Ontario driver's licences with the same address on them
Copies of various mail I've received at the address
Picture of a TIME magazine from January 2013 with my name and this address
Statutory declaration of common-law status notarised at city hall
A couple of text conversations where we were talking about moving together and things like asking what groceries to pick up on our way home, etc.

I think that's everything. I feel we have a pretty solid case. My partner also made sure to change his marital status with the CRA right away. His Option C states 'divorced,' but that was for the 2013 tax year.

hello. did you send sponsor's proof of funds? can you give ma an Idea about the option C printout? my partner is currently fixing his tax. thank you!

 

[Panamai]

We sent the option C and also a letter from his employer stating his hours and salary and the date he was hired. The option C was easy. We just called the CRA's 800 number and they mailed it to us.

 

[tofuboi]

I don't remember this being a requirement. Is this listed somewhere?

"2 statutory declarations from friends and family "

 

[scylla]

I don't remember this being a requirement. Is this listed somewhere?

"2 statutory declarations from friends and family "

It's a mandatory requirement if you are common law. Not required for married couples.

 

[blink1ate2]

On CIC Website there is a page titled:

How can my common-law partner and I prove we have been together for 12 months

 

[tofuboi]

It's a mandatory requirement if you are common law. Not required for married couples.

I see the declaration form signed via Commissioner of Oath, but nothing in regards to family or friends?

 

[surleplateau]

I don't remember this being a requirement. Is this listed somewhere?

"2 statutory declarations from friends and family "

It is on the Applicant's Checklist under "Proof of Relationship to Sponsor" -- at least depending on the specific country. It is there in the US applicant's guide, at least.

Statutory declaration means that it has to be signed in front of a Commissioner of Oaths (each Canadian province has a directory or has city clerks available for this). If you are not in Canada, you can check with the Canadian consulate in your country to see if the consulate offers this service. A notary would work as well, but that's an expensive overkill considering that a commissioner of oaths costs like 5$ and a notary costs around 50$.

To clarify, statutory declarations have to be signed by the letter writer in front of someone who certifies the signature and takes the letter-writer's solemn oath that what s/he wrote is true to their knowledge (paraphrased). Also the letter writer will need to bring 2 forms of (photo?) identification or something like that.

 

[kettle]

I see the declaration form signed via Commissioner of Oath, but nothing in regards to family or friends?

I didn't see it either on our document checklist, but apparently it is on the British checklist and it was missed by myself and my partner and our immigration consultant. We submitted with a declaration signed by a commissioner of oaths only, and a relationship essay along with other proof of cohabitation but did not submit with any letters of support. (Had I known, they would have been submitted, no questions asked.)

My advice is, if you know about them now before you submit, you may as well get them done. Its a small step that could save major disappointment.

 

[Rob_TO]

The 2 statutory letters are not actually mandatory for every country, it depends what your country-specific guide says.

i.e. the guide for Europe, USA, and most other places states:
If you are a common-law or conjugal partner, provide evidence that your relationship is genuine and
continuing and has existed for at least 12 months prior to your application. Also provide details of the
history of your relationship and at least two statutory declarations from individuals with personal
knowledge of your relationship supporting your claim that the relationship is genuine and continuing

However the guide for "General Asia" states:
If you are a common-law or conjugal partner, provide evidence that your relationship is genuine and
continuing and has existed for at least 12 months prior to your application.
Documentary evidence may include:
- at least two statutory declarations from individuals with personal knowledge of your relationship
supporting your claim that the relationship is genuine and continuing

Since the stat letters are bunched into the list of docs you "may" include, that indicates it is not mandatory to do so.

In our common-law app which used the "General Asia" guide, we just included 1 letter (not certified) from a family member, and were never asked to provide any others. Though I think at the time I actually missed this whole section on stat letters, so if I had to do it again today I'd probably include the 2 stat letters just to be safe.

 

[kettle]

The 2 statutory letters are not actually mandatory for every country, it depends what your country-specific guide says.

i.e. the guide for Europe, USA, and most other places states:
If you are a common-law or conjugal partner, provide evidence that your relationship is genuine and
continuing and has existed for at least 12 months prior to your application. Also provide details of the
history of your relationship and at least two statutory declarations from individuals with personal
knowledge of your relationship supporting your claim that the relationship is genuine and continuing

I dont know how my consultant missed this. Its a bummer for sure. She insists we probably don't need them at this point.

so if I had to do it again today I'd probably include the 2 stat letters just to be safe.

Yep. In hindsight I'd have done at least two. Both the SO and the consultant don't believe we need them now at this point, I am not 100% convinced.

 

[SchnookoLoly]

Have a read of this - http://britishexpats.com/wiki/Spousal_Sponsorship-Canada/FAQ#There_are_multiple_references_to_.27including_proof_of_a_common-law_relationship.27._What_does_this_mean.3F and read the other wiki link linked in the first question, it will help you out loads both with whta kinds of things to provide, and also a template you can use for your letters.

 

[fruitball4u]

What is an option C printout?

 

[SchnookoLoly]

It's a document from CRA and is explained on the sponsor's document checklist.