Proof of Living Together But We Live with My Parents

[Fantasmu]

Hey everyone,

My wife and I are just about wrapping up our paperwork (gotta love the new paperwork package) but there's something that we're a bit stuck on. We got married last year and she's been in Canada as a temporary resident (we got a full year because we paid all our fees ahead of time). The thing is, we've been living in my parents' basement from that time. I'm still in school (finishing up after this semester) and she can't work as a result of not having sent in the paperwork yet (we're sending in an application for the open work permit with the immigration package), so this was our only option.

The problem is that on page 6 of the document checklist, it asks for proof of living together like joint ownership, rental agreements, utilities, and so on. We don't have anything that would work there. We're not paying my parents any rent so there is no rental agreement. The bank didn't want to put my wife's name on my bank account because she didn't have any Canadian documents so we don't technically have a joint account even though she does have an access card to the account. We do have a separate phone line in the basement, but the phone company also didn't let us put our names on the phone bill so that is still in my parents' name.

Does anyone have any suggestions? This is literally the last part of the paperwork we need to complete and we're not quite sure how to move forward. Thank you for your help!

 

[Screenager]

For Residence:

Ask your parent to write out an affidavit of residence mentioning you two being residents of their house and their relationship with you. Notarize this.

Write a letter explaining why you cant have mentioned proofs, demonstrate that you tried to get them e.g. asking your Bank to add your spouse in your bank account, asking the phone company for adding your spouse to your phone account. Have you guys received mail at this address? submit it showing the same address for your mail and your partners. Does your marriage registration certificate/letter have your address?

Basically try to demonstrate to the Immigration Officer in a letter that you tried to get all those proofs. And give whatever proofs you can manage.

 

[Fantasmu]

Great, thank you! I'll try going to the bank and asking about the joint account again and if they refuse again, I'll ask for a letter from them explaining why.

We were wondering about the mail, because we have received letters with both our names on the envelope. I'll just try to include everything I can! Thanks.

 

[Blossom318]

it depends on which bank you go to. TD tends to give people a hard time for temp. resident. RBC tends to be more lenient, as long as a Canadian is the primary holder in the account, you can add a temp. resident to joint account as secondary holder. good luck

 

[km9203]

it depends on which bank you go to. TD tends to give people a hard time for temp. resident. RBC tends to be more lenient, as long as a Canadian is the primary holder in the account, you can add a temp. resident to joint account as secondary holder. good luck

CIBC was super accommodating with us and had no problem adding me to my spouse's account and letting me open my own.

 

[Fantasmu]

I'm with Scotiabank. I went in today to ask and they said two pieces of ID is all it would take, so I'm wondering what happened the first time we tried. Maybe we only had one with and then forgot about it haha

I'm going to use the bank information once I get her on my account and then I can switch our phone to having our names on the account as well. We have a separate line down here and they are willing to put it on now. They were quite confused because it was a "unique situation" for them. With those two, the affidavit of residency, and a letter explaining our situation to Canadian Immigration, I think we're in a good spot.

 

[SDOUGLAS]

I'm with Scotiabank. I went in today to ask and they said two pieces of ID is all it would take, so I'm wondering what happened the first time we tried. Maybe we only had one with and then forgot about it haha

I'm going to use the bank information once I get her on my account and then I can switch our phone to having our names on the account as well. We have a separate line down here and they are willing to put it on now. They were quite confused because it was a "unique situation" for them. With those two, the affidavit of residency, and a letter explaining our situation to Canadian Immigration, I think we're in a good spot.

Hi there,just wonedring how things went. I' in the same situation like you.

Did cic accept the letter that stated why you couldn' provide those documents?