Questions for common law

[AlexZ92]

Hi, my common-law partner and I are about to fill the paper for sponsorship.

I’m an Italian citizen and I last came to Canada 19-01-2018 and living with my partner since.

we’ve been living as a common law couple for over a year and I have a few questions/concerns:

1: my partner hasn’t changed her marital status to common law on the RCA website yet

2: I submitted 3 visitor extensions applications so far, the last time I applied I submitted a declaration of common law, do I have to submit it every time I apply for an extension or for my PR application?

3: we have photos together, not many trips but we have plenty of family photos

4: I’ve been paying the internet bill since March 2018 and we’re about to start a joint bank account together, is this enough proof of common law relationship?

5: my mother came to visit from Italy from July to September 2019 and she could write a letter stating our relationship, my partner family member and friends will do the same, is this considered solid proof of relationship?

6: we lost our previous conversations while I was in Italy since we both gave up on social media after we met in person and didn’t know we would need this for a potential PR application, we though have plenty of conversation via WhatsApp and text when my wife is at work and I’m home with her kids.

7: should I extend my visitor visa again before we submit the forms for the sponsorship application? (I thought of including proof of payment of sponsorship fees in the visitor extension application to prove that we are committed to PR, if that helps)

8: I separated from my wife during fall 2016, unfortunately I don’t remember the exact birth date of my (soon to be ex) wife, is that a problem for the PR application? When I extended my visitor visa I guessed her birth date and they didn’t seem to mind the potential inaccuracy. I know her month and year of birth but I’m not sure of the day. I know this might seem silly but I was in a very abusive relationship and I don’t know how but I forgot her day of birth. She is Canadian by the way.

What else do you guys think we should do to strengthen our proof of relationship before submitting everything? We’re booth residing in Canada at the moment.

thank you so much for helping.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Hi, my common-low partner and I are about to fill the paper for sponsorship.

I’m an Italian citizen and I last came to Canada 19-01-2018 and living with my partner since.

we’ve been living as a common law couple for over a year and I have a few questions/concerns:

1: my partner hasn’t changed her marital status to common law on the RCA website yet

2: I submitted 3 visitor extensions applications so far, the last time I applied I submitted a declaration of common law, do I have to submit it every time I apply for an extension or for my PR application?

3: we have photos together, not many trips but we have plenty of family photos

4: I’ve been paying the internet bill since March 2018 and we’re about to start a joint bank account together, is this enough proof of common law relationship?

5: my mother came to visit from Italy from July to September 2019 and she could write a letter stating our relationship, my partner family member and friends will do the same, is this considered solid proof of relationship?

6: we lost our previous conversations while I was in Italy since we both gave up on social media after we met in person and didn’t know we would need this for a potential PR application, we though have plenty of conversation via WhatsApp and text when my wife is at work and I’m home with her kids.

7: should I extend my visitor visa again before we submit the forms for the sponsorship application? (I thought of including proof of payment of sponsorship fees in the visitor extension application to prove that we are committed to PR, if that helps)

8: I separated from my wife during fall 2016, unfortunately I don’t remember the exact birth date of my (soon to be ex) wife, is that a problem for the PR application? When I extended my visitor visa I guessed her birth date and they didn’t seem to mind the potential inaccuracy. I know her month and year of birth but I’m not sure of the day. I know this might seem silly but I was in a very abusive relationship and I don’t know how but I forgot her day of birth. She is Canadian by the way.

What else do you guys think we should do to strengthen our proof of relationship before submitting everything? We’re booth residing in Canada at the moment.

thank you so much for helping.

1. She needs to update CRA.

2. It's not required for a PR app.

3. Max 20 photos anyways.

4. Not even close. You need solid address proofs showing both of you living at the same address for at least one year. There is no point in getting a joint account now, as it will not be a proof.

5. Sure, she can write a letter.

6. Read the checklist. No communication proofs for couples living together.

7. Depends on when your current status expires.

8. Not a big deal.

It isn't your proof of relationship that you need to strengthen. It is your common-law proofs.

 

[AlexZ92]

1. She needs to update CRA.

2. It's not required for a PR app.

3. Max 20 photos anyways.

4. Not even close. You need solid address proofs showing both of you living at the same address for at least one year. There is no point in getting a joint account now, as it will not be a proof.

5. Sure, she can write a letter.

6. Read the checklist. No communication proofs for couples living together.

7. Depends on when your current status expires.

8. Not a big deal.

It isn't your proof of relationship that you need to strengthen. It is your common-law proofs.

Thank you for answering.

I also have some parcels under my name showing the same address.
What you suggest we should do?

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Thank you for answering.

I also have some parcels under my name showing the same address.
What you suggest we should do?

What specific address proofs do you actually have?

 

[AlexZ92]

What specific address proofs do you actually have?

We live in a rural area so the exact land location is on the internet bill (that’s under my name) and other utilities (under her name).
Parcels and mail come into our PO Box in town.

 

[zardoz]

We live in a rural area so the exact land location is on the internet bill (that’s under my name) and other utilities (under her name).
Parcels and mail come into our PO Box in town.

IMHO that's nowhere near enough. Those things could also be set up for couples that live apart.

 

[AlexZ92]

IMHO that's nowhere near enough. Those things could also be set up for couples that live apart.

I understand, what should we do in this case?

 

[AlexZ92]

I could also get letters from her family members and my mothers and have them all notarized if that helps. Her brother lives with us, he could write one too

 

[zardoz]

I could also get letters from her family members and my mothers and have them all notarized if that helps. Her brother lives with us, he could write one too

A letter from your landlord, if rented accommodation, would be much more convincing. Same from neighbours, who have no vested interest in your immigration status.

 

[AlexZ92]

A letter from your landlord, if rented accommodation, would be much more convincing. Same from neighbours, who have no vested interest in your immigration status.

There is no landlord. She owns the house and the neighborhood is all family members and distant cousins. We live in a First Nation reserve.