Same-sex, common law partner, struggling with Proof.

[OJOJ]

Hello everybody.

Me: 29. British.
Partner: 35. Canadian.

We met in Japan 3 years ago and have been living together for 1 year. We are starting to plan the future and would like to move to Canada. I've just been doing the beginning reading and research into how this could be possible and it seems we fall under the "Common Law Partner" category. I understand that we will have to provide lots of proof that we are "basically married without the title" and not just FWB or room-mates.

In Japan, views towards same sex relationships are a little different. Even though we were lucky to find a landlord who lets us rent a 1 bed place together, all bills are just in one name. Many people here think we are just room-mates, we don't want to out ourselves as it may affect business.
The only proof I have of living here is my mail, my residence card address, health tax bill etc. I just give my partner cash in hand for bills and there is no record of it. A lot of transactions in Japan are done in cash.

Our families have met a handful of times (an achievement when we all live on different points of the globe) and we've travelled to visit each others families in their countries too. We have a good friendship circles in Japan, Canada and England who know we're a couple too.


I'm really worried that it's not going to be enough without having shared bills to show.


Any advice or things to consider?


Thank you for taking the time to read this.

 

[scylla]

Would your landlord be willing to write a letter confirming you both live together there? Do you both have mail that goes to that same address - and do you have mail you can provide as proof that was sent to that address a year or close to a year ago? Any joint bank accounts or credit cards? Do you both list that address as your home address in employment and/or school records - and can you get something from a year back that shows this address for both of you? Are your parents willing to get an affidavit stating you're a couple who is living together? Do you have wills that name each other or any other benefits?

Worst case scenario you could fly somewhere that allows same sex married and get a quick marriage (if you don't feel you have enough evidence).

 

[OJOJ]

Landlord letter - Maybe.
Same address mail - yes.
Old mail - Maybe, but my change of address is registered and printed out anyway.
Joint bank / card - No. I don't think this exists in Japan especially not for same sex or foreigners.
Parents - only mine are alive but they would be more than happy to.
Benefits/ wills - not possible for same sex couples in Japan.

 

[Shineon39]

Landlord letter - Maybe.
Same address mail - yes.
Old mail - Maybe, but my change of address is registered and printed out anyway.
Joint bank / card - No. I don't think this exists in Japan especially not for same sex or foreigners.
Parents - only mine are alive but they would be more than happy to.
Benefits/ wills - not possible for same sex couples in Japan.

You can travel to a country where they allow same-sex marriage, I think New-Zealand would be the closest one from Japan or when you visit family in Canada or UK!!
If you don't want to get married get as much evidence as you can, I think CIC knows that some country are not same-sex relation friendly as Canada and will assess your application accordingly. And don't forget, being British the burden to prove won't be that hard you don't have much to gain by living in Canada except being with your partner.

 

[mcharade]

You could probably get an official statement of address from your town hall if both of you have registered the same address (which is a requirement in Japan for residential taxes. If you haven't done this, you should anyway.) In fact, they probably sent those residential taxes out around June, if you still have the receipts for those (usually they are for several payments every two months or so--up until February for mine). Even if you are tax exempt you are always supposed to inform your town hall of any residential change. Otherwise, I think both of you listing the same address on your residency cards is a good bit of proof too since those are government issued.

By the way, some cities in Japan have legalized same-sex partnerships (which don't have all the benefits of marriage but do acknowledge you as a romantic couple). One such city is Shibuya; I'm not sure whether you need to be a resident there or a Japanese citizen but you might want to look into that. (The other cities are Setagaya, Tokyo; Iga, Mie; Takarazuka, Hyougo; and Naha, Okinawa--perhaps one is near to you.)

It's true you don't have much proof, as the others have said you can get affidavits from family and friends. If I were you I would explain the attitude towards same-sex marriages in Japan in a cover letter to CIC (though given the information I listed in paragraph 2, they may not be as forgiving.)

Good luck to you and your partner! ファイト!

 

[canadianwoman]

If you have the things you have mentioned going back for a year, it should probably be OK. A residence card address, tax bill, and mail are all good proof that you live together.

 

[OJOJ]

Thank you for your input everyone!

You could probably get an official statement of address from your town .....

Good luck to you and your partner! ファイト!

Thank you for this, yes we are both registered as living here and have all the paperwork and darned taxes to go with it!

Again, thank you everyone. I really appreciate all the advice.