Sponsorship for common-law partner in Italy

[Jojo1972]

Hello everyone in this thread!

I'm really happy to stumble upon a forum such as this and to be apart of this supporting community! I was hoping to provide some facts and maybe get some opinions on what's the best way to go about sponsoring my common-law boyfriend. I am Canadian and he is Italian. I have read up on most of the options for him to live/work here and build a life together here in Canada. But decided that a sponsorship under the family class is the most fitting for our situation.

Met in May 2011 while I was traveling in Italy
In a relationship since June 2011
Lived together from June 2011-Dec 2011. Although I came back to Canada for 2 months as to not overstay my tourist visa in Italy. Went back to Italy and lived together again from Oct 2011-Dec 2011
He is now living with me in Canada on a tourist visa since Dec 2011

His tourist visa will expire June 11, 2012. Right now we are both trying to weigh out all the options and collect as much proof evidence of our genuine relationship. I love him very much and want to be able to build our lives together here in Vancouver.

Seems like a pretty common situation? Well... also to add in some unfortunate side note that I hope won't affect our application. His Italian driver's license was suspended for a DUI in Nov 2011. However, he obtained an International driver's license in Oct 2011 before the suspension because we knew we were going to come to Canada in December. So since December, he has been driving a car registered under my dad's name but him as the primary driver. There was no problem getting the insurance papers using his Italian passport and citizenship card. So would this be considered driving without a license even though he had already obtained an International license? This was a very sticky situation for me as I could not discuss this with my parents.

I think we are leaning more towards an outland sponsorship. I will probably send in my papers as soon as late May or early June. After that it all depends whether he will go back to Europe to wait out the process and whilst he could work and earn some money or wait until he's called for an interview to travel back to Italy. As for me, I need to be able to prove I have stable income but at the same time prove that we are living together. So another question is that, once I send in the sponsorship papers for Step 1 approval, which would take max (current waiting time) 55 days, should I stay here for at least a few more months to work for financial evidence support or go back to Italy with him and stay with him?

I know there were many points and questions in my post but I am really in a pickle and really hope that there is a high possibility of a smooth processing when we apply. Please let me know if you need more facts to back up my situation or to be able answer some of my questions. Thank you so much!

 

[justtryingtohelp]

Hi Jojo1972,

I`ve used this forum a lot as a lurker to help with my application so I figure you deserve a reply after posting a few days ago.

Firstly, you really need to invest more time in reading the application package and guidelines before you go any further, for both sponsor and applicant. It is really worth the time because sponsoring someone even if you think it`s straightforward is a big undertaking!

When you read the guide you`ll see that you don`t qualify as a common-law relationship. In order for this to be true you must have been living together continuously for at least 12 months, and you haven`t even been in a relationship that long. To prove that you must provide leases with both names, affidavits from who you rented from (or parents I suppose) stating that this is true. So even if your relationship is extremely genuine, he will get rejected.

Also, when sponsoring a spouse or common-law partner there is no financial requirement. They certainly ask questions about your employment and you must submit a tax form (option-c printout) but it is only necessary if you are planning on living in Quebec.

I don`t know anything about the criminal stuff as it wasn`t a problem in my case. But I`m certain there`s a place on the form that asks about arrests or convictions. I don`t know how important that is to approval though....

I hope that helps. Don`t get ahead of yourself, read through everything, look at your options and plan it out properly.

There is the working holiday program which allows young people from Italy to work and live in Canada for 6 months which might be of interest! (international experience Canada for citizens of Italy)

Good luck!