+1(514) 937-9445 or Toll-free (Canada & US) +1 (888) 947-9445

statutory declaration of common law union

al53

Full Member
Jun 7, 2013
33
0
Is it really necessary to include this form for common law because on the CIC site they clearly state this:
This form must be completed and signed by the sponsor and common-law partner, only if the latter is a co-signer on the application

There are no co-signers for us but I hear sometimes the form is requested if not submitted but could it be it is only requested from those who had co-signer but did not submit it??
 

canadianwoman

VIP Member
Nov 6, 2009
6,200
284
Category........
Visa Office......
Accra, Ghana
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
30-01-2008
Interview........
05-05-2009
Someone sponsoring their spouse or common-law or conjugal partner can never have a co-signer, so technically this form is not needed. However, some visa officers want it anyway, and if it was not sent in with the application, processing will be delayed

So I would just fill out the form, get it notarized, and send it in with the application. If the visa officer does not want it, it will not hurt the application to have included it.
 

al53

Full Member
Jun 7, 2013
33
0
alright, thanks will submit but see another confusion now which hope someone can solve

together 12 months but we continue to stay together BUT the app words it like this


... solemnly declare that we have cohabited in a conjugal relationship for ________ continuous yrs from ______ to ________

if you enter for 1 year then it seems I would need to make the from and to match 1 year in time for it to make sense truth is will be continuing to cohabit much longer
 

profiler

VIP Member
Aug 10, 2016
9,456
2,846
Category........
Visa Office......
CPC-Mississauga
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
02-MAR-2016
AOR Received.
13-MAY-2016
IELTS Request
Upfront
Med's Request
Upfront; Passed
Interview........
Waived
LANDED..........
05-MAY-2017
From CIC IP-8 (pg 44):
In the case of a common-law partner, documentary evidence should include
 a completed Spouse/Common-law Partner Questionnaire (IMM5285) (included in the application package)
 a statutory declaration of common-law relationship (included in the application package);
 proof of separation from a former spouse if either the sponsor or the applicant were previously married; and evidence that they have been living together for at least one year (e.g. documents showing the same address for both).

Evidence may also include
 documents from other institutions or other government authorities, such as the Canada Revenue Agency, that indicate a marital or common-law relationship;
 documents indicating joint ownership of property (mortgages, leases);
 joint bank accounts; and
 insurance policies.
 

canadianwoman

VIP Member
Nov 6, 2009
6,200
284
Category........
Visa Office......
Accra, Ghana
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
30-01-2008
Interview........
05-05-2009
For the statutory declaration, I would put the date from when you moved in together until the date when you signed the form and got it notarized. If this is a bit more than one year, putting 'one year' is fine. If it is more, try putting 'one and a half years' or whatever.
 

Ponga

VIP Member
Oct 22, 2013
10,408
1,464
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
Just keep in mind that the date that you `entered into a common-law relationship', is on the 366th day of living together, NOT the first day that you moved in together.
 

Sous02

Hero Member
Jul 25, 2015
972
59
Category........
Visa Office......
warsaw
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
18-04-16
Doc's Request.
22-08-2016
AOR Received.
06-05-16
File Transfer...
28-05-16
Med's Done....
Up front/passed
Interview........
Waived
Passport Req..
10-10-2016
VISA ISSUED...
17-10-2016
LANDED..........
02-11-2016
canadianwoman said:
For the statutory declaration, I would put the date from when you moved in together until the date when you signed the form and got it notarized. If this is a bit more than one year, putting 'one year' is fine. If it is more, try putting 'one and a half years' or whatever.
Some people write in ink the word present just to avoid any questions. Welcome to the wonderful world of cic documents. :)
 

al53

Full Member
Jun 7, 2013
33
0
Ponga said:
Just keep in mind that the date that you `entered into a common-law relationship', is on the 366th day of living together, NOT the first day that you moved in together.
I think you are wrong about that because the question is how long have lived in a conjugal relationship (not the date you became common law)
 

canadianwoman

VIP Member
Nov 6, 2009
6,200
284
Category........
Visa Office......
Accra, Ghana
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
30-01-2008
Interview........
05-05-2009
For this particular form, the date you put as the beginning is the date you moved in together. Otherwise the form does not make sense.

For all other questions on the immigration forms, the date you became 'common-law' means one year after you started living together.
 

Ponga

VIP Member
Oct 22, 2013
10,408
1,464
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
al53 said:
I think you are wrong about that because the question is how long have lived in a conjugal relationship (not the date you became common law)
Sorry, I meant for the part in the application that asks when you entered into your common-law relationship.
 

al53

Full Member
Jun 7, 2013
33
0
Thank you Canadian Woman, Ponga and everyone, this has helped.. I checked my application forms and in fact did make the error of stating our move in date as the date for entering common law! corrected now