Where Do I Live??

[Alexisjane]

Hello,
I am beginning the sponsorship process of bringing my "common law" husband from Costa Rica to Canada (doing it alone and not with the aid of a lawyer) but the problem is that I spend about 1/2 my time in Costa Rica living with him, and 1/2 my time in Canada with my family. Do I qualify for the sponsorship/Visa program? Also, when filling out the application form for the Visa, do I list myself as being a Canadian resident or am I a Canadian citizen living outside the country? We both plan to move permanently to Canada when and if his Visa is granted.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
Much thanks!

 

[rhcohen2014]

yes, you can apply to sponsor your partner assuming you are a canadian citizen or pr.

where your residency is depends on where you are currently living and working. Are you currently not living in canada and working in another country? then you put that country as your residence. if you are simply visiting,not living and working abroad, maintain residence in canada and pay canadian taxes, then you are living in canada. it's really quite simple.

if you are not currently living in canada, cic will ask you to prove intent to return upon approval, so be prepared to show significant proof of this. if you are living somehwere else, and plan to move back soon then you need to specify this and show proof of settlement in canada.

 

[tink23]

If it were me, I'd say Canadian resident. Since it is 50/50, I'd assume you're only out of Canada for 6 months at a time, which means that you don't even lose your health care coverage. If you work in Canada, hen definitely I'd say Canadian resident.

 

[Rob_TO]

Hello,
I am beginning the sponsorship process of bringing my "common law" husband from Costa Rica to Canada (doing it alone and not with the aid of a lawyer) but the problem is that I spend about 1/2 my time in Costa Rica living with him, and 1/2 my time in Canada with my family. Do I qualify for the sponsorship/Visa program? Also, when filling out the application form for the Visa, do I list myself as being a Canadian resident or am I a Canadian citizen living outside the country? We both plan to move permanently to Canada when and if his Visa is granted.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
Much thanks!

To be common-law you need to have lived together for 12 continuous months, with no breaks inbetween.
So if for example you always spent 6 months with him then 6 months back in Canada without him, and did this over many years, that would not qualify you.

 

[Ponga]

Good point Rob_TO.

Sadly, it would appear that the OP in fact does NOT qualify as a Common-Law partner.