Work history and Marital status questions

[Kaa2020]

Hi everybody.

I'm putting together all the documentation to submit the citizenship application and while going through it I've come across a few questions I am unsure how to answer.

Some background information:
I arrived in Canada (BC) in September 2005 with a Student Visa. I enrolled on a program at BCIT that had a practicum component, which allowed me to apply for a work permit. The firm I worked for during my practicum sponsored me and through the Provincial Nominee Program I got my PR in August 15th, 2009. During the PR process I applied for and received a work permit to continue working at that firm while my application was being processed.

Now I want to apply for citizenship. I could have applied some time ago, but I've been procrastinating... shame on me.

1.- Work History : All my work experience in Canada has been with this firm, where I still am currently employed. I was on contract until beginning of 2008, then I applied for PR and I became a Full-Time employee (before getting the PR card).
Section 6F says list work and education for the last 4 years. What should I exactly write here? They asked for the last 4 years, so should I write Feb 13th, 2010 - Present, since I become a Full-time employee or from the very beginning when I started as a practicum student?

2.- Marital status: Common-Law: My Canadian girlfriend and I have been living together for two years now. I think that qualifies for Common-law, but I have never declared this status.
Do I need to choose Common-law or I can say single?
If I pick Common-Law, I will have to add the Statutory Declaration of Common-Law, correct?

3.-Passport Photocopy: My Passport was issued on Dec 30, 2009. I do not need to find the previous passport, do I?

I think that's it for now.

Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[chakrab]

1. work history - write the date when you started working, doesn't matter if it's full-time or part-time. shows that you have been employed in whatever capacity for a while, and it also matches the letter you submit from the employer.

2. marriage status - unless you consider yourself to be common-law spouses, you are still single. don't quote me on it, but just staying together doesn't qualify you to be common-law couple. you need to have joint accounts, file taxes together, have rental agreements and/or utility bills together, etc. there are more responsibilities involved than just the status on form. so if you are not 100% sure of it between the two of you (i don't mean relationship wise, but legal wise), keep it to single.

3. you may need photocopies from your old passport to show when you first landed in canada. that stamp is very important. i am not sure how big of a deal it may be not to submit it, but you may be asked about it at a later date

 

[chakrab]

now that i read your comment the second time..

you got your PR in august 2009 and your new passport was issued in december 2009. where is your entry stamp for PR and the landing document? i am guessing they are in the older passport. so you will need to provide the photocopies of those as well.

 

[Leon]

If you are common law, you should write common law.

However, marital status is to no importance for a citizenship application and if you look at the document checklist at the end of the application form, they are not asking you for a statutory declaration.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

2.- Marital status: Common-Law: My Canadian girlfriend and I have been living together for two years now. I think that qualifies for Common-law, but I have never declared this status.

You aren't required to declare or register to become officially common-law; after living together for one year, you became common-law. You and your partner should both change your status with Canada Revenue Agency, as filing taxes as single when you are actually common-law is a big no-no and may end up causing you guys some trouble down the line with the taxman.

2. marriage status - unless you consider yourself to be common-law spouses, you are still single. don't quote me on it, but just staying together doesn't qualify you to be common-law couple.

Common-law is a legal status, not a label that a person can choose to apply to their relationship. CIC defines common-law as having lived together in a conjugal relationship for at least one year. Having lived together for 2 years, OP and partner are most definitely common-law.

 

[rayman_m]

I just found new application (Feb-2014) Q6.F requires work/education documents for last 4 years to be submitted with application. But, if the applicant has meanings of earning like Investment, Rental Income etc (kind of self-employed) and thus under "Work/Education" and "Employer" what information and what kind of work documents to be provided not clear.

Tax assessment is the only documents for self income people to support and to proof that the person is not under unemployed or receiving social assistance etc..

Any one has any thoughts on this.. Thanks..

 

[chakrab]

Common-law is a legal status, not a label that a person can choose to apply to their relationship. CIC defines common-law as having lived together in a conjugal relationship for at least one year. Having lived together for 2 years, OP and partner are most definitely common-law.

I am curious what's the difference between roommates and common-law partners then. Wouldn't one need to have a proven conjugal relationship, like we both mentioned, by filing taxes together, having joint accounts, joint bills, etc. I looked into it once and was adviced that two individuals need to live like "common-law" couples to get federal benefits, tax reliefs, etc. One can't just claim to be common-law by staying together for certain period.

mind you, am looking at the issue from a different view as in spousal benefits than filling for citizenship. i agree with you about the timeline, but it's also suppose to be more than just timeline.

 

[Kaa2020]

1. work history - write the date when you started working, doesn't matter if it's full-time or part-time. shows that you have been employed in whatever capacity for a while, and it also matches the letter you submit from the employer.

Do I need to submit a letter from my employer? It's not a problem to get it, but could you tell me where it says it is required?

Regarding the work history dates, I was thinking to write from the date of the last contract I signed with this firm: April 2010-PRESENT, which I think satisfies the 4 years work history required. Prior to that from August 2006 I've gone through different employment status (CO-OP, contract employee) using different work visas (CO-OP mostly and for the last 8 months before becoming PR a work permit issued while waiting for my PR status). I find that period of time a bit messy, that's why I would like to use April 2010-PRESENT. However, I'd like to know what you guys think about this.

2. marriage status - unless you consider yourself to be common-law spouses, you are still single. don't quote me on it, but just staying together doesn't qualify you to be common-law couple. you need to have joint accounts, file taxes together, have rental agreements and/or utility bills together, etc. there are more responsibilities involved than just the status on form. so if you are not 100% sure of it between the two of you (i don't mean relationship wise, but legal wise), keep it to single.

I know we are common-law and it would not be a problem to prove it if need be as we purchased our place together, we have insurance together, joint account, etc. Just wanted to know if it was necessary to disclose or not, as I thought that doing it would require more paper work.

3. you may need photocopies from your old passport to show when you first landed in canada. that stamp is very important. i am not sure how big of a deal it may be not to submit it, but you may be asked about it at a later date

The instruction guide says: "Provide photocopies of the biographical pages of all passports and/or travel documents (valid and cancelled) for the relevant four (4) year period immediately preceding the date of your application"
I am not sure if I still have my previous passport, which is the one I had when I entered Canada first time and the one I used when I became PR. I renewed my passport in Dec 2009, which is longer than 4 years ago. I have not seen anywhere in the guide that it is required to include photocopies of the pages with the entry stamp for PR, only the Record of Landing (IMM 1000) or the Confirmation of Permanent Residence (IMM 5292 or IMM 5688).

 

[chakrab]

1. You should provide an employment letter if you wish to avoid RQ. people have submitted employment letters and NOA for the 4 years to provide better support of their residency claims. if you just write the employer name on the application without any supporting documents, you will be asked for it later.

If you check 6F in the form, it does ask you to provide photocopies of your work records.

Also I have seen people been asked about the documents during the interview process.

2. Don't worry about the marriage status. It's only an option for this application. Choose the one you feel honestly. You don't need supporting documents for marriage status. Unless you wish to apply the clause you were out of country with a Canadian spouse for his/her work related trip. That counts towards your residency days in some cases.

3. The stamp may not be required for the application, but again, I have seen, that it is asked for in the interview. May not be a big deal for the application, but I would advice you to find it.

 

[chakrab]

oh and April 2010-PRESENT is fine. (put that date in the employment letter though)

 

[canuck_in_uk]

I am curious what's the difference between roommates and common-law partners then. Wouldn't one need to have a proven conjugal relationship, like we both mentioned, by filing taxes together, having joint accounts, joint bills, etc. I looked into it once and was adviced that two individuals need to live like "common-law" couples to get federal benefits, tax reliefs, etc. One can't just claim to be common-law by staying together for certain period.

mind you, am looking at the issue from a different view as in spousal benefits than filling for citizenship. i agree with you about the timeline, but it's also suppose to be more than just timeline.

It's a fine line.

Even if they share all bills, lease agreement, etc., roommates aren't in a conjugal relationship, i.e. sharing a room, a bed, a physical relationship. They could quite easily claim they are common-law when they aren't. It would be almost impossible to disprove, as the Canadian government isn't very interested in wandering into people's bedrooms to disprove such a relationship. I know some platonic roommates that have changed their status to common-law with their health care, saved them a few hundred bucks a year.

A legitimate couple can live together, have their own accounts, have the lease or mortgage all in one person's name, receive their mail to their own individual post office boxes, etc. but still be common-law.

Without such evidence, it is harder to prove that they are common-law but immigration is pretty much the only agency that does require proof. A person can change their status with CRA or add a common-law partner to their provincial health plan without having to submit any proof that they are actually in a common-law relationship.

 

[rayman_m]

1. You should provide an employment letter if you wish to avoid RQ. people have submitted employment letters and NOA for the 4 years to provide better support of their residency claims. if you just write the employer name on the application without any supporting documents, you will be asked for it later.

If you check 6F in the form, it does ask you to provide photocopies of your work records.

Also I have seen people been asked about the documents during the interview process.

2. Don't worry about the marriage status. It's only an option for this application. Choose the one you feel honestly. You don't need supporting documents for marriage status. Unless you wish to apply the clause you were out of country with a Canadian spouse for his/her work related trip. That counts towards your residency days in some cases.

3. The stamp may not be required for the application, but again, I have seen, that it is asked for in the interview. May not be a big deal for the application, but I would advice you to find it.

As per CIC agent, applicants who is "Self-Employed/Investment/Rental Income" for them work record will be last 4 year Tax Assessment copies as an evidence of Income and residency..

 

[Kaa2020]

Thanks for your help Chakrab.

1. You should provide an employment letter if you wish to avoid RQ. people have submitted employment letters and NOA for the 4 years to provide better support of their residency claims. if you just write the employer name on the application without any supporting documents, you will be asked for it later.

If you check 6F in the form, it does ask you to provide photocopies of your work records.

I'll ask HR to provide a letter stating I've been at my current position since April 2010. It'd be nice that the instruction guide mentioned these details...
Should I include a copy of my contract?

I can't find in section 6F anything about providing photocopies of work records. Could it be the form has been updated and that has been changed? or am I blind?

 

[Rigly68]

I just found new application (Feb-2014) Q6.F requires work/education documents for last 4 years to be submitted with application. But, if the applicant has meanings of earning like Investment, Rental Income etc (kind of self-employed) and thus under "Work/Education" and "Employer" what information and what kind of work documents to be provided not clear.

I am trying to find that requirement in the application, document checklist or "gather documents guide" but it doesn't say ask for work documentation - only for education documentation

 

[rayman_m]

I am trying to find that requirement in the application, document checklist or "gather documents guide" but it doesn't say ask for work documentation - only for education documentation

New application form (02-2014 version) under 6.F added these new requirements..