would this be a problem in establishing we're common law?

[aerogurl87]

My boyfriend and I are planning to apply as common law partners next year. We want to apply in March since that's when I moved to be with him and we started living together. The problem now is that his parents are refusing to write us a letter that says we lived together for the first two months that we lived at their house. We both paid rent which they used as proof of their income so they could get a new house, but they wont give us any receipts or anything. I dont want this to jeporadize our application, so any advice? And we already have other poeple to vouch for us living together then.

 

[ppmmwanm]

hi, the common-law means you and your boyfriend must live together at least one year since you apply PR.And you need to provide some evidence to show both of you have the same home address.(like bill, insurance,etc)
It doesn't matter his parents to write something for you.
If your boyfriend is a Canada person, and he is 19+, and he could sponsor you under common-law sponsorship.
by the way, i apply common-law either, and we also live with my bf parents. Fortunately, we do not need to pay them. So when we applied, in our common-law union, the lawyer just wrote we do not have joint house, explain that.

 

[aerogurl87]

Awesome! We do have bills showing we lived at the same address and everything. Thats giid to know.

 

[canadianwoman]

What kind of proof do you have that you were living together for the first two months? What kind of bills? It is far easier to get approved if you have hard evidence such as utility bills in both names and a lease in both names.

 

[aerogurl87]

What kind of proof do you have that you were living together for the first two months? What kind of bills? It is far easier to get approved if you have hard evidence such as utility bills in both names and a lease in both names.

We have a joint bank account that we set up and it lists the address, car insurance bills, and my shipping receipts for me.sending my stuff to his parents house. Oh and its on the copy of both of our old health care cards listing the same address.

 

[aerogurl87]

Oh and I have old check receipts from my job that are addressed to that address as well and so foes he. I just wish his parents were'nt being jerks. They just asked us to house sit for them too and his dad wants to borrow $200 but eont help us out with this.

 

[sidkrose]

I think you do have quite a bit of evidence, you should be fine, even without a letter from his parents. Another thing that you could do would be to sign the Declaration of Common Law Union form in front of a notary or similar. I know if says only if you have a co-signer, but lots of common law couples on here include it as extra evidence. We did!

Why won't his parents write a letter? Have you tried just writing one and asking them to sign it? They may be more inclined if they don't have to do anything except sign? If you paid them rent, you could also show electronic money transfers or checks to them if you paid them that way.

 

[aerogurl87]

I think you do have quite a bit of evidence, you should be fine, even without a letter from his parents. Another thing that you could do would be to sign the Declaration of Common Law Union form in front of a notary or similar. I know if says only if you have a co-signer, but lots of common law couples on here include it as extra evidence. We did!

Why won't his parents write a letter? Have you tried just writing one and asking them to sign it? They may be more inclined if they don't have to do anything except sign? If you paid them rent, you could also show electronic money transfers or checks to them if you paid them that way.

We paid in cash since they wouldn't take money orders or anything. And they won't write it because his dad doesn't want people to know they were ok with us living in their house together without being married. Although almost everyone now knows we did.

 

[sidkrose]

The other thing you could do is simply explain that if you really think it will be an issue, or if they ask for more proof of you two being common law. Personally, I think you will probably be fine without a letter or explanation, as long as you include all the evidence you mentioned (joint bank, letters to same address etc).

If they do ask for more info, or you really think it will be an issue, I would find someone reputable (doctor, clergy, judge, politician, etc) that know you two were living there together, get them to write a notarized letter stating that. Then, if you still feel your application is lacking, write an explanation of how the parents feel (just what you told us here). It is likely they will understand.

 

[aerogurl87]

The other thing you could do is simply explain that if you really think it will be an issue, or if they ask for more proof of you two being common law. Personally, I think you will probably be fine without a letter or explanation, as long as you include all the evidence you mentioned (joint bank, letters to same address etc).

If they do ask for more info, or you really think it will be an issue, I would find someone reputable (doctor, clergy, judge, politician, etc) that know you two were living there together, get them to write a notarized letter stating that. Then, if you still feel your application is lacking, write an explanation of how the parents feel (just what you told us here). It is likely they will understand.

Thabks for the advice. His pastor snd our doctor does know we were living together then, so I may try to get one of them to write a notarized letter for us. And I will definitely include sn explanation of everything with my application.