How long can I leave my partner not to interrup a common-law relationship?

[reservoirdog]

Hi everyone,
I have been living with my girlfriend for the last 2 months and, in a few months, I would like to go back home to visit my family for a while.
How long could i stay stay there for? The CIC website says:

You are a common-law partner—either of the opposite sex or same sex—if:
you have been living together in a conjugal relationship for at least one year in a continuous 12-month period that was not interrupted. (You are allowed short absences for business travel or family reasons, however.)

Does anyone know how short the absence can be?

Thank you,
- Rob

[PMM]

Hi

Hi everyone,
I have been living with my girlfriend for the last 2 months and, in a few months, I would like to go back home to visit my family for a while.
How long could i stay stay there for? The CIC website says:

Does anyone know how short the absence can be?

Thank you,
- Rob

I wouldn't push more then 2/3 weeks maybe a month.

[reservoirdog]

Thank you for replying..
That's what I was thinking about, I don't think they'd allow more than 3 weeks.

Did anyone experienced this situation before?

[sidkrose]

I did a lot of research on this before we applied and I think that somewhere between 2 and 3 weeks is about the limit. 4 weeks would be pushing it. Just be sure to stress that you went home for a "short visit" but that you were still planning to live with your partner and had a permanent address with your partner etc.

[reservoirdog]

Thank you sidkrose.
I am also wondering: what type of proofs I should hold on to while I'm here, in order to prove our common-law relationship?
I'm already receiving mail at my girlfriend's place. We have also opened a joined bank account. Is there something else I could do?

Another question is: my girlfriend is currently in University. After one year, will she be able to sponsor me without a job, but proving we have a place to stay?

Thank you

- Rob

[Baloo]

Get your name on the bills that she (and you) pay at that address.

[sidkrose]

Thank you sidkrose.
I am also wondering: what type of proofs I should hold on to while I'm here, in order to prove our common-law relationship?
I'm already receiving mail at my girlfriend's place. We have also opened a joined bank account. Is there something else I could do?

Another question is: my girlfriend is currently in University. After one year, will she be able to sponsor me without a job, but proving we have a place to stay?

Thank you

- Rob

Hi

As proof of common-law we sent in two tenancy agreements, proof that he was my beneficiary on my RRSP, proof that I had declared our relationship to Revenue Canada and my bank, official mail (such as banking) addressed to our common address, plenty of mail from friends and family addressed to one or both of us at the same address. about 8 declaration letters from friends saying we were common-law and 4 notarized letters from 2 friends and 2 family members and the Declaration of Common-Law Union form. In addition we submitted a few emails that proved we were living together (talking about getting groceries, when we would be home from work, plans for the weekend).

Obviously you will have some different proof, but be thorough, whatever you submit.

As for income, you do not have to be employed, but you do have to show you can support yourselves (living with family/savings/looking for jobs etc).

[reservoirdog]

Thank you all for the tips!

Edit:
I just have one more question actually, how did you declare your common-law relationship to a bank? Sounds a bit weird

[sidkrose]

Oh, I belong to scotiabank and usually banks ask for your marital status so I just updated them that I was common-law. Then when I asked for a statement of my funds, they gave me a document that showed all my funds with them, plus my relevant personal information (name, dob, marital status, etc). I expect most banks would be able to do the same.