In a Year I'm applying for Common Law, What should I get now?

[Zprime]

Hi Guys,

In a nut shell, Been with Common Law for a year already, Have almost enough proof ( No Joined Bank accounts or Insurance though, and no proof of Rent ).

In a year from now I'm applying for Common Law, So far I've got the following.

* Joined Insurance Policy ( Started a Week Ago )
* Joined Bank Account ( Started a Week Ago )
* We are moving into a place together in the next few months and will be signing a joined lease
* We are also documenting our bills so they both come to the same address
* We are getting lots of photos together
* We also have about 10 Documents from Friends signed and dated saying they've known us for a year already and we've always lived here and have been in a Common Law Relationship
* I have emails from the past 8 years we've been dating ( Online ), As well as love notes, Valentines day cards, photos of birthdays ect

Is there anything else I should get that might help me with my chances next year?

Thanks

- Paul

[Love_Young]

Joint tax returns, next of kin for hospital/doctor, and declaration of common-law union is others I can think to recommend. Now the next of kin thing for the hospital records isn't really common law proof (unless they list you as so on forms) but I think nobody would add a random person to contact in an emergency. Also, wills are things to look into as well. Don't do all this evidence though for immigration. Its good to plan but don't make it your main priority. You could have all the evidence in the world and still be fake. So as long as you can prove that you have established a common law relationship over the course of a year and its genuine, you will be good. I didn't apply common law, we almost did until we decided that marriage was something we wanted more. But you can also include not just bills but any mail that you both received addressed together. We did that.

[Zprime]

Thanks for the advice.

We are 100% Common Law and committed to being so I just wanted to have as much proof as possible so there's no chance of denial.

[AllisonVSC]

Check the OP 2 Processing manual specifically sections 5.25 and 5.26 for ideas of what they are looking for in assessing your evidence. Try to get evidence in each of the "inter-dependencies".

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/manuals/op/op02-eng.pdf

Ask friends and family to send you letters or cards over the course of the year addressed to both of you (envelope and letter/card). Be sure some of those pictures include the two of you doing stuff with your friends and family.

It can take several months to pull together a good application, so download the forms and read the guide (once or twice!). Figure out what you can do well in advance and get those parts done (like plowing through old emails to see which are good to use as evidence). It will feel less overwhelming if you can plan and organize without the time pressure.