Living with boyfriend's family, good or bad?

[HappyMel]

I came to see my boyfriend from the UK. I am a dual citizen with the UK and the US and 19 years old. He is born and raised in Quebec and 21 years old. He lives with his family and goes to work everyday, pays rent. The family is a very very nice family and supports us 100%. I sent a visa extension a while back and it got refused due to lack of proof of funds. So I sent in another one with more proof of funds that his family could support me. My boyfriend has a part-time job so he does not have enough money to show he can care for me. Before I sent off the visa extension, I also typed out a letter saying his family is supporting me and such. My boyfriend and his father signed it.

Now, if things go okay with that, we were hoping to get married soon and apply for a sponsorship. But I'm not entirely sure how to show were real. Could letters from the family living in the home and even his Grandparents help? Since we live with his family, neither one of us could show were paying for anything large like cars or appliances or linked bank accounts. What other things asside from photos and letters would suffice? We do plan on moving out to start our own life when all this smooths over and I can also work..which isnt very soon.

[mm]

Hi HappyMel,

I was in a very similar situation myself, I`m 19 and living with my now husband and his family in Canada. Because of our age, we didn`t have proof like joint bank accounts or house ownership and still all turned out well for us =). I think that the support letters can definitely help, especially when your bf`s relatives stress the fact that you`re all living together, you see each other every day and describe the activities you enjoy doing together, for example my sister-in-law mentioned going out for double dates with her bf, my husband and me, doing aerobics... little things like that...I think its important that the officers will see that your bf`s family are genuinly happy to have you there...
you could also include letters from your family, saying whether they`ve met your bf, whether they approve of your relationship...

apart from letters and photos we sent in flight tickets, tons of e-mails and chat history, ..anything that shows contact between the two of you throughout the lenght of your relationship. also, if there`s anything that you`re afraid the officers might have doubts about, better explain it in an attached letter, like the absence of common bills or anything that they might misunderstand

I`m not sure I can help you with the visa extension, I only applied for it after the wedding (I think that when they see you`ve applied for sponsorship they`ll be more willing) and still I haven`t heard from the office about that matter, but hopefully my case will be finalized before my visa expires.. sending in the proof of financial support from your bf`s family is definitely a good idea though :)

I wish you good luck with staying with your love :)

[HappyMel]

Oh wow. Thank you for the nice feedback. It's good to see someone else in the same shoes as me. This makes me feel a lot better about the situation!

[jdwhite21]

This is a good thread... very useful.
Thank you both for your input as it has helped a great deal. I am also 20 and my husband and I live with my parents at the moment because we do not have a lot of money at the moment and we do not have things like joint bank accounts/bills/ectc.
I am also relieved about our situation knowing others go through the same thing.

[joseph23]

hi everyone!
I came here in canada as a live-in caregiver last august 2007 and worked for my first employer for 10 months and unemployed for 3 months , worked again for my second employer for 3 months and now waiting for my work permit for my third employer.  i met my canadian boyfriend last november 2007 and i moved in with him last january 2008.  even if i work as a live in caregiver , he will sleep in my employers house and when my off day i will go to our place.  my question is , is he allowed to sponsor me as a common law partner ? we were together for 16 months now , we have joint accounts and all our expenses are joint together , sending money to philippines are also joint , we have home mortgage both of our names.   I am enganged to him for one year now but I cant get married because I am married in the Philippines but separated for 5 years now.  Please give me advice what to do in this matter because he want to sponsor me  so that I can go home to our place even on work days