Common-Law Sponsorship - Need advice before going to lawyer

[Jordan17]

Hello,

I could not find someone on any thread who had the same situation as me.

I want to sponsor my girlfriend as a common-law partner. I am a Canadian Citizen and she is a British Citizen. We want to move to Canada this summer to live and work.

The situation is this:
We DO NOT live together on paper because we both work in the U.A.E. where it is illegal for a man and woman to live together unmarried or even open a joint bank account. We live in company provided accommodation in adjacent apartments.
In reality WE DO live together and have for almost 2 years. All our belongings are in one apartment, we share a car, all our friends and family know us as living together. And I'm confident we can provide proof of a strong, binding relationship.


Do you think there is any way IRCC would understand this relationship as being Common-Law?

Thank you for any light you can shed on my situation. My next move is to hire an immigration lawyer for her who might be able to suggest other options.

 

[jddd]

Providing proof of a strong and binding relationship is one element in assessing the sponsorship but...

You will still need to prove the living together part. Letters from family and friends usually do not work for proving cohabitation especially if they do not reside in the same country as you do.

If you have strong and indisputable evidence of living together for a year, then proceed with the sponsorship.

 

[smallcoffee]

Get married or have concrete bulletproof evidence that you live together.

Edit: A lawyer cannot really help you, they have no power over IRCC.

 

[zardoz]

Hello,

I could not find someone on any thread who had the same situation as me.

I want to sponsor my girlfriend as a common-law partner. I am a Canadian Citizen and she is a British Citizen. We want to move to Canada this summer to live and work.

The situation is this:
We DO NOT live together on paper because we both work in the U.A.E. where it is illegal for a man and woman to live together unmarried or even open a joint bank account. We live in company provided accommodation in adjacent apartments.
In reality WE DO live together and have for almost 2 years. All our belongings are in one apartment, we share a car, all our friends and family know us as living together. And I'm confident we can provide proof of a strong, binding relationship.


Do you think there is any way IRCC would understand this relationship as being Common-Law?

Thank you for any light you can shed on my situation. My next move is to hire an immigration lawyer for her who might be able to suggest other options.

All you can do is try as "common-law" or legally marry.
I doubt that there is any chance of success using the "Conjugal Partner" path instead, as you are both visa-exempt to each other's home countries.