About to send our PR Package with OWP US-CAD common law.

[Chroniverous]

Hey guys, we have finally made the 1 year mark for me to sponsor my girlfriend through common law. She is a US citizen.

We have put the package together and will be finalizing it before sending it in tomorrow.

I just have a few questions maybe I could get an answer.

We want to make sure we have more than enough proving our relationship so this is what we have:
-20 photos including the both of us, and family members that we have either printed or collected from facebook including comments and relationship statuses from us.
-Our joint bank account information (only opened the joint account in the past few months)
-Our joint cell phone plans (not dated back a full year but the past few months)
-Our joint lease agreement for our home
-Two sheets showing her as having full 100% of my life insurance as the beneficiary
-The statutory declaration of common law union
-Full paypal printouts for the past year showing me sending money to her through paypal, then from her paypal to her bank so she can pay for her vehicle loan and credit card
-Her bank account history
-A photocopy of her temporary BC license

Is this going to be enough proof? Some of the stuff doesn't go back a full year and we are worried about getting denied.

Can someone provide some insight to this? I have heard that US-Canadian relationships aren't very proof burdened, but you never know.

Thanks in advanced! This forum has helped us with a lot of questions already but we just want to be prepared!

 

[Ponga]

One small flaw in your plan...

You should have prepared the Outland application, since you would have likely completed the entire process in ~ 6 months or less, albeit without the OWP...which takes ~4 months alone to receive!


Good luck!

 

[Chroniverous]

One small flaw in your plan...

You should have prepared the Outland application, since you would have likely completed the entire process in ~ 6 months or less, albeit without the OWP...which takes ~4 months alone to receive!


Good luck!

Yes but if we apply outland then she would have to travel back to the US to do an interview if asked no? And at that point border services could deny her coming back right? Im not worried about the length it takes to receive the open work permit, im more worried about not being able to be with my partner.

 

[Ponga]

The chances of an interview for applicants from the U.S., seems to be extremely low. Based on the information that you initially provided, I'd say your chances are even lower.

1. If she applies Inland, she is strongly cautioned NOT to leave Canada (even for a day), because if she is refused re-entry, the application is toast.

2. She can probably remain in Canada during the processing of an Outland application, since she can submit it from within Canada (which confuses many people) and can then simply apply to extend her visitor status (do it online one day before her status expires), citing that a Spousal Sponsorship application has been submitted. She will have what is called Implied Status, while she awaits an answer on the extension, which allows her to legally remain in Canada. The extension (for a U.S. citizen) is almost always guaranteed. Check out the Outland U.S. thread here for more info.

If she submits an Outland application and wants to leave Canada and is (somehow) refused re-entry, it does NOT impact the Outland application; it continues to be processed.

I strongly urge you to at least consider the Outland application.

 

[kcward7]

Outland on visa is exactly what we did and my husband has been with me the whole time

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Apply outland. There is pretty much no chance of an inteview and the app would most likely be done around the time that she would get the OWP with inland.

All you need to do to change to outland is to change your answer on section 4 of the checklist.

 

[spousalsponsee]

I agree with everyone else. Outland is a much better idea. It gives you the option of being in or out of Canada (inland you have to stay in Canada), and is quicker. A well-evidenced first world app is very unlikely to have a relationship interview.

 

[Chroniverous]

If she needs to do an interview where would she have to go? We only worry because we cant afford to fly anywhere in the US currently, especially with only Me currently working.

Also when I check the processing times on the website is says outland sponsorship for the US is 12 months anyways :S

 

[canuck_in_uk]

If she needs to do an interview where would she have to go? We only worry because we cant afford to fly anywhere in the US currently, especially with only Me currently working.

Also when I check the processing times on the website is says outland sponsorship for the US is 12 months anyways :S

The chances of an interview for a common-law Canadian-American couple are so ridiculously low that you shouldn't even factor that into your decision.

The posted processing times are not averages. If you look at the Ottawa threads/spreadsheets, you will see the average is actually around 4-6 months. Many apps are approved in even less time than that.

 

[Chroniverous]

Well ok, we appreciate everyone taking the time to provide more information. Do we need to change the entire application then or just that one box, because it also asks if we are living together, do we say that we are still living together, but just click the box that says outland application?

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Well ok, we appreciate everyone taking the time to provide more information. Do we need to change the entire application then or just that one box, because it also asks if we are living together, do we say that we are still living together, but just click the box that says outland application?

You just change that one box. Yes, you are still living together and she should only be listing her Canadian address in the app.

 

[Chroniverous]

Thank you Canuck! Hopefully it all goes well, the only stress we have now is our joint bank account and joint cell phone account only go back a few months. We didn't realize we could open those up without her being a resident Could this cause an issue for us, or should we put a post it on the papers for those stating why they do not go back a full year?

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Thank you Canuck! Hopefully it all goes well, the only stress we have now is our joint bank account and joint cell phone account only go back a few months. We didn't realize we could open those up without her being a resident Could this cause an issue for us, or should we put a post it on the papers for those stating why they do not go back a full year?

As long as your other proofs meet the requirements of the checklist, you should be fine.

 

[Chroniverous]

I am having trouble as to which box I check off on the form IMM5589, to do the outland which box is it? Because it states as applying under the family class, but it doesnt say anything about common law?
The options are as follows
-I am currently living in canada, and i am applying under the spouse or common law partner in canada class.
-I am currently living outside Canada and I am applying under the family class.
-I am currently living inside canada, and I am applying under the family class (not under spouse or common law)

Do we choose the second one? This is very confusing.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

I am having trouble as to which box I check off on the form IMM5589, to do the outland which box is it? Because it states as applying under the family class, but it doesnt say anything about common law?
The options are as follows
-I am currently living in canada, and i am applying under the spouse or common law partner in canada class.
-I am currently living outside Canada and I am applying under the family class.
-I am currently living inside canada, and I am applying under the family class (not under spouse or common law)

Do we choose the second one? This is very confusing.

Family Class = outland sponsorship.

You choose the third option.