Common Law Sponsorship- HELP! :(

[estinnis]

I've been dating my girlfriend (Long distance) for about almost 21 months now. She is from Peru, and I'm a Canadian citizen. Over the 21 months, we have made about 12 trips back and forth and to many other countries. I also went to Peru in the winter and lived with her and her family for about 2.5 months. We have tonnes of pictures together, and some pretty big phone bills, so I don't think we'd have any trouble showing proof that we are very much in love. She has recently quit her job, and is going to come here on a visitor's visa so that we can spend some more valuable time together.

My questions are:

1- Would I already have enough proof now to sponsor her through Common-Law? ...Or should I wait some more and split utility/lease bills with her while she is here?
2- Do the small 1-2 week visits over the 21 months count towards time lived together?
2- How much longer would I have to live with her before I can try to sponsor her?
3- How long would the process take?
4- Would we be allowed to travel abroad while the application is being processes?

She has a 5 year multiple entry tourist visa.

I'm really looking forward to starting our lives together! Any advice would be greatly appreciated

 

[Rob_TO]

1 - No. For common-law you MUST live together in the same home, for 12 consecutive months. This is the definition of common-law and there are NO exceptions.
2 - No, not for common-law status.
2 - You need to do 12 consecutive months. Any break in the time, and the counter resets to zero again.
3 - Peru time is posted on CIC site at 16 months, but that is kind of worst case so most likely you would get earlier.
4 - If you apply outland then yes you can travel while app is in process

Honestly your quickest path to PR will be to get married and then apply right after. With a 21 month relationship and lots of proofs, you shouldn't have any problems.

 

[Line.a]

1 - No. For common-law you MUST live together in the same home, for 12 consecutive months. This is the definition of common-law and there are NO exceptions.
2 - No, not for common-law status.
2 - You need to do 12 consecutive months. Any break in the time, and the counter resets to zero again.
3 - Peru time is posted on CIC site at 16 months, but that is kind of worst case so most likely you would get earlier.
4 - If you apply outland then yes you can travel while app is in process

Honestly your quickest path to PR will be to get married and then apply right after. With a 21 month relationship and lots of proofs, you shouldn't have any problems.

I thought short breaks were allowed? I traveled back home for 3 weeks and came back again and we still applied so would that mean trouble?

 

[scylla]

I thought short breaks were allowed? I traveled back home for 3 weeks and came back again and we still applied so would that mean trouble?

If you have one three week trip during the 12 months period - then you should be fine.

 

[Rob_TO]

I thought short breaks were allowed? I traveled back home for 3 weeks and came back again and we still applied so would that mean trouble?

Yes short and temporary breaks are allowed.

However the original poster here has indicated they are actually living separately, and just visiting each other back and forth multiple times.

 

[Line.a]

Yes short and temporary breaks are allowed.

However the original poster here has indicated they are actually living separately, and just visiting each other back and forth multiple times.

Ok thank you guys that's a relief to hear. Plus I had an IEC visa before applying for PR. Which was valise from February 11th 2012 - feb 12th 2013 and they received our PR app just around the 12th or 13th this year.. Thank you

 

[Line.a]

I know this may sound bad but I was being pulled in for further questioning when I returned to Canada and the officer wrote down a couple things on the computer. I didn't tell him that I already applied for the IEC visa because I wasn't sure if I'd be accepted or not.. Since it was just sent away a couple days prior to me traveling to Canada. And he asked me if I planned to return back home after this visit and I said yes.. But then I got approved for the IEC visa a month later and I went flagpoling without a single problem.. That won't cause any trouble would it? The lady who gave me the visa didn't say anything but a few questions about my height and weight and eye colour!!