Common-Law Sponsorship

[herakles123]

Hi all,

I am going to apply to sponsor my common-law partner soon. Our case is mostly smooth but there are a few things which may give us hard time. I will be happy if you give your advice or share similar experience. Here are things that I find not so straightforward:

1. My partner moved in with me last year March 1st. Her lease was until end of June 2021, so she looked for lease transfer after she moved in with me. She found that in less than one month. So, her lease cancellation date is mid-March last year. She also cancelled her Hydro mid-March last year. We don't have joint lease since I am owner of the place we are living and I have been the owner long time before I met her. Should we apply on March 1st or on the date she cancelled her lease?

2. Since the place is mine, I am the only one responsible for electricity and internet. I did not change names on those. I took care of household expenses and she supported me financially whenever needed. Documents she can show as proof of her address are her study permit, her credit card statements from May 2021 (we opened a joint account in the same bank but she has her own account and her own credit card), her employment contract, her bank draft. You think these are enough?

3. We left Canada together in mid December and we came back together in mid-January. Half of our vacation was together, half was separate since she spent time with her family, I spent time with my family. I have all proofs of our trip and our conversations. Can this short separation create problem in common-law status?

4. They want 5 reference letters and 20 photos. Is it ok to send more than 5 reference letters and 50 photos?

Thanks in advance

 

[scylla]

Hi all,

I am going to apply to sponsor my common-law partner soon. Our case is mostly smooth but there are a few things which may give us hard time. I will be happy if you give your advice or share similar experience. Here are things that I find not so straightforward:

1. My partner moved in with me last year March 1st. Her lease was until end of June 2021, so she looked for lease transfer after she moved in with me. She found that in less than one month. So, her lease cancellation date is mid-March last year. She also cancelled her Hydro mid-March last year. We don't have joint lease since I am owner of the place we are living and I have been the owner long time before I met her. Should we apply on March 1st or on the date she cancelled her lease?

2. Since the place is mine, I am the only one responsible for electricity and internet. I did not change names on those. I took care of household expenses and she supported me financially whenever needed. Documents she can show as proof of her address are her study permit, her credit card statements from May 2021 (we opened a joint account in the same bank but she has her own account and her own credit card), her employment contract, her bank draft. You think these are enough?

3. We left Canada together in mid December and we came back together in mid-January. Half of our vacation was together, half was separate since she spent time with her family, I spent time with my family. I have all proofs of our trip and our conversations. Can this short separation create problem in common-law status?

4. They want 5 reference letters and 20 photos. Is it ok to send more than 5 reference letters and 50 photos?

Thanks in advance

1. Use the date from which time you feel you have strong evidence that you became common law. Remember that you have to prove a year of continuous cohabitation. So if you pick March 1, you need to have enough evidence from that date that shows the move to a joint address. If most of the evidence has a mid-March date, wait a few extra weeks.
2. These are enough provided all or most of them date back to March or where you updated the address last March to show your joint address.
3. Shouldn't be an issue provided you weren't apart for 3 weeks or more.
4. You should stick with the 20 photos.

 

[herakles123]

Thank you so much, I will let people in this forum know about how the application goes.