Common Law Technicality

[vester]

My partner and I are applying as common law with myself as the principal applicant. We have been living together as common law for over a year and a half and received our ITA on February 22nd after creating our profile on February 19. However our joint lease only reached the one year point on March 1st.

This is obviously a big document for helping us prove common law but I am not sure if it is valid as part of our application as it wasn't quite a year at the time of creating our profile. Although obviously it is now.

We are filling out the IMM 5409 and also notifying the CRA of our status and are going to provide other evidence (photos etc) but this is the only piece of evidence with both our names on it so I would really like to be able to include it. Is it valid?!

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!

 

[jes_ON]

Well, LOL, don't IMM 5409 and the CRA form have both of your names on it?

In any case, there's no requirement that the joint lease start on the same date as your co-habitation. You can submit it, though you might want to have a letter of explanation about the date you moved in together, and any supporting documentation. E.g. change of address for Canada Post, new driver's license/Health card will show date of issue, etc. Don't let fear blind you to all the evidence that surrounds you and are just not thinking about.