conditional PR - a question about time of relationship

[Lady_Ashka]

I have a question about the conditional PR situation.

I've lived with my Canadian common-law husband since Sept 2014, but we were a long-distance couple the year before that, and the year before that (2012) we dated back in Poland where we both used to live (and met in 2011). We will apply outland in July 2016 (and continue living together - i have a WP, and if they don't extend it I'll apply for visitor status, am visa exempt), so not two full years after I've moved in and my question is, how does CIC calculate the time of relationship: do they consider only the years ppl lived together or the total relationship time? We will actually be proving most of it, but I do realize the time we've lived together in Canada counts most anyway, so: do they count the 2 years at the time of submitting the application? In other words, will it not be full 2 years because the app will be filed in July 2016 and not sep 2016, or will they count the time we've lived together until they finish processing the application (which will be at least 10 months, i'm assuming, so well beyond 2 years).

It's not really a big deal as such, after all the whole point is to live with my husband and start a family, but the reason I am asking is because I don't really know how they approach this conditionality after the required 2 years pass: do I have to apply for PR again? or do we have to somehow else let them know we still live together? or is it simply that the PR card is initially issued for 2 and not 5 years?

 

[Rob_TO]

I have a question about the conditional PR situation.

I've lived with my Canadian common-law husband since Sept 2014, but we were a long-distance couple the year before that, and the year before that (2012) we dated back in Poland where we both used to live (and met in 2011). We will apply outland in July 2016 (and continue living together - i have a WP, and if they don't extend it I'll apply for visitor status, am visa exempt), so not two full years after I've moved in and my question is, how does CIC calculate the time of relationship: do they consider only the years ppl lived together or the total relationship time? We will actually be proving most of it, but I do realize the time we've lived together in Canada counts most anyway, so: do they count the 2 years at the time of submitting the application? In other words, will it not be full 2 years because the app will be filed in July 2016 and not sep 2016, or will they count the time we've lived together until they finish processing the application (which will be at least 10 months, i'm assuming, so well beyond 2 years).

It's not really a big deal as such, after all the whole point is to live with my husband and start a family, but the reason I am asking is because I don't really know how they approach this conditionality after the required 2 years pass: do I have to apply for PR again? or do we have to somehow else let them know we still live together? or is it simply that the PR card is initially issued for 2 and not 5 years?

In terms of whether you get Condition 51 or not (before the Liberals remove it entirely), it depends only on the date you submit the application, and how many years you've spent in an official common-law relationship as of that date.

Since 1 year of living together is spent qualifying for common-law and not official sttaus, you would need to live with someone 3 years (1 year qualifying + 2 years as common-law) as of date of application, to avoid Condition 51.

 

[rambopg]

If you are not planning on leaving your spouse/common-law or he is not planning to leave, then you don't have to worry about the 2 years condition!

You don't have to submit/prove anything after 2 years. I suppose u just have to renew your PR Card.

 

[Lady_Ashka]

Ok, good, that's a relief! I was worried we'd have to keep compiling evidence for another application I am most definitely going to stay with him! That's the whole point of this, for me so I am not really worried about the condition at all, but just wanted to make sure I understand what will happen after we submit the application (and hopefully get accepted).

Anyway, so we've moved in together in sep 2014 and did all the things one does then (shared lease, bills, bank account, credit card, now also taxes as a common law couple) and we became a common law couple officially, in CIC terms, in sep 2015, right?

 

[Rob_TO]

Also the PR card is still a 5 year expiry no matter if you have conditional or not. After 2 years the condition simply disappears in the background, there is nothing you need to do.

 

[Lady_Ashka]

Ok, that's exactly what I needed to know, thanks! So I am now not afraid we'll have to keep collecting receipts and bording passes etc for a new application

Ok, so now - on to put together the application, the folder is there, bursting in seams with stuff - do you think this is enough?:
- a joint lease for our apartment, dated Sept 1st 2014, though I moved in on the 4th, the landlord had a standard lease form
- joint hydro bills for electricity (but not for the full 12 months, I think, hydro comes only every 2 months, and it took them some time to add me as the other tenant)
- a joint bank account and credit cards linked to that account. I am the primary account holder, so the credit cards are in my name, but they said at the bank they can give us a letter stating the credit card is linked to an account we both own. Also, the credit card account has two cards issued, his and mine
- from that account we pay the internet bill, together, as we do the hydro bills, and our gym membership
- we have a joint, family, membership at the gym
- tons of mail addressed to either of us and both of us for the same address, I also have other documents stating my address as the same as his
- driving licenses and ohip cards for both of us with the same address
- we gave each other as common law spouses in the bank account documents for our account, and he did for his savings account
- we just submitted our taxes together, giving each other as common law spouses, we will also print the C form from CRA and attach it to the application
- we bought lots and lots of furniture for our apartment together, though most of it before we got our joint bank account so some of the purchases were made with his card, and some with mine (my Polish bank cards), we also had lots of that purchases shipped to us so there is the address for both of us, or either of us, on the shipping forms
- we have lots (lots!) of pictures of us together, with our families, friends, from various occasions, and travel together
-we have proof of travel together (2 trips for holiday, and one for conferencing together) - boarding cards, petrol receipts, pictures
- we have lots of skype logs from when we didn't live together and from the last two years when we did for the times we were taking trips separately; we also have tons of texts from the last 2 years, including for times we were on our trips
- we will sign the Common Law declaration and submit it along with the application
- I am thinking of getting insurance naming him as benefactor
- our families met once (my mom came to visit me and we organized a family get together), I am good friends with his family and he is with mine; I can submit lots of email exchanges between me and his family, and we have evidence that when I skype with my family he always joins us
- we have lots of mutual friends who we will ask to write letters for us, so that hopefully we can get around 11 letters for the 2 ones CIC expects
...........

so now to put that in good and readable order, get my police clearance and medicals, and I think we'll be good to go - what do you think? Is this enough???????