If you can get the letter from your landlord that would be perfect.. And with that city hall doc too I think you'd be set.That's really a helpful list WeegieInOttawa, thank you! We have also been struggling with this, because even though we live together, I originally moved into our current apartment alone, so all utilities and the lease are in my name. I do have monthly transactions from my husband paying his share of the bills that I could provide. Would getting a letter from our landlord stating the day he moved in, and their approval also work in this regard? We're on very good terms with our landlord so I'm sure he wouldn't mind providing a letter. We also have a document from city hall stating when my husband officially moved in (something all Germans must do when they change addresses), so we have a government document stating we live at the same residence.
I might have to look into whether or not I can get the utilities in both our names, and a joint credit card is something we'd been toying with before immigrating to Canada came up. When we file our German taxes this year we'll be in the married tax class, so I guess I could provide that as well...
Even if you don't want or cant get a joint credit card YOU can just get one (or do this to one you already have) and put your husband as registered user.
Also if your are including letters of support from family and friends ask them to add a line in there about "I can conform they both live at xxxxx and have done since I've known them/or date." Few of our friends/family did this.
I think in this day and age CIC are well aware and take into account that things aren't so cut and dry that they think you just move in with someone in a brand new place and put all all bills etc in both names..it's just not how it works these days. That's why you have to be creative and work with the options you give you to show your case best you can.