Outland Common Law Partner Sponsorship

[addyryoo]

Hello beautiful people!

I'm a Canadian and I'm planning to apply for a common-law sponsorship application by myself (trying to save $3k).
My partner and I have been staying together at the same address in Vietnam from November 20, 2024, which was the date I returned to Vietnam, and I'm planning to stay here until November 20, 2025 to complete our 1-year-cohabitation, then go back to Canada since work requires.
The house is under my mother's name, and we have a rent contract listing my mother as the LEASER, and both of us as the LEASEES.
Can we show the rent contract as our proof of 1-year cohabitation at the same address? Or is it not enough?
Also, during the time from Nov 20, 2024, we travelled together overseas as well, will those days that we were overseas affect our 1-year commitment?

Appreciate your insights in advance!!!

 

[Naturgrl]

Is that all you have to prove continuous co-habitation? Want to joint bank accounts, utilities, investments or other documents that have a joint address since your mother is the "landlord".

 

[addyryoo]

We have our joint bank account, and saving account together.
For utilities bills it's pretty tricky since in Vietnam, there's no such thing as a joint utilities bill. I'm paying for electricity and water, so my name is on those bills, but my partner pays for the internet at the address.

 

[Naturgrl]

We have our joint bank account, and saving account together.
For utilities bills it's pretty tricky since in Vietnam, there's no such thing as a joint utilities bill. I'm paying for electricity and water, so my name is on those bills, but my partner pays for the internet at the address.

As long as your joint bank accounts is a year old then should be okay.

 

[addyryoo]

Our joint bank account was fairly recent. Since I was the one who was supporting my partner I've been transferring from my account to her a lot. Can we use those transactions from individual accounts as well?

 

[Naturgrl]

Our joint bank account was fairly recent. Since I was the one who was supporting my partner I've been transferring from my account to her a lot. Can we use those transactions from individual accounts as well?

No. Your bank account should be a year old. All you have to prove common law is a lease and mother is the owner. You need to show documents of a shared address for at least a year.

 

[armoured]

No. Your bank account should be a year old. All you have to prove common law is a lease and mother is the owner. You need to show documents of a shared address for at least a year.

I'd add, strongly recommend not just 12 months but some extra, I'd say at least a month more - and that's assuming the documents and other proofs are strong and in order. IRCC absolutely will start counting from the day that they feel the documents are well evidenced. (And lease from a relative is not the strongest)

In all seems rather a way of avoiding simply getting married - and while officially that's not forbidden, it will tend to raise questions (as in, what are applicants avoiding , and if they are, is it because they don't want a 'real' marriage).

 

[Ponga]

I'd add, strongly recommend not just 12 months but some extra, I'd say at least a month more - and that's assuming the documents and other proofs are strong and in order. IRCC absolutely will start counting from the day that they feel the documents are well evidenced. (And lease from a relative is not the strongest)

In all seems rather a way of avoiding simply getting married - and while officially that's not forbidden, it will tend to raise questions (as in, what are applicants avoiding , and if they are, is it because they don't want a 'real' marriage).

Absurd assumption, IMHO.

 

[armoured]

Absurd assumption, IMHO.

That's a fair comment and I should have phrased rather differently (although perhaps my point was not 'absurd', it definitely overstated/made inferences that weren't / arent' clear based on what little is known of circumstances).

So here's a rephrasing: depending on circumstances, IRCC may question whether the common-law relationship is genuine (if there are no obvious reasons for not simply getting married), depending on factors such as travel/actual residence of sponsor, time together, and relationship evidence available. While going the common law route isn't forbidden, an officer evaluating may make inferences and investigate further.