Proof of cohabitation rejected
- Thread starter Wayne72
- Start date
Hi Linda_s74, we have included an explanation letter to why she's lacking evidence of shared expenses but perhaps the explanation wasn't thorough enough. I will have some letters draft up from friends, colleagues, and also revise the letter of explanation why we're lacking bank statement data. I am very sure I have already explained to CIC that the bank policy doesn't allow non-pr/citizen to open a bank account and that's why we never had a joint bank account.
I would go back to the list of evidence from the checklist and explain why I didn't have each e.g. Insurance papers - I don't have benefits from work, dont have a car therefore cant provide that evidence etc.
By the way from what you posted it sounds like they are looking for evidence that you still live together "have been cohabiting in the same residence in Canada since the filing of your application."
That's a good catch Linda and thanks for pointing that out. That's even more puzzling as I thought I have provided tons of proof of that (so I thought) but it seems as they needed more. I will work on that.
tiarachel85, no she didn't apply for owp.
tiarachel85, no she didn't apply for owp.
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How come you didn't apply for a work permit? Getting that would give her status in the country where you wouldn't have to worry about extending her visitor status, and it would have enabled her to get things like healthcare, driver's licence, bank accounts (joint or individual), etc. Being in the country on a work permit lets you do a lot more than you can as a visitor and most of it would help greatly with the cohabitation proof, not to mention just general sense of security for her (being a visitor vs a resident with her SIN, healthcare, ability to work, etc).
Before we applied, my wife put me on the house title (a house that she bought before we married - not sure why you mentioned you didn't put her on it because you bought it before as you can add people to it whenever), I became a beneficiary of her insurance policies, we put my name on several utilities (even if I wasn't actually jointly paying, you can put additional names in the address field for many of them so that they are mailed to you both at the same address), things like that.
In case you do end up reapplying, keep the above in mind and do as much as you can ahead of time. Also do apply for her OWP - she isn't obligated to work, but it's a great thing to have for other reasons.
For now, I would get letters from friends and family and really comb through all of your paperwork, no matter how silly or small, for anything that might show her at your address.
Hi np08, thanks for your advice. We probably didn't fully understand the benefits of having OWP as you listed above and we didn't think she can qualify for when we read the requirements: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/work-canada/permit/temporary/eligibility.html
We wanted to focus on her getting a PR and getting her to work wasn't a priority at time.
As for the home title, wouldn't we require a lawyer to have this done? Also, once we got married she's entitled to half of my assets anyway so I didn't think there is an urgency to have her on the title. Putting her on a will was something I wanted to do but haven't got around to it. I know having shared statements, utility bills made sense now and it can help the situation immensely. From a financial stand point at the time of application it doesn't change who's paying for the bill and we overlooked that requirement.
As for life insurance, I haven't bought one. For now we are a single income household where I am solely financially supporting my wife and a newborn. We minimize fixed added expenses.
Your suggestions on adding her to the utility bills is a good idea. I understand that now but at the time I didn't think it will be a problem.
We wanted to focus on her getting a PR and getting her to work wasn't a priority at time.
As for the home title, wouldn't we require a lawyer to have this done? Also, once we got married she's entitled to half of my assets anyway so I didn't think there is an urgency to have her on the title. Putting her on a will was something I wanted to do but haven't got around to it. I know having shared statements, utility bills made sense now and it can help the situation immensely. From a financial stand point at the time of application it doesn't change who's paying for the bill and we overlooked that requirement.
As for life insurance, I haven't bought one. For now we are a single income household where I am solely financially supporting my wife and a newborn. We minimize fixed added expenses.
Your suggestions on adding her to the utility bills is a good idea. I understand that now but at the time I didn't think it will be a problem.
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She qualifies automatically by applying inland through the family class. You just need to fill out the form, sign it, pay the correct fees ($255) and make sure she has valid status when you send it. 3-4 months later she will get it. There's no special requirements outside of applying inland and that's why those two applications are sent together (PR application and OWP application) in the same package. It's a pilot thing introduced a couple of years ago specifically for inland family class immigration.
We didn't need a lawyer for the title. We just went to the Land Title Office, filled out a form, showed our IDs, signed a few things and that was that. And I was able to be added to it as a visitor (I seem to remember my wife just had to get one of the documents notarized because I was not a resident).
And yeah, the mindset for this is a bit different than the way an average couple would normally think or behave. That's why it's important to prepare and know in advance what will be necessary as a lot of people wouldn't do most of these things on their own, without some outside influence such as this one.
Look, I am fully supported by my husband and at the time of app I didn’t have much of a proof to send to them. I got ppl to write letters supporting my relationship with my partner, which was extremely recommended by my lawyer. At the time I did this and had a pre-paid phone on my address which I sent them a copy. I also had the lease on my name as well (which wouldn’t work for your case)
So my recommendation is whatever you find that can be a good proof of living together send it and don’t forget Letters are very important (ask friends family neighbors to write them and state they know your family and that you live together, if possible ask them to provide contact numbers as well)
Good luck
Thanks np09 and Ldonasci! A lot of great advice. I will do that next and get friends/families to write letters for us with their contact numbers. We will also send them everything else we have, pictures, dental receipts, and whatever else we can come up with.
I am going to repeat my initial question. So you didn't purchase health insurance for her (that's what I meant by travel insurance)? Since she has visitor status, she is not covered by provincial health and getting her traveler health insurance is important. If she doesn't have it, get it soon.
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