Use of wrong address for proof of cohabitation (common law sponsorship)?

[scylla]

My partner told me we don't need to prove 12 months of cohabitation under the common law partner in Canada class because it doesn't say so on the checklist. Only for the family class. I told him since both are common law you need to prove 12 months still. I don't have the checklist in front of me (at work atm) so I don't remember what it says exactly.

Your partner is extremely wrong about this. You absolutely must have evidence to show 12 months of continuous cohabitation if you plan on applying under common law.

 

[Flyingfast]

My partner told me we don't need to prove 12 months of cohabitation under the common law partner in Canada class because it doesn't say so on the checklist. Only for the family class. I told him since both are common law you need to prove 12 months still. I don't have the checklist in front of me (at work atm) so I don't remember what it says exactly.

Your partner is 110% wrong!

 

[Lys01]

Update : my partner showed me the internet bills and they actually have our apartment as residential address but our phone and bank accounts have his parents' address. His parents said they could write a letter explaining why it hasn't changed (because he had these accounts before he moved in the apartment and forgot to change the residential address). Is there a chance it might work? We asked them to write a letter to prove that our relationship is genuine etc so I wonder if they could include that information too..

 

[scylla]

Update : my partner showed me the internet bills and they actually have our apartment as residential address but our phone and bank accounts have his parents' address. His parents said they could write a letter explaining why it hasn't changed (because he had these accounts before he moved in the apartment and forgot to change the residential address). Is there a chance it might work? We asked them to write a letter to prove that our relationship is genuine etc so I wonder if they could include that information too..

So all you have to prove continuous cohabitation is the internet bills?

 

[Lys01]

So all you have to prove continuous cohabitation is the internet bills?

I guess so :/ Both our bank accounts used to have his parents address but we changed it pretty recently so...

 

[scylla]

I guess so :/ Both our bank accounts used to have his parents address but we changed it pretty recently so...

You need multiple pieces of evidence that proves a full year of cohabitation. So if you only changed the addresses on the bank accounts now, that won't do it.

IMO there's no way one piece of evidence will cut it. You don't have a joint lease?

 

[Lys01]

IMO there's no way one piece of evidence will cut it. You don't have a joint lease?

No joint lease. The only joint account we have is for the phones.

 

[scylla]

No joint lease. The only joint account we have is for the phones.

IMO that's nowhere near enough. Either get married or fix all of your paperwork (i.e. bank accounts, lease, tax returns, etc.) to show your joint address and then start counting the one year for common law from the time you make these changes.

 

[armoured]

IMO that's nowhere near enough. Either get married or fix all of your paperwork (i.e. bank accounts, lease, tax returns, etc.) to show your joint address and then start counting the one year for common law from the time you make these changes.

Fully agree. Would be quite a weak app.

 

[Lys01]

IMO that's nowhere near enough. Either get married or fix all of your paperwork (i.e. bank accounts, lease, tax returns, etc.) to show your joint address and then start counting the one year for common law from the time you make these changes.

Ok we will get married then. I know we still need some proof cohabitation when married too but that shouldn't be as much of a headache. Would we have to show as proof the bills, accounts etc after the marriage period or before too? We will apply quite soon after.

 

[armoured]

Ok we will get married then. I know we still need some proof cohabitation when married too but that shouldn't be as much of a headache. Would we have to show as proof the bills, accounts etc after the marriage period or before too? We will apply quite soon after.

Before will help establish that you have been living together before (relationship bona fides), you should at least have something 'current' for after the marriage.

Note, since married, you can write a letter of explanation that you were living together from [whatever actual date is], but that you only have a few basic bills as retained mailing address elsewhere for a while [for whatever reason].

Evidence that is very weak for common law purposes can be perfectly fine for showing living together before married - it's just more relationship evidence.