Proof of Common-law relationship

Canada Immigration Forum (discussion group)


 
       
Subject: Proof of Common-law relationship
  Hi there,

All the forms are filled out. Everything is ready to go. I´ve been in Canada for 18 months and living with my boyfriend of 4 years. My question is, how do I prove we´ve been living together? The bills, bank account, and house are all in my boyfriend´s name. I didn´t think ahead a year ago and save mail I´d received. His family is willing to write letters. Do they have to follow a certain format? Do they need to be notarized? I have tons of pictures to send with the letters. Do I need to supply letters from before I moved to Canada to have proof that the relationship is in fact genuine?

Thanks and Happy Holidays.

[19-12-2004,01:48]
missincarolina
Common Law (in reply to: Proof of Common-law relationship)
In the initial application, proof is minimal. When you receive your IA, you will need to show proof by filing a Spousal/Common Law Partner questionaire. You will be able to explain your personal details.

You will also be asked to send photos and submit letters from friends.

In the meanwhile, immediately establish a joint bank account and place partner´s name on utility and rent invoices.

Also, while living together, do you share a vehicle or the same auto insurance? If so, the insurance company will have a dated request and that can provide further evidence.

Are you on the same health club or video store membership?


Good luck.

[19-12-2004,13:00]
Ron
proof of common law (in reply to: Proof of Common-law relationship)
Did you have visa to stay legally in Canada? If you did, you must have some with your address here? Did you work? Did you employer have your home address? Did you have any credit cards? Driver´s licence? Temporary SIN card? Something?
I do not know will they see that as common law relationship or just like bf/gf relationship?
Are you planning to get married one day? They will ask you that. If you are, then they will tell you to get married and then apply, if not they will ask you for reasons why you do not want to get married? Your beliefs or religion or something.

[19-12-2004,13:01]
Jassy
(in reply to: Proof of Common-law relationship)
Thank you so much to both of you for your help.

To answer your questions...

No, we do not plan to get married. I am a Christian but my boyfriend is Agnostic. He does not believe in marriage.

I have legally stayed in the country and have visitor´s passes from each extension. There is nothing in both of our names. I do not drive here. I am not on his bank account. The house is paid for. The car is in his name. I did not think I could even have anything under my name being that I´m not a citizen or perm. resident yet. The only proof I have are my visitor´s passes, the pictures, and the letters from friends. I have old letters from before I moved up and I have cards for birthdays and things but nothing more. In fact, when I originally came for my visit I called the immigration hotline on the www.cic.gc.ca website and they said I was entitled to stay for 6 months but I have no proof really that I was here. I do have all visitor´s passes and extentions after the first 6 months. We just went down to the border for the extension when we needed to. We also have a dog together that we got when we first moved here...will that help?

The customs officer at the border told us that 1 year of cohabitating together qualified you as common-law. Is this true? We´ve been living together for 19 months and in a relationship for over 4 years.

Also, the form you spoke of. What is that exactly? When we decided to file for perm. resident I went to www.cic.gc.ca to get the paperwork. Is everything they have listed there all that I need or should I anticipate more to be sent to me?

I do not want to be interviewed. I get extremely nervous in those situations. Any tips on how to prevent it?

Thanks so much.

[19-12-2004,14:46]
missincarolina
Proof common law (in reply to: Proof of Common-law relationship)
The co-habit time frame is one year. You are right. When you purchased the dog, is there documentation with both names? If so, that helps.

Your cards, letters,. etc do help if they are postmarked and have dates.

To avoid an interview, the examiner needs to be assured there are no questions that he or she has. In your case, you might be asked to come in for an interview. That will help you in the long run because you can present your case personally and also provide evidence such as scrapbooks, cards, photos, letters from friends, relatives, landlords.

I would not be too upset about an interview in your case.

Have you been receiving mail at the same address for 1 year? If so, have the postal people make a statement to that effect.

The questionaire would be used to evaluate the veracity of your relationship. The form is IMM 5490 to be completed upon acceptance, i.e, issuance of the Initial Assessment.

In interviews, the examiner may split you up and see if he gets concurrent answers to certain questions.

In short, the CIC wants to be assured there is no fraud.

I hope this helps.

ron


[19-12-2004,15:10]
Ron
common law questions/interview (in reply to: Proof of Common-law relationship)
This is from a web site. Some typical questions for common law to answer in interview.

Information about your spouse [in Canada]
Name
Date of birth
Marriage status
i. If divorced

1. Ex-spouses information

2. Why did the previous marriage not last

3. Reasons for divorce

4. Who initiated the divorce

5. What were the reasons for the divorce

6. Does s/he have a criminal records

a. Beating ex-spouse

b. Abuse of Ex-Spouse

7. Where are all the original Divorce papers

8. Do you have the copy of Divorce papers

9. Does your spouse have any children from previous marriage

10. If yes

a. How many

b. What are their names

c. How old are they

d. Whom do they live with, and why

e. Why do they not live with your spouse

f. Are they planning to move with your spouse

g. What are your plans if they move with your spouse

h. Would both of you have kids

i. How would you make sure your kids and your spouse?s kid will live/get together/co-operate with each other?

j. How much is the monthly child support

k. How does your spouse manage child support

l. How often does your spouse see the child from previous marriage

m. Does s/he see the kids every weekend, month, year?. meaning what are his/her child access/visitation right.

n. Does your spouse exercise those visitation right

o. If no, why

11. Where did the divorce take place

12. Are there any outstanding issues related to divorce

13. If yes, describe in details

14. How much are the alimony payments

ii. Does your spouse still see his/her ex-spouse

iii. If yes

1. Why?

iv. If no

1. Why not?

Where did your spouse first land in Canada [Airport or city]
Where did he first lived [City, province]
Where did s/he reside when divorce was taking place, and where does s/he live now
Why did s/he move to a place/city where s/he lives now
Does your spouse still travel to the city where his/her ex-spouse lives.
Does your spouse have relationships [intimate or sexual] with other people [men or women]
If yes

i. What are their names

ii. What is a nature of the relationship

What does your spouse do for living
Where does s/he work
i. Company name

ii. Phone number if possible

iii. Type of work i.e. security, cab driver, business, labour, etc etc

iv. What is the place where your spouse is posted [ if it is security or business or store with various outlets]

v. What are his/her job duties

vi. How much s/he makes per hour $$$$$$

Does your spouse do another work too
i. Study or another job

ii. Give full details about the study or work

a. if school

1. Provide details of the degree/diploma s/he is registered in

2. What year of study

3. Total length of program

4. Expected completion date

5. Courses taken if possible course number and description...

What are your spouses hobbies
Do you know your spouses friends
If yes
i. Provide the names, if possible phone numbers

ii. How long did they know each other

iii. Where do they live

iv. Do they know about your spouses previous relationship

v. Have you met anyone

vi. If yes

1. Can you provide some proof

2. i.e. pictures, or just description

What does your spouse like/dislike
What is your spouses´ favourite color, place to visit,
What does your spouse own
i. House

1. Give details

ii. Car

1. Provide the following

a. Make, model, license plate number, year of manufacture, and color of the car.

With whom does s/he live
i. Provide full details of

1. House address

2. How much rent

3. Phone number

4. What kind of house it is

a. Apartment

b. Condo

5. How many room there are

6. What is the inside color of the apartment

7. What kind of furniture is in the house

8. What is the color of the furniture

9. What kind of TV, etc is in the house

10. Who else lives near by

a. Neighbours

ii. Who is the owner of the house/ whose name is it in

1. Provide full details

Provide details about your spouses? parents
1. Dad?s name

2. Mom?s Name

3. Where do they work

4. How did they come to Canada

5. When did they come to Canada

6. Who sponsored them

7. Where did they live when they come to Canada

8. Whom did they live with at that time

9. Whom do they live with now

10. What is your spouses mom?s parents names [maternal grandparents info]

a. Nana ji & Nani ji?s name and information

11. Dad?s parents names [paternal grandparents info]

a. Dada and Dadi ji?s Name and information

If living [in house/apartment] with brother/sister/or other relatives
1. Provide full details about relative [example Brother]

a. Relatives Name, work, company name, pay

2. Provide full details about relatives spouse [example sister-in-law]

a. Name, Her work, company, pay

3. When did your spouse´s relative [ex. brother] get married

4. How did that relative come to Canada

5. Did your spouse sponsored that relative

How many brother and sisters does your spouse have
i. Name all of them

ii. Names of their spouses

iii. Names of their kids

iv. Where are they married [in-laws address]

v. Where do they live now?

1. Addresses

2. Phone numbers etc

How many maternal and paternal uncles and aunts does your spouse have
i. Name all of them [chacha, taia, bhua, mama, masi etc]

ii. Name their spouses

iii. Name all their kids

1. If Kids are married name of spouses

a. Names of their children

iv. Where are they married [place of in-laws]

Did all of them [relatives from part u.] came to the marriage
i. If not why not

ii. If yes, show proof

1. Show pictures and identify them

Who came to attend your marriage from Canada
i. Show proof, pictures

Why did others not come here to attend the marriage
Any other general information about your spouse
Information about you [Person attending the interview]
Do you know your husband is divorced [if your spouse is divorced]
Provide all the details
Why did you marry him/her, even if s/he is divorced?
Do you know s/he has a child from previous marriage
Why did you marry a person who has a child
Did you knew about your spouses divorce and child before marriage
How did you meet first time?
Where did you meet
i. Provide details of the location

ii. What were you wearing

iii. What was your spouse wearing

iv. What did you do in the first meeting

1. Lunch, dinner, dance etc

v. Who accompanied you to meet your spouse

vi. What did you like about your spouse

Did you meet your spouse again after the first meeting and before your marriage
i. Provide details

ii. How many times did you meet again

iii. Where, and what did you do

1. Any proof

Were you forced into marriage
Did you get married to get to Canada
Did you pay you spouse to go to Canada
[Always say no to the questions under section l ]

i. If yes

1. How much

ii. We heard you paid money in lakhs or thousands of dollars [your local currency] to go there

iii. How much did you pay

iv. If you tell us how much you paid, we will give you Visa right away

1. Otherwise it might take a long time for you to get there as we know you paid money

2. Nothing will happen to you but we will get your money back from your spouse and return to you and also give you visa

[Now this is a tricky situation where immigration interviewer try to play a trick so watch out....it happened with some people]

Did your spouse meet any of your relative
i. If yes

1. When and whom

a. Provide proof, such as pictures

ii. If no

1. Provide explanation, why did your spouse did not meet any of your relatives

Did you meet any of your spouses relative
i. If yes

1. Provide details of whom you met and when

a. Provide proof

ii. If no

1. Why not

Did you make any deals with your spouse
i. For example

1. S/He sponsors you and some relative of yours sponsors her/his relative

2. Or when you go to Canada, and when your parents and siblings go to Canada, then you have to sponsor your spouses? relative living in India.

Do you think that your relationship will work
Did you go for honeymoon
i. If yes

1. where did you go

2. do you have any proof

a. provide photos

Did you go for any other trips
i. If yes

1. Where did you go

2. Any religious places that you visited

3. Any other places of interest you been

4. Provide all the proofs

a. Pictures, Receipts

Did you go alone on the trips or someone accompanied you
i. If yes, why

Suhaag Raat Questions [maybe be asked, but under Canadian law these cannot be asked]
i. When did you have your marriage consummated

ii. What was your husband wearing that night

iii. Color of his underwear

iv. Was there light on all dark

v. Place for example hotel, house room etc etc

What do you do in India
What would you do in Canada, what are your plans
We have been told that you are going to go to Canada and once you get there, you will divorce your husband and sponsor your lover/Boy/girl Friend Who is living in India. If you tell us that you are going to do it, tell us your lovers name and we will issue both of you visa at the same time. This way you will not be away from your lover for long time and both of you will go to Canada together.
Did you finish your school
Other important information
Remember all the relatives names, cousins, etc
Who do what, where do they live
Make sure all the answers match each other
i. I.E. colors, hobbies

There can be an immediate interview on phone with person in Canada, right after person in India?s interview. So make sure you call your spouse in Canada and tell him/her of all the questions that were asked in an interview [Important].

[19-12-2004,15:16]
ron
Is this a joke?? (in reply to: Proof of Common-law relationship)
I´ve seen this questions posted in some websites. Are you serious about this questionare? I find it silly in some parts.
do you know?? I´ve been with my partner for over 3 years and I don´t even know the names of all his brothers and sister because my memory is bad. I also can´t remember his underwear and all those things. I would lo ve to be interviewed to know if they really ask those questions.

[19-12-2004,17:10]
Hey....
(in reply to: Proof of Common-law relationship)
Thank you so much for those questions...

One last thing. Do the letter from friends have to be notarized or written in any particular fashion?

Thanks very much.


[20-12-2004,20:53]
missincarolina
Friends letters+ (in reply to: Proof of Common-law relationship)
Hello

I am unsure if the letters need to be notarized, but to be safe, why not?

Good luck to you. Provide evidence and you should be safe.

ron

[21-12-2004,19:38]
ron
proof (in reply to: Proof of Common-law relationship)
Hi!

I am going to apply for a PR under common law soon. I was wondering about the proof u have to send in. Do u have to send copies/printouts of emails and photos? Because my fiance and I have tons of pictures and emails. Would it be acceptable to burn it on a cd and send that in as evidence, or does it have to be a hardcopy?

How long does it take for CIC to process an in canada PR application nowadays?

Thanks!

Mimi

[25-01-2005,19:40]
Mimi
(in reply to: Proof of Common-law relationship)
I sent in my forms at the end of December with photos and notarized letters from friends and family. I haven´t received any word back even though I know by using registered mail that they´ve received it. In the instructions included with the paperwork it said photos and letters were fine. I also sent in a copy of the prescriptions I´d had filled at the local pharmacy because it shows dates and an address. I sent in old envelopes and cards addressed to both my boyfriend and I. I didn´t know what all they´d want so I just photocopied just about everything I could think of.


[26-01-2005,17:22]
missincarolina