Like spousal sponsorship, there are various nuances that can make or break a successful common-law sponsorship application. Among other requirements, a key factor is to prove that the partners have continuously lived with each other for 12 months (certain exceptions are made such as a couple being apart because of short vacations and business trips. For more information, please consult one of our experts.)
AT MINIMUM 2 documents are required to prove 12 months of cohabitation. The documents must prove the duration of 12 months. For example, if the couple had a joint bank account, 2 sets of bank accounts are needed. Let’s say that the period of duration we are trying to prove is from March 1, 2019 to March 1, 2020. We need one document that shows the couple had lived together on March 1, 2019 and another one that proves they maintained cohabitation for a year after that.
Another issue is that the documents are to be from the SAME PERIOD. For example, if a set of insurance benefit accounts are to be used along with a joint bank account, they must cover the same period. This is very important and crucial and will have a game changing effect on the results of the application.
Another matter that the sponsorship guides don’t tell you is that after submission, IRCC may ask for a 3rd set of documents proving co-habitation. This is why we ask clients to have a 3rd set of documents ready. We, at Taraz Immigration, call this the “reserve set” and it should be ready…just in case. It should also cover the same period as the first 2 documents do.
Like the co-habitation documents, there are many other considerations to take into account when submitting a common-law sponsorship application. For more information, feel free to contact us.
Do not forget to keep track of all of your bills issued to you during your cohabitation period and make sure you maintain an interdependent relationship throughout your cohabitation.
We are here to help.
If you’d like to find out more click the link to send us a message, or call us at 778-682-4924.