Posted on April 22 2020

Sponsor common-law partners even with COVID-19 special measures

By
Anshul Singhal
, Editor

Updated May 10 2023

Sponsor common-law partners even with COVID-19 special measures

Despite COVID-19 special measures, Canadians can still sponsor common-law partners for Canadian permanent residence. The travel ban in Canada does not extend to immediate family members which include common-law partners. For Canada immigration purposes, a common-law partnership is defined as 2 people that have lived together for 1 year in what as per the government is a “conjugal relationship”, or a “marriage-like” relationship. Citizens of Canada as well as Canadian permanent residents might be eligible for sponsoring their common-law partners for immigration to Canada. Both Inland as well as Outland Sponsorship applications can be made from within Canada. While an Inland sponsorship is when both the partners are together in Canada, outland sponsorship is when the application is being processed through a visa office that serves the country of origin of the foreign national. As a proof of having lived together for at least 1 year, the couples are expected to provide a mortgage or lease in both their names. If providing a lease/mortgage is not possible, other proofs – bank statements, phone bills, utility bills, drivers’ licenses, credit card bills etc. – might be submitted as proof of the couple having lived together for 12 consecutive months. Partners that are travelling to Canada will have to use, at the Port of Entry, the above-mentioned documents for proving their relationship status. With the COVID-19 special measures in place, travel ban to Canada will continue till June 30. Exceptions have been made for people that had already made a prior commitment to settling, working or studying in Canada before the ban. Common-law partners and spouses can maintain their legal status while awaiting the application result. The Open Work Permit Pilot Program: Inland spousal/common-law partner sponsorship – to be available at least till July 31, 2020 – allows partners to work for any employer anywhere in Canada while their applications are under processing. If you are looking to Study, Work, Visit, Invest or Migrate Overseas, talk to Y-Axis, the World’s No. 1 Immigration & Visa Company. If you found this blog engaging, you may also like… Now is the best time to apply for Canada immigration!

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