Jerry

Dear Mr Miller,

thanks for all the help you offer folks in this newsgroup. I hope it drums
up business for you. I wonder if you wouldn't mind sharing the benefit of
your experience on another question about conjugal partners.

I (Canadian living in the US) have been in a serious relationship since
June 2002 with an American girlfriend who I wish to sponsor--I'm returning
to a job in Canada in July 2004. Since September 2002 she has essentially
lived with me, though she maintained her old address for some time as she
couldn't break the lease. We moved into a new place in October 2003
together, and we are both on the lease now. I would like to know whether,
in your experience, we would be likely to succeed in being considered
either:

a) conjugal partners: she has lived outside of Canada (as have I, though
that isn't mentioned as a factor in the forms I've seen) in a relationship
with me but unable to cohabit continuously (because of the lease problem)
for at least a year.

b) common-law partners: while I can only prove via a lease that we have
cohabited since October 2003, we have in fact been living together (i.e.
always slept under the same roof) since September 2002. I could provide a
letter from my previous landlord, who also lived in the apartment, to
confirm this. Do you know whether they would attach any weight to such a
letter?

Which do you think is the better shot?

We *do* plan to get married down the road, but my girlfriend would like to
have that as a nice event, and not have a quick subpar wedding for the
sake of the immigration authorities--besides, won't it look suspicious if
we sudden;y get married just when I get a job offer and we want to move?
Does being engaged carry any weight for the application?

Many thanks --Jerry W

Andrew Miller

I can't honestly tell you if it will work or not without being able to fully
assess the case and see evidence you may provide to prove all your claims.
You are for sure not meeting common-law definition, so the only way to start
process now is to get married or to prove beyond doubt conjugal relationship
and explain your reasons for not being common-law or not marrying. Keep in
mind that convenience as a reason most likely won't be accepted. It is not
that easy to take the conjugal route.

--

../..

Andrew Miller
Immigration Consultant
Vancouver, British Columbia
email: [email protected]
(delete REMOVE from the above address before sending email)
________________________________


"Jerry" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > Dear Mr Miller,
    > thanks for all the help you offer folks in this newsgroup. I hope it drums
    > up business for you. I wonder if you wouldn't mind sharing the benefit of
    > your experience on another question about conjugal partners.
    > I (Canadian living in the US) have been in a serious relationship since
    > June 2002 with an American girlfriend who I wish to sponsor--I'm returning
    > to a job in Canada in July 2004. Since September 2002 she has essentially
    > lived with me, though she maintained her old address for some time as she
    > couldn't break the lease. We moved into a new place in October 2003
    > together, and we are both on the lease now. I would like to know whether,
    > in your experience, we would be likely to succeed in being considered
    > either:
    > a) conjugal partners: she has lived outside of Canada (as have I, though
    > that isn't mentioned as a factor in the forms I've seen) in a relationship
    > with me but unable to cohabit continuously (because of the lease problem)
    > for at least a year.
    > b) common-law partners: while I can only prove via a lease that we have
    > cohabited since October 2003, we have in fact been living together (i.e.
    > always slept under the same roof) since September 2002. I could provide a
    > letter from my previous landlord, who also lived in the apartment, to
    > confirm this. Do you know whether they would attach any weight to such a
    > letter?
    > Which do you think is the better shot?
    > We *do* plan to get married down the road, but my girlfriend would like to
    > have that as a nice event, and not have a quick subpar wedding for the
    > sake of the immigration authorities--besides, won't it look suspicious if
    > we sudden;y get married just when I get a job offer and we want to move?
    > Does being engaged carry any weight for the application?
    > Many thanks --Jerry W