COMMON LAW OR CONJUGAL RELATIONSHIP???

[Bunintheoven]

We have lived together for most of the last 1.5 years, however we have zero proof of this - no shared lease, bills, etc, ID registered at other addresses.

should we apply as a Common Law couple (but with no proof of cohabitation)? or better to apply as Conjugal ??

 

[taffy7]

If you have lived together you can't apply for Conjugal. You will have to find some proof that you have lived together. As for most of the time, you have to live with each other for 12 months straight. Ask your landlord for a letter. What they are asking to see is that you have combined your life as much as possible. E.G. shared credit card,shared bank account, taxes are commonlaw, joint life insurance.

The only thing to do is get married then apply.

 

[canadianwoman]

The problem with applying conjugal is that you have to prove that you have combined your lives together just like a married couple, except were prevented from living together. You were living together, so nothing is preventing you from living together. If you applied conjugal, the visa officer would refuse it and just tell you to live together for a year and reapply. Also, if you had combined your lives enough to prove conjugal, you would also have enough proof for common law.
If you really cannot get proof of one year of cohabitation, do not waste your time applying conjugal. Just starting now get proof showing you live together: get a lease with both names, joint utility bills, mail addressed to you both at the same address, etc., and wait a year. Or get married.