OUTLAND APPLICATION: Can i go home and work while in progress?

[sarahelf]

Hi thank you all for your helpful information. Just a quick one from me: my boyfriend and I will be common law on September 1st 2015. My IEC Visa runs out on the 5th of September, but I am planning on submitting a visitors visa to stay here for a couple more months. I am starting to get my PR application ready now, so that when it comes to the time we are common law, I can submit the application to CIC. However, I need to work back in the UK whilst it is in progress. Will my boyfriend and I lose common law status if I go back to the UK to work whilst the application is in progress? I want to stay with him, but there is no way of supporting myself if I stay. Thanks for any information.

 

[BeShoo]

Once you've lived together for a year, you are still considered common law unless you've had a breakup in your relationship, and are living apart because of that. The only problem is that if any doubt arises, you might be asked for evidence that you haven't broken up. It's a remote possibility perhaps, but there are characteristics that define a legitimate relationship aside from living under the same roof. Check http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/spousal-sponsorship-t46995.0.html;msg357741#msg357741 and the following two posts in that thread for some examples.