Outland Common-law Sponsorship: couple q's!

[lfindlay]

Hi! I'm new here.. My boyfriend (Aussie) and I (Canadian) are have just decided to put together an Outland Common-Law sponsorship application. He is currently in living in Canada, and is 1 year into his 2 year work permit. We want to get this going so that it is (hopefully) approved before his work permit expires next August. I just have a couple questions!

I have a good friend in a similar situation as us, she has applied to sponsor her spouse - however, they applied inland.. They also met with a consultant but the option to apply Outland was never presented to them, even though he still had about 8 months left on his work permit. I just find it strange that it wouldn't have been presented to them, but is it quite common to apply Outland while living in Canada? It seems that it is from reading some posts here.

We are hiring an immigration consultant but I am still a bit nervous re: evidence. We have lived together for a year but have been living in my parents basement suite so have no lease, no utility bills, etc. Both our driver's licenses are to the same address. Going to get notarized letters from my parents and print off/back-date a lease agreement and get that notarized as well. Has anyone had any experiences with a similar situation? He doesn't get phone bills as he has pay-as-you-go, but I believe the phone was still registered under our address when he got here. Basically I'm just looking for someone to ease my nerves I guess, or suggest some other ideas...I know we will have assistance with the immi consultant, but I don't want this to be all in vain.

Thanks in advance!!

 

[jmsd2017]

Wouldn't it be easier for him to apply using the express entry under the Canadian experience program? Their application processing time is only 6 months and it's less paperwork. Just a thought through

 

[lfindlay]

Wouldn't it be easier for him to apply using the express entry under the Canadian experience program? Their application processing time is only 6 months and it's less paperwork. Just a thought through

Hmm. Not sure. I did bring that up in the consultation but was told we would need to have a separate consultation for that - and that outland applications were being processed in around 6 months as well on average..just figured we'd go the sponsorship route.

 

[WeegieInOttawa]

Hi! I'm new here.. My boyfriend (Aussie) and I (Canadian) are have just decided to put together an Outland Common-Law sponsorship application. He is currently in living in Canada, and is 1 year into his 2 year work permit. We want to get this going so that it is (hopefully) approved before his work permit expires next August. I just have a couple questions!

I have a good friend in a similar situation as us, she has applied to sponsor her spouse - however, they applied inland.. They also met with a consultant but the option to apply Outland was never presented to them, even though he still had about 8 months left on his work permit. I just find it strange that it wouldn't have been presented to them, but is it quite common to apply Outland while living in Canada? It seems that it is from reading some posts here.

We are hiring an immigration consultant but I am still a bit nervous re: evidence. We have lived together for a year but have been living in my parents basement suite so have no lease, no utility bills, etc. Both our driver's licenses are to the same address. Going to get notarized letters from my parents and print off/back-date a lease agreement and get that notarized as well. Has anyone had any experiences with a similar situation? He doesn't get phone bills as he has pay-as-you-go, but I believe the phone was still registered under our address when he got here. Basically I'm just looking for someone to ease my nerves I guess, or suggest some other ideas...I know we will have assistance with the immi consultant, but I don't want this to be all in vain.

Thanks in advance!!

Can I ask why you are hiring an immigration consultant? Honestly if your circumstances are straight forwrd there is NO need for one. This forum is a huge pool of knowledge and has an abundance of helpful posters that will answer questions you have along the way.

 

[lfindlay]

Can I ask why you are hiring an immigration consultant? Honestly if your circumstances are straight forwrd there is NO need for one. This forum is a huge pool of knowledge and has an abundance of helpful posters that will answer questions you have along the way.

Ahh, really? Given the fact that our evidence is lacking a bit (see original post), we just thought it would be helpful to have someone's assistance who is experienced in this sort of thing and knows what/what NOT to include. Obviously she can't create evidence out of thin air but I just thought it might take a bit of the stress off. Perhaps we should re-consider...

 

[Rob_TO]

We are hiring an immigration consultant

Complete waste of money IMO. As you've just seen from your friend's experience, they often give very bad advice (such as not even mentioning the outland option in their case). The forum is littered with people who paid for a consultant/lawyer, got bad, misleading or flat out wrong advice and ended up seeing long delays in their apps. Problem with consultants is the licensing standards are a joke, and they are not enforced properly so even horrible ones who completely screw up people's apps, continue to operate even after complaints to the regulating body.

Do it yourself, and ask any questions to this forum. Use the money you would have spent on consultant, on a vacation of something.

but I am still a bit nervous re: evidence.

You have the right idea by back-dating an official lease agreement (even if living with parents and not paying rent), and having it notarized. This will be one of your strongest proofs of cohabitation.
Other stuff you can still get and include proofs of are:
- open joint bank account
- get a supplementary credit card in other's name
- Any mail delivered to each of you, showing same address
- get life insurance on each other, showing each other as beneficiary
- if you have work benefits add each other as common-law partners
- show you both changed status with CRA to common-law for tax purposes
- letters of support from friends/family that state they are aware of your relationship and cohabitation

 

[scylla]

Wouldn't it be easier for him to apply using the express entry under the Canadian experience program? Their application processing time is only 6 months and it's less paperwork. Just a thought through

Paperwork is harder and more extensive for economic stream applications. Spousal sponsorship is far easier. Economic class requires IELTS, formal evaluation of education, proof of employment including reference letters from all past employers, etc. We also don't know if he has sufficient points under CEC to be selected.