Canadian Immigration Criteria For Relationships

30 Jul 2010

A principal applicant is required for applying for immigration to Canada via Citizenship & Immigration Canada (CIC) who need not necessarily be the head of the household. The person should be fulfilling the criteria of the particular immigration route chosen. Look up for the criteria and determine the family member who gains maximum points with right history and qualifying criteria. The principal applicant can then name spouses and dependent children as family members to be included in their application.

As per CIC the definition of spouse is: Two people of opposite or same-sex in a legally recognized marriage. Common-law: Two people of opposite or same-sex who are living in a conjugal relationship and have been doing so continuously for at least one year. Conjugal: Two people who live together and have significant commitment to one another i.e. financial, emotional, children etc.

Some issues may arise when applying for immigration to Canada that may never have been a factor before and could actually prevent the CIC from recognizing your relationship as common-law. If you know beforehand what these issues might be you can prepare in advance and get your affairs in order so that when the time comes you have no problems proving your relationship.

When CIC accepts common-law relationships both heterosexual and gay or lesbian it has to receive proof from the couple that their relationship is real and not being used for the benefit of immigration. This means that you will need to prove that your relationship is conjugal. Evidence that you share a home, support each other financially, are in an emotional relationship and perhaps have children will all be taken into account.