- sheillalynndiamse
- Nov 7, 2021
- 8 min read
Updated: Nov 9, 2021
"Even when you think your life is over, a new story line appears."- Rebekah Krane
Our flight's just a week away, yet we’re not done packing. The condo is still a big mess. Four luggage and four 20 x 20 boxes - that’s all the space Brian, my common-law partner of 2 years, and I have for everything we want to bring with us to Canada.
Our lives in boxes
Our study and open work permit applications as common-law partners (CLP) were approved last June in just 32 days! We were surprised we got our approvals in just a month given the delays in visa processing since the pandemic started. And to top it all, we did it DIY.
Visa stamped
If I were asked two years ago if I have plans of settling abroad and leaving the Philippines, my answer would be a big NO. Life was great. I was the youngest news producer in the largest broadcasting network in the Philippines. It was a career that spanned 16 years.
2016 presidential election coverage.
Rodrigo Duterte was elected president of the Philippines.
I was happy at work, and even fell in love. Brian and I were officemates and friends for a decade. He's the graphic artist, and I was the producer. It was 4 years ago when fate brought us together after our respective long-term relationships failed. (Talk about God answering my prayer of falling in love with a friend!)
Finding love at work.
30th anniversary of TV Patrol, 2019 election coverage,
Chow Chows featured in a news segment.
But last year was the deal-breaker. I was retrenched along with thousands of employees (about 80%) when the government shut ABS-CBN down. It was the biggest blow to Philippine media since the Marcos dictatorship in the 1970s.
From February to July 2020, various labor groups staged rallies in support of the renewal of ABS-CBN's franchise.
Last day at work.
I was devastated, worried, and scared. I felt I lost my purpose. What was I supposed to do next? Is it too late to change careers? Losing creates a void that can’t be filled easily. But depending on how you look at things, losing also gives you the opportunity to restart and rebuild. Then it dawned on me, I was given the chance to reset my life, and I didn’t want to waste it.
Our last travel before the pandemic - Hokan-ji Temple in Kyoto, Japan in 2019
Brian and I decided to relocate. Since we're not married yet, we looked into countries that recognize common-law partnerships. Canada is our first choice because of its diversity and immigration pathways. It ranks third among countries that attract thousands of international students yearly. As an international student, you can also explore Canada and work part-time. You can even bring your spouse, partner, or the whole family.
However, information about study and open work permit applications by common-law partners is scarce online. Most of the research we gathered were based on other couple's experience shared on social media groups, and we applied what we thought worked best for our situation.
As my way of paying it forward, I am sharing a DIY guide on what documents we submitted that I think helped us get our approvals. What I will be discussing in detail in this post is dedicated for common-law partners of international students applying for open work permit.
Who are eligible to apply for open work permit?
The open work permit, when approved, will be for the same period of time as the study permit. Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), the organization that facilitates the arrival of immigrants, explains on its website the conditions the students must meet in order for their common-law partner or spouse to be eligible to apply for open work permit.
The student must:
have a valid study permit
be enrolled full-time in any of the following schools:
public post-secondary school, such as a college or university, or CEGEP in Quebec
private college-level school in Quebec.
private-college level-school, Canadian private school that legally award degrees under provincial law (for example, Bachelors, Masters, or Doctorate degree)
be eligible for a post-graduation work permit (PGWP)
When all of the conditions above are met, the next step is to convince the visa officer of the authenticity and length of the relationship.
Secure pertinent documents establishing your common-law relationship.
To be considered common-law partners, a couple must be able to prove they have lived together in a conjugal relationship continuously for at least a year. In the Philippines, it is very challenging for common-law partners or “live-in couples” to obtain documents proving their relationship.
IRCC provided a document checklist that CLPs can use to find out what to submit with their application. Some of these include shared ownership of residential property, joint leases, and rental agreements.
IRCC's document checklist for common-law partners
In our case, Brian and I included the following supporting documents in our application:
Statutory declaration of common-law union
Known as IMM5409, Statutory Declaration of Common-Law Union is a form used by applicants who want to add their common-law partners into their immigration applications. This applies to study permit applicants who will include in their submission the application of their common-law partner (or spouse) for open work permit.
IMM5409 which can be downloaded when you create a profile on the website of IRCC
Joint declaration of cohabitation
Ask a lawyer to draft a joint declaration with the details of your cohabitation - when you started living together, your address, and the purpose of the document. You and your common-law partner are required to sign the form and have it notarized. Notarized documents are considered legal papers and assure the visa officer that the details you provided are authentic.
Bank certificate and statement for joint account
The ideal period that the joint account has been opened should at least be 6 months. Bulk deposits for the sake of show money are red flags. You and your partner should be able to establish that the joint account has cash consistently flowing in and out of the account. Others have also secured bank statements for the transactions for the past 3 months.
Certificates from your local district (barangay certificates)
Apply individually for a certificate of residence in your local barangay. The document should state that you are living within the locality, and should show a similar address with your partner’s certificate.
Government IDs bearing the same address
Social Security System (SSS) ID, Philpost ID, and driver’s license are Philippine government IDs you can present. Just make sure you and your partner’s IDs show the same address. Include as well the police clearance certificate from the National Bureau of Investigation or NBI. This is considered a government ID which can also indicate your present address. If you are a bit time-constraint with limited options, securing a Philpost ID is the easiest and fastest way of getting a government ID. You can claim it in less than 2 weeks!
Bills and receipts that have the same address
Joint utility bills (water, electricity, telephone plans) and receipts indicating your name and address can also be used to prove you and your partner are living at the same address. Provide receipts or billings dated a year ago. This is strong support to your claim that you both have been living together for at least a year.
Relationship support letters from family and friends
Letters of support from relatives and close friends can also be used to attest to the existence of the relationship. We each presented 3 letters - 2 from friends and 1 from a relative. They recounted how they knew about our relationship and that they are willing to attest to its authenticity.
Some examples of the supporting documents you can submit as common-law partners.
Show proof of funds (POF).
Studying abroad entails a lot of costs. Assess your finances. Do you have enough funds or financial support that can cover the tuition and living expenses? POF refers to cash or fund that is readily available or can be withdrawn easily. Secure bank certificates or bank statements, proof of income like payslips, tax declaration, sale of a property or car, and investments in stocks.
In Toronto, tuition for a 1-year postgraduate certificate ranges from CAD 15,000 to CAD 19,000. There are some colleges offering 2-year courses for CAD 24,000. Education abroad does not come cheap, but it’s worth it.
Get an educational credential assessment (ECA).
Obtaining an ECA verifies that your foreign degree, diploma, or certificate (or other proof of your credential) is valid and equal to a Canadian one. Get an ECA for immigration purposes, and only have your highest level of education evaluated. If you obtain a Master’s or Doctorate, get an assessment for that degree alone.
Where can you get ECA? You can choose from organizations or professional bodies designated by IRCC. I had my credentials assessed by WES or World Education Services which cost me CAD $230 (roughly Php 9,200).
Prepare a statement of purpose (study permit) and letter of intent (open work permit).
Aspiring international students need to include a statement of purpose or SOP in their application. This document is an essay addressed to the visa officer discussing your motivation for pursuing further studies. It is critical to show in your SOP how your studies in Canada and chosen course help you with your long-term goals.
I have extensive experience in news production and content creation for TV, radio, and online, but I have always been curious about marketing. With the drastic shift to digital during the pandemic, I wanted to gain knowledge in creating online content and launching effective campaigns digitally. These are some of the reasons I stated in my SOP to justify taking up a postgraduate certificate in Digital Media Marketing.
Brian, on the other hand, submitted a letter of intent where he stated the reasons he will be coming with me to Canada. The visa officer must be convinced with his purpose of accompanying me for the duration of my study. He narrated our love story and emphasized the importance of us being together. He also explained how he will support us while staying in Canada. Highlighting how he can contribute to the community because of his profession as a graphic artist, and what his future plans were valuable in showing that he will be a productive temporary resident in Canada. Even though he was just accompanying me, he laid out his and career and personal plans after I finish my studies.
Create an IRCC account and apply online.
Set up an account called a GCKey account on IRCC's website. Once you have created your profile, indicate whether you will be applying alone, with your spouse or common-law partner, or with the whole family. You will be asked questions based on your circumstances. After answering these, you will be provided with a list of the documents you need to submit.
Scan all important documents and follow the 4mb size limit per file. The best format is in pdf, and there are websites like ilovepdf.com that you can use to adjust the document size.
Lastly, make sure before pressing submit - your documents and files are COMPLETE and UPDATED.
Good luck on your application! :)
Do you have any question or want to share your journey in applying for a study or work permit in Canada? Please comment below or send me a mesage.
Let's build together an online community focused on supporting, helping, and lifting up each other as we navigate our new lives in a foreign land we will call, and make, our next home. #
"I hope you live a life you're proud of. If you find that you're not, I hope you have the strength to start all over again."
- The Curious Case of Benjamin Button