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Advice for Singapore Citizen bringing back a Chinese common law spouse?

Posted: Thu, 29 Mar 2018 12:48 pm
by koalabear4sgexpat
Hi All,

I worked in Canada for close to 7 years and I recently found a job in Singapore to accommodate my common law spouse in Canada (Chinese Citizen) as she wishes to be closer to family.

My annual salary will be $60k + up to 3 months bonus. I was looking at applying a LTVP for her but I cannot find a way to sponsor her as common law spouse. Is getting married the only way?

While applying for the LTVP in Singapore, is tourist visa the only visa she can use to stay in Singapore with me pending ICA results?

Thanks in advance to the helpful contributors.

Re: Advice for Singapore Citizen bringing back a Chinese common law spouse?

Posted: Thu, 29 Mar 2018 1:08 pm
by PNGMK
Common law marriage LTVP only for those countries who will provide documentary evidence that the relationship is equivalent to marriage. China cannot I think.

Re: Advice for Singapore Citizen bringing back a Chinese common law spouse?

Posted: Thu, 29 Mar 2018 9:31 pm
by Strong Eagle
If you are claiming common law marriage in Canada, then there are several complications.

a) Have you been filing jointly with the Canada Revenue Agency? If not, you're not common law married.
b) Common law marriage recognition is a provincial thing. If you're living in Quebec, common law marriage doesn't exist. In Alberta, you would be an "adult interdependent". In BC, you would be in a legal relationship, just not one defined as marriage.

Therefore, your first step is to visit the Canadian consulate and see if they would agree with you that you are common law married. And if yes, then the next question is, "Will they issue you a document that states the same for the purposes of proving it up to the Singapore gahmen?"

Re: Advice for Singapore Citizen bringing back a Chinese common law spouse?

Posted: Thu, 29 Mar 2018 10:02 pm
by koalabear4sgexpat
What visa should she use during the period in applying for this may I ask?