Common-law marriages not recognized
When Mary and her son accompanied Bill Brown to Canada they were unaware that they would have no status there, despite the fact that Mary had shared her life with Bill for many years, writes Mitchell Brownstein.
Bill was working at a telecommunications company in Montreal, Quebec, on a two year temporary employment authorization. But Mary and her son George, had to obtain some type of temporary status based on their own applications to ensure they would be allowed to remain in Canada with Bill during the course of his temporary work permit.
As George was to enter grade six at school and Mary wished to study French, the best solution was to obtain Student visas.
However, as this application was being made from within the province of Quebec, a two-tier process had to be completed to obtain acceptance both from Quebec immigration and Canadian immigration authorities.
Medical examinations, proof of funds and support as well as the departure from Canada by Mary and George to attend an interview at the Canadian Consulate in New York City was the only way to regulate this most difficult situation.
Unlike a situation where the applicant would be a spouse or child of the principal temporary worker, and therefore allowed to apply for a student authorization from within Canada, this was not the case in terms of a common law marriage.
To this day, Bill Brown, his common-law wife, Mary and her son George are living in Montreal on temporary status.
For information on this and other matters concerning immigration to Canada, contact Brownstein and Brownstein Attorneys, 1310 Greene Avenue, Suite 750, Montreal, Quebec H3Z 2B2, Canada: Tel: 514-939-9559; Fax: 514-939-2289.
Representatives of Brownstein and Brownstein visit London on a regular basis to meet with people interested in immigrating to Canada.
