Evidence
EVIDENCE REQUIREMENTS
Although prior cohabitation is not a requirement for entry
clearance as a civil partner, a proposed civil partner, or leave to remain
as a civil partner, it is very important to provide evidence that the
relationship is genuine and subsisting and intended to be permanent.
Apart from section 5, therefore, all the suggestions for evidence which
follow are still useful for CP related applications. For an unmarried
partners application, or an application for a EEA family permit based on a
"durable relationship", providing the evidence that you have been living
together for at least 2 years is crucial. Your dossier should include such
things as: 1. Details of joint commitments, such as Bank accounts, lease
agreements, life Insurance etc.
2. Correspondence which links you to the same address, esp. official
records such as Doctors etc.
3. A covering letter from each of you detailing most, but not
necessarily all of the following:
- How and when you met.
- How and why the relationship developed.
- If you’ve spent time apart - why, and how you felt
during this time.
- Your shared social activities and hobbies.
- Milestones in your relationship such as moving in
together or going on hols.
- What makes your relationship special for you.
- What makes your partner special for you.
- Future plans you may have.
- How you would feel if you were forced to be apart.
4. Supporting letters from friends and family, saying:
- How long they have known you both.
- How long they have known of the relationship.
- Reasons why they believe the relationship is genuine
and committed.
- That they have experienced you as a couple in social
situations.
- How they think you would feel if you were forced to
separate.
- Whether or not they are married and whether they
consider your relationship to be ‘akin to marriage’.
[Please note, that these days such letters, apart maybe from those
written by people in official positions, are considered as "soft", rather
than "hard" evidence in unmarried partner applications - i.e. not very
useful unless the application is otherwise very short of evidence. They
could, however still be useful to help prove that you are more than just
housemates.
5. Evidence of Cohabitation:
- Joint leases or a letter from your landlord/lady stating that you
live at the same address.
- Joint Utilities Bills.
- Letters addressed to you both at the same address.
- Official documents such as drivers licenses which are addressed
individually but show the same address.
6. Support and accommodation. It is essential to provide evidence of
how you will accommodate and support yourselves without recourse to public
funds. Normally this will mean:
- Details of your house or flat. Is it rented or owned
? Is there a mortgage or not ? How will these expenses be covered ?
(you should provide 3 months original bank statements and/or evidence
of savings).
- The British partner should provide pay slips if
employed. (If not you may consider providing CVs (for both of you) to show employability).
- If not working or retired, details of income from
other sources.
- Bankers reference.
7. Other evidence:
- Passport stamps and/or tickets to show visits to your
partners country.
- Telephone Bills/ Emails for any periods when you were
separated.
- Photographs of you together clearly dated, captioned
and accompanied with an explanation. (Dated Index prints are
useful because you cannot always be in the same photo)
- Evidence of joint membership of organisations or
groups.
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