If you discovered that you were listed as a de facto partner without your knowledge in an immigration application in Canada, this is a serious problem. But there is a way out: you need to prove that you were unaware of the process and did not consent to it.
How is this even possible
At first glance it seems unbelievable that a person could be added to a de facto partner procedure without their involvement. But in reality this requires certain actions: signing declarations of cohabitation, gathering documents, providing personal data and photographs. That’s why Canadian immigration authorities usually reject claims of complete unawareness: the person must have somehow provided their documents and information for the submitted application.
What the defense can be based on
If you truly did not know about the procedure, your defense rests on one thing: proving that you did not give consent and were not aware of what was happening. This is difficult, but possible if you can show that your documents were used without your knowledge or that the signatures on the declarations are not yours.
It is critically important to act quickly. If you noticed the problem after the application was submitted but before it was reviewed, there may be steps you can take. If a decision has already been made, the situation becomes more complicated.
First step: establishing the facts
The main question you need to answer is: did you really not know about the procedure? If the answer is yes, this needs to be documented. Check whether you signed any cohabitation declarations, whether you consented to the use of your data, and where and when your information was obtained.
If you realize that you contributed to the process in any way — even indirectly — the situation changes. In this case, a simple statement that you did not give consent may not be enough.
When there is still time to act
If you discovered the error after submitting the application, but Canadian immigration authorities have not yet made a final decision on the case, there may be procedural steps that need to be taken urgently. Do not delay: the longer time passes, the harder it will be to challenge the decision.
If a decision has already been issued, contesting it becomes much more difficult.
The general principle: the whole difficulty is in proving it
You cannot simply say, “I didn’t know” — this must be confirmed by facts. Immigration authorities will not accept unsubstantiated claims, especially if there are documents with your information in the file.
If you truly became a victim of fraud or your information was used without permission, this fact must be fully documented. Only with convincing evidence that you had no involvement in the process do you have a real chance of challenging your de facto partner status.
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