Clarification for some questions on PR Common-Law Sponsorship forms

[pkeats1229]

Hello,
I'll give you the breakdown of our relationship 1st and hopefully that will help you guys to help me with the questions I need clarified.
I'm a Canadian citizen and my boyfriend is a British citizen. We met in late 2006 while he was on a work visa in Canada. When he left Canada to go back to the UK in Sept 2007 we remained long distance- me visiting him for 3 weeks at x-mas and him visiting me for a week in February. In May 2008, he returned to Canada where we began living together. In October of that year he left to go to Japan for a month and back home to renew his visa. He returned to Canada on Dec 31st 2008 (back to living together). In October 2009, we moved to the UK as I was granted a Tier 5 Youth Migrant visa (this is a 2 year temporary working visa).

Since I am applying from outside of Canada, am I to apply using my British address? The form says living exclusively outside of Canada- but doesn't define it. As I am on a temporary visa, by permanent residence remains in Canada.

When it lists marital status- beside common-law it asks 'date relationship started'- I assume that this means the date in which we started living together? As he was away from Canada for 3 months while we were living together should it be his return date or just the first day we started living together?

For the medical exams, my boyfriend needs to undertake to include with the application- will any general MD in the UK be ok? I know on the site it says to visit one of the approved doctors on the list but that pertains to being in Canada.

Lastly, when it asks for statutory letters from friends/family proving our relationship is genuine- what does that consist of? Is it just as simple as them stating who they are, how they know each other, how long they've known us to be together, etc. and their contact details and signature?

Help and tips are much appreciated ASAP!

 

[waitingintz]

Hi pkeats

1. exclusively out of canada just refers to not going back and forth. you'll want to use your british address as you'll be proving common-law status and you'll want to receive any mail to there.

2. I actually called and asked and yes, it means when you started living together. I would think that unless he was still legal to live in Canada and on the lease you would have to start after the 3 month absence.

3. medical must always be done from someone on the list - in or out of canada.

4. statutory declarations must be notarized (witnessed by a commissioner of oaths). you need at least 2 of those, rest of the letters/statements can just have contact details and signature on them if you prefer. Include what you said but remember that the more personal it sounds the more genuine it will come across. i know people who've had problems because their letters were very cold and factual. you can also include strategic information in the statements (for example, i asked my parents to include info about my plans to move back to canada to help prove that)

Hope that helps get you started... Good Luck!

 

[pkeats1229]

Hi there,

Thanks for the help!

Do you know where can I find a list of doctors in the UK that are ok to have the medicals done by?
For the notarizations, is this only lawyers/solicitors that can do this?

I'm so worried about not having enough and delaying it!

 

[potcakes]

Hey, I just looked on line, if you go to the Canadian Visa Bureau, or put into the search engine Designated Medical Practitioners for canada Visa UK!. I would put the link here, but I dont know how! : Sorry! Hope this helps. GOOD LUCK!

 

[midnightmav]

Here is the link to the CIC websites list of designated medical practitioners.

http://www.cic.gc.ca/dmp-md/medical.aspx

hope that helps!

 

[AllisonVSC]

From my letter to friends and family requesting the statutory letters...

General information to consider including in your message (this can be written in French or in English, by the way)...

1. A description of how you know either one of us (typically the person you knew first)...examples
I am a friend of XXX, I was a co-worker of XXX, I am the sister of XXX, etc

2. A description of how you became aware of our relationship, when you met the other partner, activities we participated in together, etc

3. A statement to the effect that, in your judgement, we are in a real, loving, ongoing, genuine (you choose the words) relationship based on your personal knowledge and experiences

 

[potcakes]

Hi midnightmav,
How do you post an external link?

 

[pkeats1229]

Thanks guys for your help with the doctors.
Unfortunately since I'm in the UK it won't work when I try to call the Canada call centre and the London office will not help- they told me to write a letter and that takes to long to get a turn around and I don't think would be the clearest of options.

Continuing with the statutory declarations, do you think it matters if both of our letters are from the UK? So both will be saying how they know my boyfriend (principal applicant) first.

Thanks again for your help everyone! It is much appreciated

 

[matthewc]

You can call the CIC call centre from outside Canada:

http://immipedia.ca/CIC_call_centre

 

[midnightmav]

Hi midnightmav,
How do you post an external link?

hi potcakes! just copy the link into your text, then highlight it and just above the smilie faces you can see some coloured boxes, click on the third one in (insert hyperlink) which will make it a clickable link!

 

[AllisonVSC]

I think two statutory letters from the UK will be fine. If you can get other letters (notarized or not) from friends, family or colleagues that would be great too.

Banks every often have notaries on staff; same for real estate offices. If those don't work try a Google search for Notaries or Commissioner of Oaths followed by your location and see what you get.

As for the DMP you will have to use the link to find one nearest you. I tried England, France, Germany and Scotland and there aren't any listed. Try posting a new thread titled "Finding a DMP in the UK" or something. I'm sure hoping someone from Britain can help.

 

[canadianwoman]

We met in late 2006 while he was on a work visa in Canada. When he left Canada to go back to the UK in Sept 2007 we remained long distance- me visiting him for 3 weeks at x-mas and him visiting me for a week in February. In May 2008, he returned to Canada where we began living together. In October of that year he left to go to Japan for a month and back home to renew his visa. He returned to Canada on Dec 31st 2008 (back to living together). In October 2009, we moved to the UK as I was granted a Tier 5 Youth Migrant visa (this is a 2 year temporary working visa).
...
When it lists marital status- beside common-law it asks 'date relationship started'- I assume that this means the date in which we started living together? As he was away from Canada for 3 months while we were living together should it be his return date or just the first day we started living together?

'Date relationship started' is the date you started living together. I think you can put 'May 2008', not the Dec. 31 date. You were still a couple during those 3 months apart, right? You can attach a separate sheet of paper to include more details for any question, if you feel the need.

 

[pkeats1229]

Thanks again everyone
It's really confusing and stressful (and I haven't even started yet) but you guys are helping immensely!
I definitely think I'm going to try to put as much proof as possible- unfortunately my boyfriend isn't the best at keeping things so I'm going to have to do a lot of digging.
Very appreciative of the CIC number- I'll try to call it after work today
As for the DMP I believe someone posted the link in this thread- it had offices in England- I hope those are the right ones.
Keep your tips and advice coming!!