Do relationship support letters need to be original and hand-signed?

[JuniWolf]

I am an American living in Canada with my Canadian common-law partner. We are getting ready to send our application but we're waiting on family in America to send relationship support letters. I wanted to double check if they have to be hand-signed, or if they can be signed and scanned to me digitally? The problem is the USPS is not reliable right now and FedEx is about $50 to send a document to me. I wasn't really able to find much info on this when googling.

I have also read about people needing two notarized statutory declarations but I have not seen that on our checklist. Has that changed recently? Or is that not something an American has to do? Thanks in advance.

 

[Canada2020eh]

I am an American living in Canada with my Canadian common-law partner. We are getting ready to send our application but we're waiting on family in America to send relationship support letters. I wanted to double check if they have to be hand-signed, or if they can be signed and scanned to me digitally? The problem is the USPS is not reliable right now and FedEx is about $50 to send a document to me. I wasn't really able to find much info on this when googling.

I have also read about people needing two notarized statutory declarations but I have not seen that on our checklist. Has that changed recently? Or is that not something an American has to do? Thanks in advance.

I think a scanned copy of the letter will be fine. For the declarations, if your checklist doesn't specify to submit it then the answer is no.

 

[Joeydocs]

I think a scanned copy of the letter will be fine. For the declarations, if your checklist doesn't specify to submit it then the answer is no.

Some of mine were notarized and some weren’t. I don’t think it makes a difference to be honest.

 

[armoured]

Some of mine were notarized and some weren’t. I don’t think it makes a difference to be honest.

Letters do not need to be notarized unless otherwise specified. The only exception I cam think of for such personal letters is notarized or certified translations.

The question above refers to statutory declarations bit again - only of specified as required.

 

[PrincessButtercup]

I think a scanned copy of the letter will be fine. For the declarations, if your checklist doesn't specify to submit it then the answer is no.

@JuniWolf Scanned or photocopies of your letters is fine. ALWAYS keep the originals of your documents UNLESS they are required by IRCC. If you have the originals, it will be easy to refer to for backup, or heaven forbid, make future copies in case IRCC loses any part of your application packet (highly unlikely but not unheard of).

Also, I did not have to submit declarations, just check your checklist. Good luck!

 

[JuniWolf]

Thanks so much everyone.

@PrincessButtercup looks like you are doing the same thing I am just starting out on (USA to Canada inland and OWP). Wishing you my best!

 

[KelseyKk]

Mine were emails from my mom and friend, so I don’t even know if it matters. But ours is a more simple case so if you’re nervous then handwritten (scanned is fine) is better. Our own letters to each other during long distance I scanned to submit as well instead of the original copies

 

[PrincessButtercup]

Thanks so much everyone.

@PrincessButtercup looks like you are doing the same thing I am just starting out on (USA to Canada inland and OWP). Wishing you my best!

Feel free to message me if you have any questions and I'll try to help. These message boards are an invaluable source of information; once you've submitted, I highly recommend you follow along and participate with the specific thread for your submission month (will be named something like SEPT INLAND APPLICANTS), as it is useful to chat with others and share experiences with those whose application timing closely resembles yours.

The journey is long and frustrating and the pandemic has thrown so many wrenches into the process, but IRCC is back to work and chipping away at applications at every step!

 

[StellaArtois]

I am an American living in Canada with my Canadian common-law partner. We are getting ready to send our application but we're waiting on family in America to send relationship support letters. I wanted to double check if they have to be hand-signed, or if they can be signed and scanned to me digitally? The problem is the USPS is not reliable right now and FedEx is about $50 to send a document to me. I wasn't really able to find much info on this when googling.

I have also read about people needing two notarized statutory declarations but I have not seen that on our checklist. Has that changed recently? Or is that not something an American has to do? Thanks in advance.

I am sponsoring my spouse from the US, and we did not do two notarized statutory declarations.

For the relationship support letters, they do not have to be originals or hand signed; you can check out this post about relationship support letters in detail:
https://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/threads/how-do-you-include-your-relationship-letters-in-your-package.697861/post-8777062

Hope that helps!