FSW Category 1 - Common Law Fee Query

[spickles]

Hi All,

My partner and I are applying for FSW immigration with common law marital status. I am the principal applicant, and he will be the common law partner.

We have completed the forms, but have a query about the fees. My original understanding was that we need to pay 2x $550, as there is a principal applicant, and a 25 year old common law partner.

However, the CIC fees website (https://services3.cic.gc.ca/efee/efee.do) distinguishes between a family member and a common law partner, and has confused me:

"A family member of the principal applicant who is 22 years of age or older, or is less than 22 years of age and is a spouse or common-law partner "

As a common law partner, does my partner classify as a family member or not? If not, then because he is > 22 years of age, then he doesn't fall within the 2nd part of the above statement, despite being a common law partner.

To summarise, I am asking whether there is a fee for common law partners > 22 years of age?

Can anyone please advise? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks,
Simon

 

[spickles]

I think I've just answered my own question... typical!

Page 2 of the imm0008egen.pdf form asks for family member details, and one of the marital status options is "Common-law". It then asks you for Relationship to you, to which I have responded "Common-law Partner".

As this implies that a common-law partner = family member, and my partner is > 22, then I assume I have to pay an additional $550.

I wasn't able to find any definition of the term 'family member', so this is still an assumption, and I'd be happy for anyone to offer their insight.

Cheers,
Simon

 

[Leon]

The reason for the question is because if you are taking with you a family member who is not a spouse or a common law partner and is under 22, that person would be classified as a dependent child and then the fee is much lower.