Help Needed!!!!!

[maiandjames13]

Hello, my common law partner will be eligible to sponsor me on September 1st 2013.
We have joint bank accounts, a lease showing our names, and a record of phone calls almost every single day we've been together.
He also added me as his beneficiary. We have lots of friends who are willing to write letters and swear on the validity of our relationship.
The problem is, I am on a student visa, but I cannot go to school right now because my parents have cut me off financially. My student visa expires in July 2014.
My common law partner is willing to support me during the wait, but I know it will drive me crazy.
More importantly, I don't have my birth certificate. My parents have it in Bahrain, and the only way to get another copy is to fly to Bahrain myself and give them my national identity card (which expires in July this year). I have my passport, which expires in 2015. The only problem is I don't have the funds to travel right now. I have enough saved for the application and medical exam and police certificate.
The other problem is that I don't have my parents' exact names on their passports. I'm pretty sure it needs to be the exact spelling on their passports.
I really don't want my application to be refused, I'm planning on applying inland because the processing time in the Abu Dhabi office is 22 months and I would have to go there for an interview if needed. (Seeing as I don't have a birth certificate, they probably will ask for one).
So the bottom line is, does anyone know if not having my parents' cooperation will hurt my application, if not being in school will hurt my application, and if not having my birth certificate or parents' exact names will hurt my application? And if so, what can I do that will prevent my application from being denied/delayed? Oh, and also, his parents are Christian reformed and do not approve of our relationship either. (Based on religious reasons) :

Any help at all would be greatly appreciated!!!

 

[scylla]

A copy of your birth certificate is a mandatory document. If you want to prevent your application from being denied, you should obtain a copy. CIC will sometimes accept another document that shows the date of birth in place of the birth certificate. However this is typically only allowed when it is impossible to obtain a birth certificate from the home country (i.e. the home country doesn't issue birth certificates). In your case it's quite possible and easy to obtain a birth certificate. So at a minimum, I think you can expect processing delays if you don't submit your birth certificate. CIC may also return your application or refuse to continue processing until you provide a birth certificate. To make a long story short, it's very important that you obtain your birth certificate and include a copy with the application.

The fact that you are not in school may very well delay the processing of your application if CIC suspects you may just be using your relationship as a means of remaining in Canada. To try to prevent your application from being delayed, provide as much supporting evidence as you can that demonstrates you have a genuine relationship.

I don't think that the exact spelling of your parents' name will create any issues.

 

[maiandjames13]

Thank you so much. Looks like I have to plan a trip back home...

 

[Nitzan900]

Thank you so much. Looks like I have to plan a trip back home...

most embassies can issue a birth certificate for you in canada i dont think you have to go back home.

 

[maiandjames13]

The closest embassy is in the States, there is no embassy here in Canada. I called them and they said they don't issue copies of birth certificates. The only way to get one is to go there in person to the Ministry of Health in Bahrain.

 

[canadianwoman]

Try submitting the application without your birth certificate. Explain why you can't get it. Provide some other proof of your age and identity. The checklist for the Middle East does say you must submit your birth certificate, baptismal certificate, or ....

If you have no other official proof though, I would not bother. If you do, though, maybe CIC will accept it, and if the visa office later requests the birth certificate, you might be in a better position to travel then.

 

[maiandjames13]

I think I'll just go back because i don't want to delay my application in any way, and since I haven't submitted it yet, I can go back for a week or two. Thanks for your response though.

 

[CanadianJeepGuy]

I think I'll just go back because i don't want to delay my application in any way, and since I haven't submitted it yet, I can go back for a week or two. Thanks for your response though.

I'm assuming that September will be your 1 year cohabitation requirement for common-law status? If you leave before that time make sure that doesn't disqualify the requirement.

 

[maiandjames13]

Yes, but I'm only leaving for two weeks. It's a standard for Canadian holidays. Just found out I need to have my police certificate done there as well. It's going to be a bumpy ride...

 

[fandv]

Just a little thought (something I've always been wondering about)...

The regional guide says:


"Provide birth certificates, baptismal certificates or other official document confirming relationship (including all pages of Household Registries, if applicable) for you and each of your family member"

Since the OP is planning to do a spousal sponsorship, how would the birth certificate be relevant? It only confirms the OP's relationship with his/her parents right...?

 

[CanadianJeepGuy]

Just a little thought (something I've always been wondering about)...

The regional guide says:


"Provide birth certificates, baptismal certificates or other official document confirming relationship (including all pages of Household Registries, if applicable) for you and each of your family member"

Since the OP is planning to do a spousal sponsorship, how would the birth certificate be relevant? It only confirms the OP's relationship with his/her parents right...?

This is true. I would think that birth certificates/baptismal certificates are only necessary for sponsored children. Her passport confirms who she is. My wife never had to submit her birth certificate.

 

[maiandjames13]

Really? If this is true it would save me $2000. I called immigration and they said it was a requirement though...I'll call again tomorrow. :/
I found out that I can do the police check at the embassy in D.C.

 

[Sweden]

Really? If this is true it would save me $2000. I called immigration and they said it was a requirement though...I'll call again tomorrow. :/
I found out that I can do the police check at the embassy in D.C.

check the checklist - CIC agents over the phone might tell you something and if you call 10min later they will tell you something else.
I'm the applicant, and I had to produce a copy of my birth certificate - there was no children involved, and I also had a copy of my passport etc - it was definitely a requirement for my application. Best is to follow the checklist and the guideline for your region, it's the safest way to go about it and make sure your application won't have any delay.
Sweden

 

[maiandjames13]

I'm applying inland. Did you apply inland, Sweden?

 

[maiandjames13]

It says:

Birth certificates

You must provide:

birth certificate,
a birth certificate or Canadian citizenship certificate for any dependent children.