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Need help with my common law options! Help!

Sweden

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Gary_87 said:
do we HAVE to get the letters from friends and family notarized? Also, as our proof of living together for the first 10 months is a letter from our previous landlord is it absolutely necesary to get this notarized too? I'm not sure well be able too.

are there any problems with this or will the letter with his signature and contact details be enough?
The letters need to be notarised, it's in the "western europe" guideline.
If possible you should get the letter from the landlord notarised etc, because it's the proof that you are common-law and you're applying as common-law.... since you didn't have a contract for that part. If you can't get it notarised, try and get somebody else who was living with you to write a letter (and get it notarised) and explain why the one from the landlord is not - it's difficult to know in advance if CIC will create problems, nobody can tell you that, but you should try your best to establish your common-law status as that's the category you're applying under.
 

Gary_87

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ahh. I didnt realise this. so we have to get the people who sign the documents for us to come to a notary with us? that's gonna be such a pain! any idea how much these things cost?
 

Rob_TO

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Sweden said:
The letters need to be notarised, it's in the "western europe" guideline.
According to the guide only 2 of the letters must be notarized. For the others its optional.

I don't think its necessary to get every single letter you do notarized. If you include the persons full name, address and phone number, that should be enough proof the person is who the letter says it is. Remember the notary does not prove anything in the letter itself is accurate, it just shows the person who signed it is who they say they are.
 

Gary_87

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Thankyou. So well get people to confirm us being together, we can get someone to confirm we lived there and we have the landlord copy with his name email and number (we can't get him notarized as his schedule is eratic and he's not always here).

this should be ok yeah?
 

Gary_87

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Thanks for the help again guys. We are slowly starting the process but obviously it's a little hectic. Would you be able to take the time to answer a few more questions?

1. Our previous landlord is a very busy person and would not have the time to come to a notary office with us. This letter from him will remain as it is. It has his email address and phone number along with his declaration that we have lived together since January and November 2012. Will this be ok?
2. We will get 3 friends to write us letters which we will get notarized along with a letter from my fiance's sister, who lived in the suite below ours during our entire time living there together. She can swear our relationship is genuine and also that we lived at this address together. We can get this notarized also.


These two points are my main concern for there being any possible hold of or problem with the application. Has anyone ever heard of a situation like this and what happened?

My other questions are these:
3. Should I include a cover letter for the whole application? If so, what should it state?
4. Should we supply content pages?
5. Are there any extra supporting documents other than the documents for the sponsor and applicant?
6. What should the letter from my fiance's employer state?
7. Is it best to split things into 3 groups, in three envelopes and to put all 3 into an envelope?
8. If there are any spaces left blank on the forms do we enter N/A? (For example, the co-signer part)
9. Do we put in a blank paper in place of forms we don’t need?
10. Where do we include the payment of receipt? If we only pay half now, do we mention we are going to pay the rest later?
11. What is a co-signer? It keeps asking about it...
12. What is the deal with this form IMM 5409? Can we both fill it in? It says to fill in only if I am a cosigner? Is there another form we can fill in and sign and get notarized that declares us as common-law?
We can tick the boxes that say we have a lease and bank accounts but none of the others: is this ok? Also, it asks onthe formif we have declared our common-law union under the Canadian Tax Act (T-1 General Individual Income Tax Return) - is this the same as changing my fiance's account details on her My Account page on the CRA website to commonlaw?
13. IMM 5490 poses some interesting questions ... it asks if we are in a common law relationship. Obviously the answer is yes, but then it starts asking a few questions I'm not sure about.
- was there a formal ceremony to celebrate the relationship? (what is this and no we didnt. We just are in a relationship and love each other)
- was there a reception? (a reception?? we arent married yet! What does this mean?)
- has your sponsor visited you during the relationship? (we never left each other ... Ive been living Canada?)
- have you visited your sponsor during the relationship? (See above)
- How do you and your sponsor communicate when you are not together? (we rarely arent except for work and we use a cell phone)
- How often and in what languge? (I dont think these questions are relevant for us?)
- Have you lived together? (Yes)


I am assuming that these questions are geared at applicants living OUTSIDE of Canada. I know I can apply fo Outside from IN Canada but how do I go about answering these awkwardly phrased questions?

14. It asks for a copy of my current status in Canada. Does this mean I show them my Work Permit even though it will expire soon? Will I need to provide them with proof of my Visitor Status in Canada?
15. It asks for my job. At the time of processing my visa I will be a teacher. When it is being processed I wont be as I wont be allowed to work. What should I do here?




I know it's a lot of questions and an answer to any of them would help. We're feeling a little overwhelmed. Not only are we full time teachers who have to spendour evenings planning lessons, but we also have this now. Any help at all is hugely appreciated and thanks to you all in advance and already for helping me so far!

Gary :)
 

Gary_87

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And one other thing (so sorry!)

My fiances notice of assessment will currently be for the previous financial year aa the new ones are not available yet, when she was earning a lot less. if we provide this it will possibly be under the minimum requirement (what is the current minimum income).
at this stage the checklist requires that we submit evidence of her paystubs ... we don't have these as we never kept them! She is now on salary and has been for the better part of a year so even recent paychecks do not show net income.

what would we do here? its all very confusing...
 

Sweden

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Gary_87 said:
And one other thing (so sorry!)

My fiances notice of assessment will currently be for the previous financial year aa the new ones are not available yet, when she was earning a lot less. if we provide this it will possibly be under the minimum requirement (what is the current minimum income).
at this stage the checklist requires that we submit evidence of her paystubs ... we don't have these as we never kept them! She is now on salary and has been for the better part of a year so even recent paychecks do not show net income.

what would we do here? its all very confusing...
there is no minimum requirement. So include the option C from last year, and an explanation of how much she makes now, and include the proofs that you have. CIC wants to see that she is not on welfare, and that she has means to support herself and you. So include a detailed explanation of the current financial situation, and you'll be fine.
Sweden
 

Gary_87

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Thankyou sweden.

are you able to assist with any if my other questions? or anyone for that matter? anything is a great help.

thanks again!
Gary