Statutory Declaration of Common-Law Union - notary public necessary?

[canadianxlovesxbrit]

Hi,

My partner (British) and I (Canadian) are applying for a family class sponsored visa for him to come to Canada. We have filled in the Statutory Declaration of Common-Law Union as part of our application - we are a common-law couple - but see that we require it to be signed by a notary public.

However, the cheapest notary public we can find in Oxford, UK charges £205 - we can't afford this on top of all the other costs! His medical exam is £360 and police certificate £90...not to mention the cost of submitting the application ($450). We are a young couple still getting established and don't have a lot of extra income to pay for this.

Is a notary public truly necessary or can we just use a witness? I can't swallow the idea of paying a lawyer £205 for five minutes of his time and one signature.

Alternatively does anyone know of any cheaper options?

 

[Rob_TO]

Hi,

My partner (British) and I (Canadian) are applying for a family class sponsored visa for him to come to Canada. We have filled in the Statutory Declaration of Common-Law Union as part of our application - we are a common-law couple - but see that we require it to be signed by a notary public.

However, the cheapest notary public we can find in Oxford, UK charges £205 - we can't afford this on top of all the other costs! His medical exam is £360 and police certificate £90...not to mention the cost of submitting the application ($450). We are a young couple still getting established and don't have a lot of extra income to pay for this.

Is a notary public truly necessary or can we just use a witness? I can't swallow the idea of paying a lawyer £205 for five minutes of his time and one signature.

Alternatively does anyone know of any cheaper options?

To make it a "statutory" document, then a notary/lawyer is required to witness and sign it. Else the form is useless.

The cheaper option is just not to include it at all, since this form is not actually required for spousal sponsorship. If visa officer really wants it later, let them specifically ask for it.

 

[methyl]

A cheaper option is to do it in Canada - I did it for $10 in Toronto.
But as others said, if you read the guide properly this form is used when you and your common-law partner are sponsoring someone else together.

 

[maledil]

I can't speak for England but my fiance's bank in the US does notary service for free. Might be worth checking out.

Also, as someone who did not send in the declaration of common-law with our application I highly recommend doing so as it adds a lot of time while they request and wait for it. It cost us almost 2 months due to some unfortunate timing.

 

[Rob_TO]

I can't speak for England but my fiance's bank in the US does notary service for free. Might be worth checking out.

Also, as someone who did not send in the declaration of common-law with our application I highly recommend doing so as it adds a lot of time while they request and wait for it. It cost us almost 2 months due to some unfortunate timing.

In our common-law app we didn't include it, and it was never asked for during processing.

It's really at discretion of visa officer whether to ask or not. There is no harm in not including it to save the cost, and worst case scenario as you mentioned they will ask for it later which will delay the app as long as it takes to complete and mail it to the visa office.

 

[Sous02]

In our common-law app we didn't include it, and it was never asked for during processing.

It's really at discretion of visa officer whether to ask or not. There is no harm in not including it to save the cost, and worst case scenario as you mentioned they will ask for it later which will delay the app as long as it takes to complete and mail it to the visa office.

The cost is hardly worth the chance of a delay. I would include it if at all possible.