Is my common law sponsor considered part of my family?

[alasken]

Im applying to get sponsored by my Canadian gf. I'm not bringing anyone else.

In my document checklist it says:

"Provide national identity cards, birth certificates, baptismal certificates or other official document confirming relationship for you and each of your family members....Photocopy of Citizenship Certificate or Immigrant or Permanent Resident Visa for any family members who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada". 

What exactly do they want? A copy of my passport (referring to national identity card). Also, the last sentence refers to family members who are Canadian citizens..is my common law gf considered family in this regard? Do I need to get a copy of her citizenship certificate? Is she considered family in other parts of the application, for example where they ask for 8 recent photos of me and my family members?

Then later they ask for "Passports or travel documents from you, your spouse or common-law partner and dependent children."

Does this have to be notarized?

[mrsh]

Hi alasken. Sorry I can only answer your last question. I was sponsored also. I submitted  a notarized  photocopy of my passport in our application to CIC-Missasauga.

[alasken]

Hi alasken. Sorry I can only answer your last question. I was sponsored also. I submitted  a notarized  photocopy of my passport in our application to CIC-Missasauga.

Thank you. Did you also include a notarized copy of your sponsors passport? Did you include a citizenship certificate of your sponsor?

[TreeLover]

You don't have to notarize your passports.  We sent a copy of mine (applicant) and a copy of the sponsor's (Canadian citizen).  My application for PR was approved 2 weeks ago, so there doesn't seem to be a reason to notarize those copies.  The only things I had notarized were three letters from people we know contesting to our relationship and our common law declaration form.  It's not evident whether you need to send the common law declaration form or not, but some people have been asked to supply it later, so it's better to send it from the beginning.   The instructions they give makes it seem like you only send that form if you have a co-signer for the sponsor, but it seems like you should also send it if you are applying as common law spouses.  That form you do need to notarize for sure.

[TreeLover]

Oh, actually, it may depend on what visa office you are applying through whether or not you need to notarize passports.  I applied through Buffalo and there was no need, but maybe other visa offices require it.  Best to ask someone who has the same visa office as you.  Don't want to steer you wrong!

[RobsLuv]

Your sponsor is not included in your application as a "family member".  She is included in the "Additional Family Info" form, but your "family members" (for a spousal/common-law application) would only be any of your dependent children - whether they are immigrating to Canada or not.  "Family members" on the Permanent Residence Application IMM0008 does not include partner, parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc.  

The reason it's confusing is because this is the same application that someone would use to sponsor an extended family member, like a parent - and, in that case, the applicant's spouse/partner would be included as a "family member".  But for spousal/common-law sponsorships, obviously, your partner is Canadian (either citizen or PR) and does not need to be included as a family member being sponsored.

There are required identification documents that the sponsor provides - they are listed on the sponsor's document checklist.  

[mrsh]

As i check your Region Specific Form- West Europe including Norway , there's no need to have your passport notarized. Pls check this site and you'll find the info you need. http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/fc.asp#region.

As Treelover said, it may depend on the visa office.

My husband is a canadian citizen by birth, so we included his birth certificate.  

Quoted (Thank you. Did you also include a notarized copy of your sponsors passport? Did you include a citizenship certificate of your sponsor?)