proof of common-law

[lyko]

Hello all!

I'm nearly done with the thousends and thousends of forms to take my girlfriend to Canada.
But I'm not sure about one thing....
We're together now for 8 years and we live together since 2006. Now I've got the rental agreements and to proof our ralationship I've also got travel documents which proof that we went to holidays together for several times. BUT... they are written in german. Do I have to let them be translated by a professional office? If so.... i don't want to think what it will cost. It would be about 15-20 pages .

Thanks

[alasken]

From appendix A:

"If your documents are not in English or French, send a notarized (certified) translation with a copy of the original".

From the document checklist:

"Supporting documents must be in English or French. If they are not, send a certified translation with a copy of the original".

Looks like you're out of luck :/

[valy79]

Hello all!

I'm nearly done with the thousends and thousends of forms to take my girlfriend to Canada.
But I'm not sure about one thing....
We're together now for 8 years and we live together since 2006. Now I've got the rental agreements and to proof our ralationship I've also got travel documents which proof that we went to holidays together for several times. BUT... they are written in german. Do I have to let them be translated by a professional office? If so.... i don't want to think what it will cost. It would be about 15-20 pages .

Thanks

Get them translated by an individual translator (not a company)! When I had my birth certificate translated (German as well  ) I asked for quotes from several people/companies. The companies were ridiculously expensive, the translator I found at the end was very reasonable.

As for the "supporting documents" - I acutlly don't think that applies to relationship evidence. I translated several letters (from my mum, some of my friends) myself (just made a little note on it saying that it was translated by me). And we got through without any problems. What are the actual documents you are talking about?

[lyko]

Get them translated by an individual translator (not a company)! When I had my birth certificate translated (German as well  ) I asked for quotes from several people/companies. The companies were ridiculously expensive, the translator I found at the end was very reasonable.

The translator you found... is he/she still active?

As for the "supporting documents" - I acutlly don't think that applies to relationship evidence. I translated several letters (from my mum, some of my friends) myself (just made a little note on it saying that it was translated by me). And we got through without any problems. What are the actual documents you are talking about?

Documents are:
- the rental agreements to proof we live together since 2006
- travel documents from holidays we made (Appendix A Document Checklist - Immigrant  Nr. 8: Travel documents and passports).  Ok maybe i misunterstand that point? I thought they need it to also proof relationship.
- Police certificates and clearance

We have no letters we could translate. After we met the first time, we just visited us (didn't live far away each other).

[valy79]

The translator you found... is he/she still active?

Yes I think so, but she lives in Edmonton, so I am not sure how helpful that would be for you...

Documents are:
- the rental agreements to proof we live together since 2006
- travel documents from holidays we made (Appendix A Document Checklist - Immigrant  Nr. 8: Travel documents and passports).  Ok maybe i misunterstand that point? I thought they need it to also proof relationship.
- Police certificates and clearance

We have no letters we could translate. After we met the first time, we just visited us (didn't live far away each other).

Oh ok, so as for the official documents such as police certificates and rental agreements you need to have them translated. I am actually surprised that the police certificates are only in German...both of mine (Austria and Switzerland) came in both German and English/French.

Since your application is a common-law one you WILL need support letters from your friends and family and at least two statutatory declarations:
AppendixA:

If you are a common-law or conjugal partner, provide evidence that your relationship is genuine and continuing and has existed for at least 12 months prior to your application. Also provide details of the history of your relationship and at least two statutory declarations from individuals with personal knowledge of your relationship supporting your claim that the relationship is genuine and continuing.

If it is more "personal" things, such as birthday cards, letters from friends etc. I think it would be sufficient if you translate them yourself, like I did....

[canadianwoman]

Get the official things - and the rental agreement - done by a certified translator. Other things - such as additional proof the relationship is genuine (emails, love letters, etc.) - would ideally be done by a certified translator, but to save money most people do it themselves or get a friend to do it.

[lyko]

Ok.
And about the "provide evidence that your relationship is genuine and continuing", would it be good if i additionally let my english speaking mates, family member write a letter in english in which they confirm that our relationship is genuine and continuing?

Thanks so far for the great help.

[canadianwoman]

Ok.
And about the "provide evidence that your relationship is genuine and continuing", would it be good if i additionally let my english speaking mates, family member write a letter in english in which they confirm that our relationship is genuine and continuing?

Yes. For a common-law application you need two such statements that are notarized or affidavits. You can also include others, which can be affidavits, letters, or just emails. They should explain how they know you - i.e., who they met first and when they met their friend or relative's partner, what they have done together with the two of you, how often they see you two, and then state they believe your relationship is genuine because ...
Make sure they sign the letter, and give contact details on letters and emails.
Try to get this kind of 'support letter' from both sides. The judge at my appeal hearing wanted to know why all the support letters were from my husband's side - the answer, because he has never been to Canada and so has never met my family. But my family could still have written something - they have all talked to him on the phone, for example, and they could have offered proof that they knew about the relationship way back in 2001. My mistake.

[lyko]

Yes. For a common-law application you need two such statements that are notarized or affidavits.

Hm ok but how is " notarized or affidavits" possible? I mean who can know if the letters are true?`I would never make fake letters, I'm just confused how I manage that the letters are notarized? *confused*
And in our case, we never lived away more than 60km (about 40miles) of each other. And after 3 years we moved together. It's not that i lived in another country then she.

[canadianwoman]

For an affidavit, the person who wrote the affidavit swears that it is true, just like swearing under oath in court. Certainly, it might still be a lie, but affidavits are taken more seriously as evidence than just a letter. For a notarized letter or an affidavit, the notary or judge will also check the person's ID, so it provides proof that the person who claims to have written the letter was actually that person. (Again, it could still of course be a lie.)

[valy79]

.Try to get this kind of 'support letter' from both sides.

Agreed. One letter is likely not enough (in my opinion). Since you are common-law it is crucial that you submit as much evidence for your relationship as you can. We submitted a total of four notarized letters (2 from each side), plus around support letters (including one from my boss, several good friends of both of us, close family etc.). And yes, have them all signed and contact information of the respective person on it.

Getting things notarized is easy - go to a notary public (or an affidavit here in Canada). You have to do that for your "Statutory Declaration of Common Law Union" anyway (I know it's not required but I have heard many times that the embassy will likely ask for it anyways).

Where do you guys live right now? I am a bit confused as to who is the Canadian (citizen/PR) and who isn't...

[ada84]

Hi guys,
Just wanted to say that I had documents from my country translated as well and notarized (also by different companies). We also sent few letters from family and good friends and our boss as we met at same workplace.

[lyko]

Where do you guys live right now? I am a bit confused as to who is the Canadian (citizen/PR) and who isn't...

We both live in Switzerland. I'm the Canadian citizen and live here since i was about 8 years old (1992). We've  met us 2003 and live together since 2006. Ever since i've wanted to move back to Canada someday. Finally we decided to take the challange. That's why it's hard for us to add letters we wrote each other... instead of writing each other we visited us nearly every day and of course the whole weekends.

[valy79]

lyko, you don't necessarily need letters that you wrote to each other. What you need is support letters from friend/family, photos, lease contract, etc.

If you want you can send me a PM and I can let you know what me and my common-law partner sent for evidence. If you live in the German-speaking part of Switzlerland you can write me in German as well , maybe that's easier for you?

And the Swiss police certificate comes in both German and French (and Italian), hence you do not need to have it translated (French is fine).