Sponsoring Irish partner while resident in Ireland?

[Tara_W]

Hi,

Bit long-winded, sorry, but I wanted to include relevent background info!

I'm a Canadian, born in Toronto, but have been living in Ireland since the age of 10. I'm 33 now and about to enter the sponsorship process with my Irish partner with whom I've been living since 2006.  My immediate family, who have since returned to Toronto and are well settled, know him well as we've visited together often. Our relationship is known to his family, my extended family (in Canada and Ireland) and friends as well. We have a lot of documentation as proof of our lives together- rental agreements, gas/electricity bills, joint account statements, trips together, photographs etc. We're very serious about starting a new life over there and to that end, he's applied for a place on one of Centennial Colleges IT "fast-track" courses to gain an Ontario College Diploma in just 8 months thats related to his work experience. I've coincidentally just been offered a job with a Canadian company who have offices in Dublin and I'm hoping a transfer might be an option in future. If not, I've a tentative offer from another Canadian company whose offices are in Edmonton, but the job is based in Toronto. Eventually, I'd like to start my own business. Last year I opened a Canadian bank account (just in my name) and we've been socking some money away taking advantage of the favourable exchange rate. 

We're now at the stage where his medical is all done and we're getting ready to sign everything off. In putting the lot together, I've been referring to two document checklists, and the second checklist from the country-specific pack mentions something about obtaining a couple of "statutory declarations" as proof of our relationship. The other checklist doesn't mention this. I'm aware that a statutory declaration is a legal document, witnessed by a solicitor, notary public or commissioner for oaths (in Ireland) but what I'm not certain is what format it should take and is there a template that can be used.

Can anyone shed light on whether this additional info is absolutely necessary and if so, is there a template or format we can use rather than having to pay a professional to have it drafted?

Also, any indication how long it may take to get this processed from beginning to end? For processing in Mississauaga and London, UK, I'm seeing dates of anything from 2-9 months. I would have thought our application was fairly routine, but I could be wrong!

Many Thanks!

Tara

[Leon]

I don't think a statutory declaration is necessary but get a letter from your relatives witnessed by a couple of their friends.  Doesn't hurt to throw it into the mix.  I think your application should be very straight forward.  Just hope for the best.

[Tara_W]

Thanks for your response. I had emailed my Canadian cousin who went through the same process with her Irish husband about these statutory declarations, but haven't received a reply yet! I'm guessing they're away!  Ah well. I've done as you've suggested and got my partner's brother and sister-law to sign off a letter stating that we're a couple and they've known as us as a couple for years. I'm hoping that will do, in addition to all the other evidence we'll be throwing at them!

Well, its all paid for, packaged up and ready to go. We'll be heading down to the post office first thing tomorrow and it will then be fingers crossed for speedy approval and processing!

Thanks again- great forum!

Tara