Common-law partner, application amendment

[kapitan]

Dear fellow applicants,
I sent my application in January 2014 and I am still waiting for an answer. In the meantime, my marital status has changed and I can add my partner as Common-law.

I wrote to my national Canadian embassy and they replied that "You must advise the processing office in Ottawa that your situation has changed. They will give you instructions and will send you medical instructions. You cannot do upfront medicals in this category of immigration."

But how to contact them? I read here that I should amend all of the forms that are changing, plus add my partner's IMM5406E, IMM5669E, plus add the Statutory Declaration of Common-Law Union and proofs. Can someone confirm me this? I am worried to make some mistake.

Moreover, can she take an upfront medical exam?

Thank you very much, as usual this is a valuable resource for all the Canadian immigrants.

 

[jes_ON]

"You must advise the processing office in Ottawa that your situation has changed. They will give you instructions and will send you medical instructions." This is proper advice.

CPC-Ottawa's contact information is on the CIC website (likely on your AOR as well).

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/offices/canada/ottawa.asp

 

[kapitan]

Oh thank you! I have just sent an email. If they do not reply I will call. I couldn't find this information.

 

[jes_ON]

In addition to the application forms that CIC will advise you, your partner should start applying for his/her police clearance certificates.

Also, you will need to document the fact that you have been living together for at least one year.

One document is the CRA change of marital status document - do it on paper (not telephone) so that you have that piece of evidence.
http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/bnfts/mrtl/menu-eng.html

Other documents are leases in both of your names, joint bank accounts, etc. - See here -

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/helpcentre/answer.asp?q=347&t=14

 

[kapitan]

This is good advice!

I have just received a communication asking for other documents (police certificate, ...). I am just puzzled about this sentence:

Please note:
All documents must be accompanied by English or French translations. When original documents are requested, notarised documents are not acceptable. When attaching your document(s), please ensure that they are smaller than 5MB and that each document is attached individually.

What does it mean that notarised documents are not accepted? Does it mean that I can translate them myself without authentication from the Canadian embassy?

 

[jes_ON]

Yeesh, why CIC tries so hard to confuse people, I just don't know.

1) When you are requested to send an original document (signed application forms, police clearance certificates), you MUST send the original documents, a certified (notarized) photocopy will not suffice, so you can't upload a scan - you have to send the original paper documents to CIC by mail/courier (courier recommended).

2) If a document is not in English or French and requires a translation, (a) family members may NOT do the translation, (b) it can be done by a certified translator in Canada, or other translator along with a signed translator's affidavit.

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/helpcentre/answer.asp?q=018&t=4