Dear Who1074,
First of all, I request you to take this discussion for the sake of GOOD. I found few forum members became emotional during discussing an issue.
I am copying below exactly what is given on the CIC website from the instruction guide:
Certified true copies
To have a photocopy of a document certified, an authorized person must compare the original document to the photocopy and must print the following on the photocopy:
• “I certify that this is a true copy of the original document”,
•the name of the original document,
•the date of the certification,
•his or her name,
•his or her official position or title, and
•his or her signature.
Who can certify copies?
Persons authorized to certify copies include the following:
In Canada:
•a commissioner of oaths
•a notary public
•a justice of the peace
Outside Canada:
•a judge
•a magistrate
•a notary public
•an officer of a court of justice
•a commissioner authorized to administer oaths in the country in which the person is living
I didn't find any reference in above text that only documents not in English or French (document that requires translation) requires Certified True Copy rather it is general sentence (refer to first sentence from CIC's instructions guide above) which should be applied to all documents either in English, French or other language.
Certification is required to authenticate that the photocopy is taken from original document and photocopy is genuine. Certification is not done to authenticate the document itself or what is written on the document. What I want to say that if document is in English or French and CIC can read it, it doesn't mean that photocopy becomes authentic or genuine.
Notarized documents are those documents that are certified by Notary Public. Notary Public is one of the authorized persons as per CIC who can Certify True Copies, therefore we should refer to Certified True Copies but not only Notarized Copies to avoid any confusion.
As per my understanding, sending non-certified true copies of supporting documents doesn't constitute that the applicant is not eligible to be processed but it could delay the processing of the application at local visa office or in worst case scenario, visa officer at CIO may consider non-certified true copies of supporting documents as incomplete submission.
