The photocopy of my passport that I send out with the initial PR application, does it need signing by a judge/a notary public etc? I guess so, as it is a photocopy. Also who is covered under 'notary public'? Would a Professor or Accountant suffice?

Secondly for the proof of language skills, did anyone include documents as evidence, or is a simple letter explaining that I am born and bred English with an English education sufficient?

Hoping to get the initiate application form off by the end of the week and get the ball rolling.

Re the letter for proof of language... a simple letter should suffice, so I'm lead to believe. Just explain that english is your natural language blah blah. Make it legible with no spelling errors would be the most cautious thing to do, I guess.
There are a few posts on this over the last couple of months. I'm lead to believe that it can be typed or handwritten (we are going to write it out by hand)
As for the notary...well thats a whole different ball game that I'm still trying to wade through. Not worked out yet how to put links in the messages but there was a thread going today (that was started by Stokesey on the very subject) entitled something like....Notarized or not??? Tons of advice on that thread. just to add to the confusion some people don't get anything notarized and still get through the process.
Not sure if this helps at all as we are at the same stage as you.
Good luck

Your passport page does not need to be notorised.

Both would but as AmyDavid said it isn't needed for a passport bio page photocopy as it is a photocopy of a fully certified and governmentally endorsed document anyway.

Sorry but that is wrong (unless the accountant or professor fall into one of the following categories).

CIC guide says:

People authorized to certify copies include the following:
In Canada:
ï‚· a commissioner of oaths
ï‚· a notary public
ï‚· a justice of the peace

Outside Canada:
ï‚· a judge
ï‚· a magistrate
ï‚· a notary public
ï‚· an officer of a court of justice
ï‚· a commissioner authorized to administer oaths in the country in which the person is living

As far as i'm aware only solicitors and the like are notary publics.

Like LinsyPinsy said, this has been covered extensively in another post recently.

Sorry, my fault, I was going by UK policies. Teachers/professors and qualified accountants are all OK to sign copies here as are all people who are qualified professionals in a recognised subject, civil servants and post office workers.

No...they aren't! They are on the list of people who can sign the back of your passport pics, but they cannot certify documents for CIC purposes :0)

Definitely my mistake then, sorry about that. Useful information to have actually thanks, I just assumed that the rules regarding that sort of thing were usually the same in every case.

Are you referring to the first application to CIO in Sydney? If so, then you do not need to have a notarised/certified copy of anything at this stage, altough you will later. Also, the proof of language skills comes at the later 120 day documents stage.

Cheers

Martin

Notary publics are not very easily found, I think its quite an old fashioned thing. There was only one within miles of where I live but luckily he was just down the road. A good solicitor should know of the nearest one to you. The notary public that I used was a solicitor aswell coincidentally(I think they usually are) and he charged me £15 a document. All that I got notarised was my work experience for the past ten years and my post secondary education.
This might be all wrong but it is based on my own experiences.

ClanickP

Here you all go - list of all active Notaries in England.

http://www.facultyoffice.org.uk/Notaries1.html

Thanks guys. So to clear this up (There seems to be some conflicting advice in here).

So despite point 6 in the Schedule 3 document saying that I need to include evidence of my language skills, I do not need to include them as they are not mentioned on the cover sheet. Is this correct?

And I DO need to have the passport signed by a notary public, which as to be a lawyer etc, not an Accountant etc? Is this correct?

Does anyone have the link to this other thread? Thanks.

You need to write a letter confirming english is your native language and that all your schooling and work has been undertaken using English.

You do NOT need to have the passport signed by a notary public.

As Amy says, you do not need a certified or notarised copy of your passport at this stage. You will later on.

Here is the exact wording from the guide for applications to CIO:

You should not submit your test results or written submission to the Centralized Intake Office (CIO) in Sydney, Nova Scotia Canada. If the application is recommended for further processing, the test results or written submission should be submitted to the responsible Visa Office.

As you can see, you do not need to submit your language evidence at this stage.

Hope this helps clear up the queries.

Cheers

Martin

You DO NOT need to send a notorised copy of your passport at ANY stage. A normal photocopy is enough for this document.