Does my wife need a visitor visa while waiting for spousal sponsorship?

[RaineMenzies]

Me and my wife from Korea are waiting for our spousal sponsorship to be approved. Of course the current pandemic is drawing that process out even more. We applied for inland sponsorship (in BC) while she is on a visitor visa. Our spousal sponsorship package was received but they have not opened it yet and have not received an AOR. Since the process is taking long, we are worried what would happen if her visitor visa expires? Must she leave back to Korea? Or can she stay while owe await spousal sponsorship approval, even though the package has not been opened and have yet to receive AOR?

 

[armoured]

Me and my wife from Korea are waiting for our spousal sponsorship to be approved. Of course the current pandemic is drawing that process out even more. We applied for inland sponsorship (in BC) while she is on a visitor visa. Our spousal sponsorship package was received but they have not opened it yet and have not received an AOR. Since the process is taking long, we are worried what would happen if her visitor visa expires? Must she leave back to Korea? Or can she stay while owe await spousal sponsorship approval, even though the package has not been opened and have yet to receive AOR?

She can apply online to extend her stay, recommended to do about 30 days before the end of her visitor visa stay (which is usually six months from date of entry).

 

[RaineMenzies]

She can apply online to extend her stay, recommended to do about 30 days before the end of her visitor visa stay (which is usually six months from date of entry).

What if it is fewer than 30 days before the expiry date? If it is too close to expiry date, what are our options?

 

[armoured]

What if it is fewer than 30 days before the expiry date? If it is too close to expiry date, what are our options?

You can apply online right up to the end of the last day - the recommendation to apply before is in case it is rejected (even for some technicality), the applicant would be out of status. (Which is possible to restore somehow but I do't know much about that)

 

[RaineMenzies]

You can apply online right up to the end of the last day - the recommendation to apply before is in case it is rejected (even for some technicality), the applicant would be out of status. (Which is possible to restore somehow but I do't know much about that)

Thank you. We've been very worried and you have helped us lots. Me and my wife both appreciate it very much.

 

[armoured]

Thank you. We've been very worried and you have helped us lots. Me and my wife both appreciate it very much.

My understanding is that 'have a pending spousal sponsorship' is a good reason to extend, and they are declined/refused rarely (except for technical reasons). But haven't done personally.

Good luck.