Quebec, inland spousal sponsorship: when can we apply for OWP?

[Anthony Fanshaw]

Planning this application. When can the sponsored applicant, who at the time of application is on a temporary visitor visa, apply for an OWP if we're in Quebec: does the federal program issue an acknowledgment of receipt first, allowing us to apply for an OWP at the same time as starting the Quebec process? Or does the applicant have to wait for some step in the Quebec selection process to first be reached before being able to apply for the OWP? And what are the current approximate processing times for the Quebec part of the process? Many thanks.