phantom85 said:
I have a similar situation where i have a valid visit visa and started compiling documentation for family sponsorship application.
Is there any "IRCC" reference that governs this case ? ie: having a valid visitor visa while an outland sponsorship application is being processed ?
You have to maintain your visitor visa status if you stay in Canada during the outland sponsorship process. So if your visa is about to expire, you have to apply to have it extended at least 30 days before it expires. While you are applying for the extension, you are considered to be legal here under implied status - so let's say your visa expires Sept 1, you apply for an extension Aug 1, and you don't hear back until october 1. The period while you are waiting, between Sept 1 and Oct 1 is the implied status, so you are legally here while waiting for their answer.
And yes you have to maintain your visitor visa status if you are physically here. You can leave the country to travel if you want to, however as mentioned, there are no guarantees they will let you back in when you come back. Depends on the border officer. So as long as you are willing to take the risk. Usually however, if you show them that there is a sponsorship in process, it shouldn't be a problem. So its entirely up to you.
This article might help...personally, we decided that my husband should not travel in and out during the outland process. We just didn't want to take the risk of him not being able to get back in. But its entirely up to you.
http://www.cicnews.com/2016/05/ircc-update-spousalcommonlaw-sponsorship-processing-times-12-months-applicants-057930.html