My wife was in the same position as you, although we sent our application waaaaaaayyyy later after she was denied. Yesterday we just got our approval in principle and it was an amazing feeling. So here is what you can expect:
About the denied status:
- After denial of the appeal, your husband would be presented with the PRRA (Pre-Removal Assessment). He has 15 days after being presented with the PRRA to apply. This basically assesses the amount of risk to his life if he were deported back to his country. This usually takes 6-8 months to process and get a result. This assessment has 99% failure rate. So don't count on this to get PR. You should take this only to extend his stay to give time for the sponsorship to get through first stage approval of the sponsorship.
- If he does not take the PRRA, he would technically have 30 days to leave the country.
- The problem with taking the PRRA is that most probably if he would want to come back in the country, he would need to get an ARC (Authorization to Return to Canada) because his order of departure would automatically become a deportation order. So you can imagine, Outland Sponsorship (1/2 yr) + ARC (1yr) = 1.5 years at least to come back.
- If he does not leave after the given date of departure AFTER the PRRA result has been given, you can expect that the person never comes back again. This is one of the reason why people don't take the PRRA. But in your case you have a Sponsorship happening. PRRA will help you buy some time, which is what we have done.
About Sponsorship:
1) Send your sponsorship
2) Letter/email indicating that they got your application have been received. (AOR)
3) Letter/email indicating that you need to apply for CSQ (In QC only)
4) Letter/email indicating that you are eligible to sponsor. (AIP) With this, CIC will most probably not deport him.
5) Letter/email indicating that there have been a decision made. (DM)
6) The rest is pretty smooth.
I am no lawyer, but I am currently going through this dreadful process. I really wish that I can help others because the wait causes a lot of anxiety.
Good luck to you!