You can safely apply Outland without having a status, however, if you are in Canada you run the risk of being deported by CBSA. CIC and CBSA are two different entities and they don't care what one or the other is doing. If you get on the CBSA radar and they wish to remove you from Canada, even with an application in process, they can and really nothing can be done about it. Always try to maintain your status while living in another country that is not your home country.