Spousal Sponsorship from US, running out of time as visitor

[Lunakai]

We are doing my husbands sponsorship, through a lawyer, however we only have until the 21st of this month as a visitor for my husband. I am terrified the lawyer will not get things done properly, as I have sent emails and phoned with no responses on what is happening with the application. We have all documentation in EXCEPT the FBI clearance/certificate, as that has still not shown to be processed in the US. He said the application could be sent in without the certificate, but has since not returned my calls or emails. It is too late to find a new lawyer at this point

What are our options?

 

[profiler]

We are doing my husbands sponsorship, through a lawyer, however we only have until the 21st of this month as a visitor for my husband. I am terrified the lawyer will not get things done properly, as I have sent emails and phoned with no responses on what is happening with the application. We have all documentation in EXCEPT the FBI clearance/certificate, as that has still not shown to be processed in the US. He said the application could be sent in without the certificate, but has since not returned my calls or emails. It is too late to find a new lawyer at this point

What are our options?

You can apply to extend his stay (when the cic's website is usable again search for "cic extend stay visitor").

EDIT: Link: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/extend-stay.asp

 

[Lunakai]

Do we have enough time? IF we are able to send in the application to extend his stay, would it even be received by the time Nov 21st rolls around?

 

[scylla]

Do we have enough time? IF we are able to send in the application to extend his stay, would it even be received by the time Nov 21st rolls around?

Your question is a bit confusing. As long as he applies to extend his status before the end of his current stay, he can remain in Canada. You have way more than enough time to submit an extension.

 

[profiler]

Do we have enough time? IF we are able to send in the application to extend his stay, would it even be received by the time Nov 21st rolls around?

Assuming the CIC's web site becomes usable again, you can submit the application online. Basically you are under implied status (as a visitor) once you have filed an application. That status changes once a decision is made. So even if you filed the day before, you'd be ok.

If the date passes, you have 90 days to restore status: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/tools/temp/visa/validity/restoration.asp .

Though I would recommend you speak with your lawyer, as this is kind of their job, and you don't want to keep submitting applications frivolously.

 

[Lunakai]

As of right now, I am about ready to change lawyers if we are able to get more time, as my current lawyer has not made contact with me and is not returning calls/emails.

Would an extension (generally) be approved for someone in my situation?

 

[profiler]

As of right now, I am about ready to change lawyers if we are able to get more time, as my current lawyer has not made contact with me and is not returning calls/emails.

Would an extension (generally) be approved for someone in my situation?

Yes. People do it all the time. I would think, if you made the claim that you were applying for PR, you could pay the application fees, and provide receipt of those with your application to extend your stay. Though I will defer to someone with more experience on how that should be filled out (we never had to extend the stay as a visitor).

A note on the lawyer, you can just do it yourself, you know. Many of us here have.