Activating a visitor visa after IEC expires

[maxpickup]

I'm currently in Alberta and my 2 year IEC expires on May 1st 2020. My flights back to the UK keep getting cancelled cos of COVID, so I've applied for a visitor visa so I don't overstay my welcome but it hasn't been approved yet and I only have 6 days left on my current visa! I just have a couple questions...
1) What if my visitor visa is still not approved by May 1st?
2) How do I activate the visitor visa once it's approved? I cannot cross any borders...
Thanks!

 

[PMM]

Hi

I'm currently in Alberta and my 2 year IEC expires on May 1st 2020. My flights back to the UK keep getting cancelled cos of COVID, so I've applied for a visitor visa so I don't overstay my welcome but it hasn't been approved yet and I only have 6 days left on my current visa! I just have a couple questions...
1) What if my visitor visa is still not approved by May 1st?
2) How do I activate the visitor visa once it's approved? I cannot cross any borders...
Thanks!

1. You have implied status as a visitor until CIC makes a decision on your visitor application.
2. It is not a visa, you will be sent a visitor record, and it doesn't have to be activated.