Applying for visit extension before sponsorship for healthcare

[wsidd]

I received a letter today from Alberta Health that my spouse's coverage is ending in February with the end of his 6 month visit visa. We're in the process of putting together his spousal sponsorship but taking longer than we anticipated. Even if we submit the sponsorship application right now, we won't get the open work permit before February. Should we go ahead and apply for the visit extension before applying for sponsorship? I'm not sure how long the visit extension takes but he needs to maintain status anyway while waiting for sponsorship to go through.

 

[Bs65]

Others can comment but my vote would be yes go ahead and apply for a visitor extension end January / begin February given no matter how long it takes to process (currently quoted at 111 days), he would be on an implied visitor status once the extension application has been submitted until decision made.

For inland spouse work permits the average time reported here seem to be around 4-5 months to come through.

https://www.cic.gc.ca/english/helpcentre/answer.asp?qnum=1163&top=17

https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/visit-canada/extend-stay.html

 

[Buletruck]

Keep in mind Alberta health care does not accept implied status as valid proof of status.

 

[wsidd]

Keep in mind Alberta health care does not accept implied status as valid proof of status.

Won't it be better to apply for an extension now then rather than later if the processing time is that long?

 

[Buletruck]

If you apply for an extension too early, there is the risk they will reject it. 30 days prior to expiry is the instructions from IRCC.

 

[wsidd]

If you apply for an extension too early, there is the risk they will reject it. 30 days prior to expiry is the instructions from IRCC.

What is considered "too early"? The instructions are at least 30 days prior.