1. Parents stay in Canada over a year already, continiously
2. When sponsership is approved, your parents are still in Canada
But I heard one special case... when my friend's sponsership almost approved, her parents were in Canada for 8months, they also got 6months visa extention approved at that time. She phoned in CIC Mississauga, requesting transfer files to Buffalo instead of Beijing (she originally filled "Beijing" on the form. CIC Mississauga accepted her request... amazing...
Hope this helps. Good luck!
2. When sponsership is approved, your parents are still in Canada
But I heard one special case... when my friend's sponsership almost approved, her parents were in Canada for 8months, they also got 6months visa extention approved at that time. She phoned in CIC Mississauga, requesting transfer files to Buffalo instead of Beijing (she originally filled "Beijing" on the form. CIC Mississauga accepted her request... amazing...
Hope this helps. Good luck!