Some of this is on covid but most of it is on your attorney or his office. You should do what George suggested. And you should really try hard to confirm that they at least have your application.
Visas are valid until the day they expire. However, your entry is a different story. If the CBSA officer at the border is convinced they will leave when they say will leave then they will let them in. However, if the officer doesn't believe it, then it could be a problem.
So the way it works is that if it's an indictable offense you have to wait over 10 years from the end of the sentence before you can apply for criminal rehabilitation or be "deemed rehabilitated."