If I import my 2021 save, will there be any issue when the games transitions to the actual release?

Right now I would hold off on importing the save - it has to be done at the buy reports stage and there is currently an issue that is going to cause the game to process continually because of a change I made in the last build with JuCo players so I would hold off at least until that is worked out.

sjackson: I imported a long-standing CB21 association and just simmed a ways and all went well...

BUT...I'm not going to use that as my REAL continuation of this association UNTIL after the final release since some updates that MAY occur during First Access could require new associations. So if I made the imported association my ongoing save, it could be wiped out. Better to just continue that association in CB21 until the final release.

Thats what I was thinking. CB21 was my first time playing this game and I probably put 250-300 hours into my main association. So because of that, I am unfamiliar with how importing saves work. If I import my save will I be able to still play it on the 21 version if it wipes out? Also can I import at any point during the season or just at that May 1st point in time.

ONLY on May 1.

I don't believe there would be a way to backload it from cb22 to cb21.

So since you don't want to lose whatever new you add after importing it to cb22 (in the event one of the new versions requires new associations during the First Access period), I'd suggest just waiting until after Final Release (which isn't likely all that far off in the future).

After the final release, could I import at any point?

No, still will have to have your association at May 1 of some year.

If you're near or at May 1 now with your association, maybe put in on hold for a little while and try running a short time association with CB22 (e.g. skip summer and sim the season and then experience the new transfer portal in year 2) or run a few Tournament Maker tournaments using CB22 while waiting for the final release?

It has to be on May 1st because when you import it's going to add a new team and realign the conferences - otherwise if the game was imported at any other stage it's going to be expecting that 358th team to be there and they won't have recruiting actions or games scheduled or anything if you could import it at any stage