May extraordinary ministers approach the altar before the priest receives Communion?

GIRM 162 says other priests present may help distribute Communion. If none are present and there are very many communicants, the priest may call on extraordinary ministers, such as instituted acolytes or other faithful deputed for this, or in necessity depute suitable faithful for the occasion. These ministers should not approach the altar before the priest has received Communion, and they always receive the vessel with either species from the celebrant's hands.

This does not mean they cannot be in the sanctuary. It does mean their role must be applied correctly to avoid confusion (Certain Questions Regarding the Collaboration of the Non-Ordained, 1997, 8 §1). Standing too close to the celebrant and receiving before him can blur the line between them and the priest, the minister of the Eucharist and "sole dispenser of the mysteries" (2 §5). The instruction says extraordinary ministers receiving Communion apart from the other faithful, as though concelebrants, is a practice to be avoided and eliminated (8 §2).