The Blade star lost an appeal against his three-year jail sentence in July (10) after a 2008 trial found him guilty of wilful failure to file his income tax returns to the U.S. government.

He was due to surrender to authorities to begin his stint behind bars on 2 September (10) but on Monday (23Aug10) a U.S. District Court judge granted him an emergency stay, according to Variety.com.

A new date for Snipes' surrender will not be set until several pending motions in the case are ruled on.

Last week (19Aug10), the actor's lawyers filed a motion asking to question jurors involved in his trial to find out whether they had pre-determined his guilt before the case was heard in court.

Meanwhile, Snipes has signed up to star in a new movie, Havana Heat, which is due to begin filming in November (10).