You do not need to send your passport in anymore for HSMP. After receiving HSMP approval, you then send in your passport with an FLR application (and another £121 fee). There should be no reason for a policeman to check your passport, I've been in the UK for 3 years and never had my passport checked...

I am in the exact same position, my student visa expires on the 31st of October as well and I have applied for HSMP through a consultant. They informed me that as long as the HSMP application is in process you can legally (and should) stay in the UK until you get a decision. But if the unfortunate h...

so does this mean that for applications after April 1 they don´t need your passport unless you get approval?

Hi,
I am a US citizen here in the UK on a student visa. I am a guitar and violin maker (luthier) and have applied for the HSMP visa through the still-unclear Immigration service. Has anyone ever used still-unclear? Just wondering how they rate at getting acceptance. Cheers,
-Matthew John Bascetta