ILR - Need to retain spouse passport /have passport returned

[mzungu]

Hi

I was just wondering if anybody can help?

We will be applying for my wife's ILR in February but I need to travel on the 3rd of April and understand that I need to submit my passport with our application. By the sounds of it my passport may not reach us in time for me to travel.

Is it possible to have the passport returned shortly after applying or -preferibly- send a birth certificate and any other additional documents instead?

I am just worried I will be left without a passport in April and unfortunately I have no option to postpone travel!

Many thanks!

[sakura]

Hi

I was just wondering if anybody can help?

We will be applying for my wife's ILR in February but I need to travel on the 3rd of April and understand that I need to submit my passport with our application. By the sounds of it my passport may not reach us in time for me to travel.

Is it possible to have the passport returned shortly after applying or -preferibly- send a birth certificate and any other additional documents instead?

I am just worried I will be left without a passport in April and unfortunately I have no option to postpone travel!

Many thanks!

I believe you can send a certified copy of your passport, but not 100% sure so others can advise you on this.

Alternatively, if it is a straight-forward application, you can use the same-day service at the PEO (Public Enquiry Office). It costs £950, so more than the postal applications, but you should get ILR and your passports back on the same day.

See here for more.

[mzungu]

Hi

Thanks for the swift reply!

A certified copy would be ideal as I still have spares from our spouse visa application 2 years ago - can anyone confirm if this is possible?

I was rather hoping we could avoid having to spend an extra £200 on top of the £750 as it's already quite an amount to have to gather in these cash-strapped times!

[republique]

Hi

I was just wondering if anybody can help?

We will be applying for my wife's ILR in February but I need to travel on the 3rd of April and understand that I need to submit my passport with our application. By the sounds of it my passport may not reach us in time for me to travel.

Is it possible to have the passport returned shortly after applying or -preferibly- send a birth certificate and any other additional documents instead?

I am just worried I will be left without a passport in April and unfortunately I have no option to postpone travel!

Many thanks!

Or book a PEO appt for same day service

[mzungu]

[quote]I believe you can send a certified copy of your passport, but not 100% sure so others can advise you on this. [/quote]

Does anyone else know if this is the case?

Thanks

[mirnat]

Hey I've posted a similar topic as my husband is applying for his ILR next month and I really need to travel at the end of March but have heard that it can take 2-3 months for them to process the application and to therefore to receive my original passport back! I too would love to be able to send a certified copy of it with his application so will be interested to see any replies to this question!