Passport with UKBA for ILR application but I need to travel!

[kittste]

Hi,

I am Russian. Married to a UK citizen. I am approaching the end of my two year FLR visa (expires 20-Oct-2012) and just applied for an ILR visa, so my passport and BRP are now with UKBA.

However, I need to travel urgently now!

If I retrieve my passport I will lose the £991 fee.

Does anyone know what my situation will be if I retrieve my passport, leave the UK and then return after my current FLR visa expires on 20-Oct-2012? Will I have to apply for another visa to return to the UK?

Alternatively, could I leave my application in the system and travel on temporary travel documents? I know UK citizens can get temporary travel documents, but need to check if Russians can get similar documents from the Russian embassy. Presumably I would still effectively end up "visa-less" if I return to the UK after 20-Oct-2012?

Thanks.