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Hello all,

I am currently eligible to apply for ILR under Set(O). I am on a Tier 2 General at the moment, which expires 29 Nov 2019.

I have mostly filled out my online application, and am deciding between Standard and Priority service. I was planning on doing Standard -- I thought that under the new UKVCAS system I would get my passport back immediately and thus be able to travel, but I've now discovered that may not be the case.

I need to travel at the end of July (about 9 weeks from now), and was hoping to move house in early August. However I now think I need to either delay my application until after my travel, or pay for Priority service.

Can anyone please help answer these questions:
1) Can I travel after submitting my biometrics, but before receiving a decision? (AFAIK the answer is no)
2) Can I travel after submitting my application, but before submitting my biometrics?
3) If yes to 2, is it then okay to update my supporting docs for absences from the UK after I've submit my application? The online application only allowed me to enter a maximum of 30 absences (and I have more than that) so I need to upload my remaining absences separately anyway. I can get an updated letter from my employer and upload that later.
4) Can I move house between submitting application and biometrics (I'm guessing no)
5) Can I move house between biometrics and decision (I think yes?)
6) Most importantly, can you point me to official documentation that states the answers to the above? I've read a couple forum answers but can't find definitive, official information.

I'm also concerned that if I delay until July, that only gives 4 months until my Tier 2 expires, and ILR decisions may take 6 months (and I'd like to travel in December as well). Any advice about the implications of that is welcome!

Apologies if this should go in the General forum -- it's sort of generic application timing questions, but I think it's still quite ILR-specific (I think I read somewhere you CAN travel after submitting biometrics for some application types but not ILR).

Thanks for your help!

1. No. If you leave the UK, your application will be considered withdrawn.

2. Yes, should be fine.

3. Date of application is the date you submit and pay online and NOT the date of your UKCVAS appointment.

4. Why wouldn't you be able to?? You would need to inform HO, which could delay a decision or letter/BRP.

5. Again, why do you think it is an issue? You would need to inform HO, which could delay a decision or letter/BRP.

6. There isn't an 'official documentation' for EVERY eventuality.

It is simply, you either pay for 24 hour super priority to get a quick decision or you don't, and then wait 8 weeks or more for a decision.

I'm also concerned that if I delay until July, that only gives 4 months until my Tier 2 expires, and ILR decisions may take 6 months (and I'd like to travel in December as well). Any advice about the implications of that is welcome!

They do not take 6 months anymore, it is rare when it does for Set(O).

For #4 and #5 -- it's that the address on the application and supporting documents would be inaccurate. I doubted #5 would be a problem, surely there MUST be a mechanism to update your address while waiting up to 6 months for a decision. It's more for #4 you're in a weird purgatory between submitting online and attending the appointment; you can't update your application, but by the time you fully submit your documentation it's no longer accurate.

I guess the key takeaway is as you say in #3 -- your application date is the date you submit online, so as long as everything is accurate as of that date you should be fine (as long as you inform the HO of further changes, as you say). Thanks!

That said, it seems weird to me that you can submit application online, keep on travelling after that, but then suddenly have to stop travelling once you attend your UKCVAS appointment. The only reasoning I can think of is that it's to prevent you from being out of the country at the point your immigration status changes?