Applied for extension but need passport back..few questions

[savitar]

Hi all,

I have taken much advice from this site to thanks to everyone for the great posts and support.

I sent in my visa extension about a week ago (Visa expires on 26th October), have received my acknowledgement letter but am yet you recieve my biometric letter (should be very soon from what I can tell).

Now to the problem, my best mate from back home has had to dramatically move up his wedding due to his future wife's visa issues (DOH). What this means is that his wedding is in about 4 weeks time and as the best man I REALLY want to go.

Now, to my questions :

1. I believe you can ask for your passport back during the processing, does anyone know how to do it and what procedures / timelines are involved (I.e. do you need to give a weeks notice, can you just turn up and ask for it etc)?
2. If I do get my passport back, when I return it the UKBA, does my processing start again (timeline wise) or does it go to the back of the queue?
3. If i do head back home to Aus in late november, my visa will have expired, what issues are there with me leaving the country and then coming back in (I.e. will they let me back in without a valid visa and even if they did, would I be legally allowed to work)?

Thanks for any / all advice anyone could give on this....

[geriatrix]

What this means is that his wedding is in about 4 weeks time and as the best man I REALLY want to go.

The only way is to withdraw your application.

If a person who has made an application requests that their passport is returned so they can travel outside the common travel area (CTA) before a decision is made on their application, you must treat the application for leave to remain as withdrawn.

[savitar]

DOH....OK, thanks for the replay....I guess its a waiting game.......fingers crossed.

[ScopeD]

3. If i do head back home to Aus in late november, my visa will have expired, what issues are there with me leaving the country and then coming back in (I.e. will they let me back in without a valid visa and even if they did, would I be legally allowed to work)?

No... you won't satisfy the ECO that you have valid entry clearance/visa to enter the UK as your about-to-expire leave will have expired by then.

[Greenie]

3. If i do head back home to Aus in late november, my visa will have expired, what issues are there with me leaving the country and then coming back in (I.e. will they let me back in without a valid visa and even if they did, would I be legally allowed to work)?

In addition to the above, note you cannot apply for entry clearance as a tier 1 general migrant any longer, therefore if you request your passport back and leave the UK thus withdrawing your application you will not be able to re-enter the UK as a tier 1 general migrant as your visa will have expired and neither will you be able to re apply for a tier 1 visa from outside the UK.

Sounds like you might have to miss your best mates wedding...

[savitar]

Sounds like you might have to miss your best mates wedding...

That is what I am afraid of.....But as there is nothing I can do about it, its a waiting game.

He is not getting married till Dec 1st and I should do my biometric data this week so its still possible I think (as they are running around 3-4 for processing). It will just be a VERY last minute flight if it happens.....Litterally get the passport one day, flight the next.

So I have decided that I am going to apply for the leave, get everything ready and then book last minute, should the visa / passport come back in time.....Fingers crossed!!!