Applying for SET(M) - Travel Document expired

[Ramsay]

Hello.

Hopefully a simple question but I'll provide some background info too - My wife was issued her Spouse visa (August 2008) on an 'Immigration Status Document' because during the application I mentioned that Nepal Government are sometimes temperamental about issuing Travel Documents (wife is Tibetan refugee on Nepali Travel Doc and China sometimes tell them to stop allowing Tibetans to move).

I'm a British citizen with a long lineage of ginger ancestry and Wife travelled to uk back in May 2008 on Fiancée visa for reference.

The Travel Document only lasts a year, so has expired. Embassy don't allow applications via post so to renew it it means a trip in person to London which is quite a trek living in Scotland. In addition, they won't issue a new one unless we're travelling. We have no intention of going to Nepal until my wife has a British passport because the application process for another Travel Doc (need a new one for each return journey from Nepal) takes over a month and the delay would likely cost my wife her job.

We're applying in person middle or late July (once appointments are available) and the question is: Can we apply with an expired Travel Document and current 'Immigration Status Document' (expires 15th Aug 2010) or does the Travel Document have to be current please?

Would we need to prove why the Travel Doc wasn't renewed during the application or would an explanation from us be sufficient.

Thank you very much in advance

PS: I've no issue travelling down to London to renew it if that's what it takes but if it isn't necessary then there's no point.

[John]

I have just checked and cannot see anything in the UKBA instructions to their staff that say that the latest passport or travel document needs to be current. So I think that you should proceed to make the application next month, assuming of course your wife has passed the Life in the UK Citizenship test.

But you mention appointments, so presumably you intend to apply in person. Any reason why you are not applying by post, and saving £200?

[Ramsay]

Thank you John.

Saving two hunderd pounds is a lot of money but the peace of mind having the visa then and there begrudgingly makes me willing to pay it.

[Ramsay]

Trigger happy on the reply button - the good lady wife has passed the Life in the UK Test cheers.

[Ramsay]

Cheers for your advices John - Got the visa no problems.

Had to wait longer than the majority of other folk there but probably needed referred.