SanDiegogirl

Yes, this is the option suggested by the immigration advisor, which is incorrect.

Pulaski

Are you saying (i) that you can't send the passport to them by mail, (ii) you have to collect the passport in person from them, or (iii) that they won't mail it back outside of the country of application?

SanDiegogirl

As per the OP's post:

can we go down the spouse visa route and travel to the UK (retaining passport) while the visa is being processed and then when required post the passport back to Brisbane for the visa to be finalised. I spoke to UK immigration last night and the adviser seemed to suggest this was possible.

Was saying that the suggestion, by the advisor, that the applicant could be already living in the UK, and, at time of issuing the visa, the applicant remains in the UK and merely sends their passport to Australia for finalising was incorrect. The applicant must be in Australia when visa is issued.

Pulaski

You make that assertion, but entirely side-stepped my question, with the alternatives.

If you mail your passport in, and they mail it back (to an address in Australia), what is to stop the applicant mailing their passport from the UK, having it mailed back to a friend or relative in Australia (I am assuming that the passport must be mailed back to the country where the applicant is living), and having them mail it back to the UK? Obviously they would still be in the UK on the wrong status, but that could be fixed by a quick trip to France/ Europe, couldn't it?

SanDiegogirl

Quiet day in Dixie I presume .......

Pulaski

OK, so just a random assertion that you're making?

If you can't back up your posts with an explanation, or a link, then I don't know why you bother.

At the moment my theory is that you may be correct, but without some more info the jury is still out.

SanDiegogirl

Taken from UKVI site " Applying for a visa to come to the UK":

Getting your vignette

If the visa application centre kept your passport, they’ll post it to you with the vignette inside.

If you kept your passport, you’ll need to take it to the visa application centre to collect your vignette.

So, I'd say no, if you retained your passport following the BRP interview etc, you cannot just mail your passport into the the centre to obtain your vignette and they mail it back to you...........

With regard the OP, this is what the immigration advisor was suggesting:

If this is not an option can we go down the spouse visa route and travel to the UK (retaining passport) while the visa is being processed and then when required post the passport back to Brisbane for the visa to be finalised. I spoke to UK immigration last night and the adviser seemed to suggest this was possible.

MattSmith77

This is obviously not entirely legitimate? Is there any evidence that people have done this?

BritInParis

Bottom line: you can’t be granted leave to enter when you’re in the UK.

MattSmith77

Yeah fair enough. Id never do anything to jeopardise the process anyway.

60minuteman

Due to the fact you pay in $ the actual fees are even higher:

My visa cost £1596.02 and IHS an eye watering £1257.71.... priority £740...

spouse of scouse

I think you're getting mixed up. The GBP visa fees I quoted are correct for 2019 and don't change, no matter what currency you use to pay them.

MattSmith77

I hope so. Dont think the bank balance could cope with even more money just to return home.

spouse of scouse

Don't worry Matt, the visa fees are as I quoted

MattSmith77

Phew!!