Confused by Home Office letter

After one year of submitting a Tier 4 application, the home office wrote back to my friend saying they were unable to process the request without a fully completed application form with all supporting documents and relevant fee. Despite the fact all of this information was sent and postal order cashed. They returned passport and biometric card but kept the rest of he documents
Now what would be the best thing to do now?

He is now due to graduate after finishing a 3 year bioscience degree last summer. He is unsure whether to continue with his masters but now appears to be an overstayer as his application wasnt processed.
Another option is to see if his employer will sponsor him under tier 2
can anyone advise on the best option?

Can anyone help on this one?

application returned invalid or refused ? there shld be some sort of information in da HO letter. read that letter properly
he won't be overstayer if he has a HO acknowledgement letter proving his application was under process during dat tym.
Assuming he applied for extension den hw dey return a biometric card ? is dat a valid biometric or expired one.

Thank you Riz1986

He was applying for a Tier 4 extn because his visa was due to expire on 30.10.13

On 30.10.13 - The application form with postal order, passport, biometric card were all sent together in one envelope by recorded delivery
On 31.10.13 - they were signed for by the home office.
A week later bank statements showing maintenance were sent and also signed for by home office.
On 28.10.14 - A year later - passport and biometric card are returned with the below letter

The exact wording of the letter is
Dear Sir
thank you for your letter and supporting documents. Unfortunately we are unable to process your request without a fully completed application form with all your supporting documents and the relevant fee.

All application forms can be downloaded from our website www.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk

You will need to contact our Customer Contact Centre on 0870 606 7766 to enquire what type of application for you will need to complete.

So does this mean he is now an overstayer and what are the implications of her employer sponsoring her for Tier 2 now. Can he apply from the UK?

Can anyone advise?

so hw ur friend carried on studying if there was no acknowledgement letter from HO ? from the info provided below.Hw university let it wait for one yr ?
Was the application sent to correct address given on application form ? Ur friend applied online or used print n send service for application.
I'm assuming they must hv returned an expired BRP.

Once ur friend received dat letter on 28.10.14 wht he has done so far to legalise his status.

no acknowledgement letter
nothing until 28.10.14
yes they returned expired BRP

He has spoken to employer who is wlling to sponsor under Tier 2 but doesnt know process, hes been working i a hospital and now has bioscience degree
also is it possible now that visa has expired?

yes application sent to correct address
application sent by print n send