smegan wrote:Hello all,
have been a silent reader for some time now! I have a question about people requesting their passports back. It seems like many people have done this but when I called the home office (and also when my lawyer called the home office), they said if I ask for my passport back, then it is HIGHLY LIKELY that it will invalidate the application and it will be withdrawn. Is this true? I have read on this forum that many people have requested their passport back and they still received their RCs. Also, on the "request your documents back" form, they specifically have a question that states "do you want to withdraw your application? YES or NO" Therefore, I'm very confused why the home office will tell me it is highly likely my application will be withdrawn and cancelled if I ask for my passport back. Also, my friend requested hers back in May to attend a family wedding in Italy and there was no problem. She also called up afterwards when she received her passport back whether it cancelled her application and they said no, its fine. when I stated all this over the phone to the home office, they just said, they have been advised to say that it is highly likely that applications will be cancelled when this question was asked of them. Perhaps they are just trying to persuade everyone NOT to ask passports back because they have to then dig it out? I'm so confused! Anyone else have any experience? Also, my lawyer said, perhaps they are clamping down now with the recent changes to the application form at the beginning of the year and they are trying to make it harder now.
It's just I desperately need to travel home to OZ for a concert (I'm a classical musician) and flights are booked etc.
I would also like to share my timeline!
Confirmation of receipt: 10/04/15
COA w/right to work: 17/04/15
RC: Pending
Applied as: EEA2, I'm Australian, married to Italian currently on student visa
Smegan, as you mention, there are lots of people who receive their RC even having their passports sent back.
It makes sense for the home office to want to hold on to the papers while they are conducting their research on whether or not give you the residence. However, being told what you were told would make me jumpy as well.
I made the moves you mentioned...they had my passport for over a month, I requested it back and I specifically mentioned I did not want to withdraw my application.
I am still waiting, and they did not send anything back yet so, I hope my application is still being considered.