BRP Damaged abroad no TLSContact appointments available

[jamesdeen30]

I am British, my wife Russian. She is currently on her second spouse visa having ben in the UK for 3 years prior. She recently went to Russia to visit family, but has damaged her BRP card. We have applied for a replacement BRP visa for her, however there are no appointments available at all at the TLSContact centre in either St Petersburg or Moscow. If she's unable to get an appointment she runs the risk of overstaying abroad and then damaging her chances of indefinite leave to remain application in 2 years time.
What other options do we have, can we risk her flying back with the damaged BRP card in the hope that at UK border they will accept her (and that the departing airline will allow her?)

[CR001]

How would she be overstaying in russia if she is russian??

How would she be damaging her chances for ilr exactly?

When you say damaged, what exactly is the damage?

[jamesdeen30]

Apologies I was not clear.

How would she be overstaying in russia if she is russian??

Overstaying is perhaps the wrong word. Her next stage in 2 years approx she will need to apply for indefinite leave to remain, if they see that she has spent significant periods outside of the country i.e. greater than 6 months in any 12 month period, she may well be unable to gain indefinite leave to remain

How would she be damaging her chances for ilr exactly?

As above.

When you say damaged, what exactly is the damage?

It is cut in two...

[CR001]

If she is on a spouse of settled person visa, there is no absencr limit. Noy sure why you belive there is a 6 month absence rule.

Hiw did it get cut in half? That is a deliberate act.

She is unlikely to be able to travel/be allowed on a plane on a brp card in two halves.

[Ticktack]

That card is as tough as it comes. It takes a lot of pressure to even cut it up with a scissors.

I agree that it is definitely a deliberate act of aggression on the poor card.

[jamesdeen30]

Thanks for the responses.

Yes CR001 you are correct, I'd seen the 6 month rule which is applied to other visa types such as skilled worker for IRL. Spouse it says live continuously for 5 years, how they would view a period of 6 months away I do not know.

Since posting my wife turned up at the Visa centre and managed to get a walk-in appointment, as none have become available online.

Thanks for the helP CR001

[CR001]

Spouse it says live continuously for 5 years, how they would view a period of 6 months away I do not know.

You're overthinking. It is a non issue.