Traveling back to UK with infant without visa?

[XCG]

My family and I are US citizens living in the UK. I have a tier 2 visa and my wife and 2 yr old have dependent visas and we have an infant who was born in February in the UK. We travel frequently, both for work and pleasure and the process of getting the dependent visa for our baby is rather long and painful. I expect to have the infant's US passport in the next couple of weeks and we are in the process of applying for an appointmentt to get the dependent visa and biometric card. I've been advised that it will take 6 weeks to get the appointment and another 7 working days to receive the biometric card.

We planned a European trip for late May and we may not have the visa/biometric residence card by then. What would happen if we left the UK and attempted to re-enter and our infant didn't have a visa? Would the fact that we've applied and are waiting on the visa make a difference?

[cfdman]

What would happen if we left the UK and attempted to re-enter and our infant didn't have a visa?
Your kid (and thus yourself) will be stopped in the border for not having a valid-visa to enter UK.

Would the fact that we've applied and are waiting on the visa make a difference?
No. You must get your baby's dependant visa either before leaving UK, or in a british high-commision abroad.

[XCG]

You must get your baby's dependant visa either before leaving UK, or in a british high-commision abroad.

Can I get a visa in a British high-commission abroad while the baby remains in the UK and then have the visa stamped when we re-enter the UK from a different country than where the visa was issued?

I could get the visa when I am in the United States without the baby and then we would leave on the European trip and return and get the visa entry stamp.

[cfdman]

You/your baby can re-enter UK from any country, provided his/her passport got a valid visa, no matter where it is issued.

However, I don't think you can apply for a dependant visa in USA, without your kid being there in USA. The UKBA should get your kid's biometric (not finger prints for babies, but photos) done to process the application.

[XCG]

I'm just trying to figure out ways to speed up the process. Before we moved here, it took less than 1 week to get my visa and wife and daughter's visa in the US. I travel a lot for work and can't give up my passport for a couple of months to apply for a dependent visa by post. My company contracts a 3rd party company to deal with the UKBA and submit the applications, but they advised it will take 6 weeks to get a premium appt at which point they will take baby's biometrics (picture) and it will take up to 7 business days to get the biometric residence card.

I have a trip planned and I can cancel it, but we'd really like to be able to travel out of the UK (and be able to return) as soon as possible.

[cfdman]

Your baby passport alone should be submitted with the application for visa.
You don't have to submit your passport for your baby's dependant visa. A copy of your passport page and visa would be enough I hope.