Tier 2 Holder - Mid Application for EEA(FM) - 2 Questions

[Newmeanie]

Hi, thanks in advance for any assistance.

I am a Canadian Tier 2 Intra Company Transfer employee; been in the UK 2.5 years. My visa expires in December.

I am married to a Czech National and made my application for EEA Family Member BRP (via EEA FM form) in the beginning of April.

After I received the Biometric request in the post, I did it same day and then applied for the return of my passport and my wife's passport.

With the passports, along came a letter saying if I travel I should get a EEA Family Permit.

I looked at the process for this, and it looks like something that can only be processed while I'm already outside the UK, and can take upwards of 2+ weeks to process (and requires basically all the evidence I sent for my EEA (FM)!). My work travel is only 1 to 2 days.

Question 1) I'm wondering if this is really necessary or I'll still be allowed into the UK based on my (still valid) Tier 2 visa until it expires.

Question 2) The posted time frames for EEA (FM) are 6 months, which would put my April 11th submission to October 11th, if there are any delays I'd start getting worried about the validity of my Tier 2 Visa which expires in December.

Can I/Should I/do I need to apply for an extension to my Tier 2 Visa while my EEA (FM) application is with the Home Office?

Thanks very much for all your help!

Andy