Visa extension - online application while outside UK?

[Odessitka]

My tier 2 visa expires on September 29. I am currently abroad, and for complicated reasons I could not apply for the the extension before I left. I get back to the UK on September 2 and was planning on applying on September 3 which should have been plenty of time.

However I have now decided to go the premium route, as illness in my family at home means I do not want to risk giving my passport over for months at a time.

I know it is very hard to get a premium appointment. My question is:

1. Can I complete the online application from outside the UK today, then return to the UK September 2 and have my face to face appointment (hopefully before September 29)? I want to apply asap so I can book the appointment and improve my chances of getting one in September.

I ask this because I know one must apply for the extension from within the UK. But does this mean the online part (payment, appointment booking) has to happen within the UK as well? Or just the appointment? My fear is that filling in the online application will somehow invalidate my current BRP which will cause problems when I return on September 2.

Thanks

[CR001]

See 203/204 in link below.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.u ... evised.pdf

Date of application
203. For applications made outside the UK, the date of application is taken to be the date that
the fee is paid. This means the date shown on your payment receipt, which depends on
how you paid for your visa application, for example, at a British Diplomatic Post, visa
application centre or online.

204. For applications made in the UK, the date of application is taken to be the date of posting
or, where the application form is sent by courier, the date on which it is delivered to us. For
online applications, this is taken to be the date of submission, or where the application
form is submitted in person, the day the application form is accepted by our premium
service centre (PSC).

[Odessitka]

Thanks for this. It doesn't quite answer my question: I'm not asking what counts as the application date, I'm asking if I can do the online portion of the application from outside the UK, given it can take weeks between then and when I will get a premium appointment.

The very first question of the online application is 'Are you currently in the UK?' and the options are yes or no. If I click no, it tells me that I cannot complete the application. I am trying to find out if I am allowed to click 'yes' because when I go into the premium centre I will be in the UK, or if this is a breach of the immigration rules. I don't want to do anything wrong.