How long do they keep your Passport?

[sydneyshell]

Wondered how long they keep your passport for when applying for a Spouse Visa? I am Aussie and DH is British, so would like to do a few trips before we go back to Oz for 'good' but if they hold on to our passports the whole time then that won't be possible.

Does anyone have any recent experience of processing times for Spouse Visas in London? Or know where I can get an idea? We are hoping to go late Feb, and have left it quite late (need to work some financial stuff out before we send the application in) so just want to work out if it is worth doing it here, or waiting till we are 'home.

Thanks

Shell

[Summer]

Wondered how long they keep your passport for when applying for a Spouse Visa? I am Aussie and DH is British, so would like to do a few trips before we go back to Oz for 'good' but if they hold on to our passports the whole time then that won't be possible.

Does anyone have any recent experience of processing times for Spouse Visas in London? Or know where I can get an idea? We are hoping to go late Feb, and have left it quite late (need to work some financial stuff out before we send the application in) so just want to work out if it is worth doing it here, or waiting till we are 'home.

Thanks

Shell

Hi Shell

WE ( my hubby and I) have just lodged his visa (spouse) in london, they dont keep ur passport for long but saying that we used a Visa Agent and all she done was certify a copy of both of my passports and my OH's one. (And i have to say she was worth every penny, she has not only done my oh Visa application but also my 3 boys their Citizenship's as well,) If theres anything u would like to know then PM me and i will do my best to help. Oh and by they way we appointed our Visa Agent in mid October and the Visa application was lodged yesterday (30th Nov 07) and she seems to think we will have an answer by Xmas!!!!!!!!!

[Mrs C]

Hi Shell,

That is the same as us, our agent said my Spoise visa would take about 6 weeks. That was 2 weeks ago now. Will keep you posted with any updates.

Good luck with your application which ever route you choose to take!

April

[sydneyshell]

Thanks guys, that is great news - if I knew it would only take 6 weeks I would be stoked!

will be sure to get the passports certified so we can go away before we head off to Oz and away from budget flights to Europe!

Doing it ourselves though,not sure if we had an agent whether it would help.....?

Would LOVE to hear how you get on and thanks for the offer of the PM Summer, I may just take you up on that soon :-)

Cheers

Shell

[Summer]

Hi Shell

We used an agent and like i said she was brilliant.
U are more than welcome to PM me if i can help i will.
I will let u know how quick we get hubby's visa!

Take care
xxxx