request for passport - time period? (UK)

[chrischris]

We will be submitting a spousal sponsor application shortly, outland from the UK (I'm British, she's Canadian, we're married and both currently live and work in the UK); however from the typical timings there is a chance that the request for passport may come around christmas time - when we are hoping to go to canada for two weeks to visit her family.  Can anyone advise whether the passport must be sent within a tight time period, or whether if in the event of getting the request just before we leave for vacation, it would be to wait until we get back and submit it then?

I assume it's permissible to visit Canada in the normal way while the application is pending, as long as I have a return ticket?

Also, once you do submit it, how long do they typically have your passport for?  I assume I would have to send it to the London VO rather than Mississauga?

Cheers.

[kelKel]

I'm guessing you'll be getting the passport request well before Christmas if you submit it shortly.  Not sure about the UK but the norm is you have 30-45 days to submit the passport.  

Many people come in even without the return ticket.

They usually have your passport for about 14 days (seems to be a bit more as of late around 25days) before they return it. You'll be sending it to London.

[JenB]

I also might have this problem, I'm sending in my application to London at the end of the month but I'm going home for two weeks the first of August (home to England, I'm lucky enough to be living in Canada already!) for my brothers wedding and I'm scared the letter will come right before I'm due to leave, or even worse, a couple of weeks before, leaving me no time to send it and get it back or go home and still send it in time! London is processing so quick i can't decide if i should wait another month to send in my application. I'm not sure I want to wait either as the bloody thing is losing me sleep for every day it sits looking at me!  Any ideas? I should probably just call the callcentre for this one! lol

[MandiF]

I think i was given 60 days to provide my passport to UK CIC. I received my PPR in UK on 5th Jan, but already had ticket booked for flight to Canada on 12th Jan, so came over and sent it back to UK on 20th Jan.

I think there will probaby be enough time if you are only needing to travel for a couple of weeks.

[chrischris]

Thanks everyone - good clear answers to my question.  Sounds like you have the same dilemma JenB - good luck with it, whilst sod's law says it will be awkward, I'm sure it'll all straighten out for you.  A year from now you'll be laughing about this!  As I haven't submitted yet, I don't know if a year from now I will be laughing or crying, but I have no reason to suppose they'll object to my application.

Cheers all.