Okay, don't panic just yet, as they still have a few weeks before her visa expires, and there may well be some workarounds so that she can still apply for a new visa regardless.
1) I don't think she actually needs her US passport in order to book the Life in the UK test, as she only needs one form of accepted ID, so she can use either her expired BRP or her e-visa share code to book the test now.
2) I believe it is still possible to apply for ILR using an expired passport... one option is to include the expired passport number on the application and then upload/update the application documents with the new passport information when it arrives. Another is that may be possible for other forms of ID to be used instead to prove citizenship (i.e. birth certificate and other supporting documents). See the section called
Can I apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain without a passport? here:
https://iasservices.org.uk/ilr-on-an-expired-passport/Regarding documents needed to book the Life in the UK test (
https://www.gov.uk/life-in-the-uk-test):
Book the test
You need all of the following to book a test:
- email address
- debit or credit card
- an accepted form of ID
Accepted forms of ID
You can use one of the following as ID to book the test:
- valid passport
- valid travel document with a photo (you cannot use an emergency travel document)
- biometric residence permit (BRP) or biometric residence card (BRC) - your test must be no later than 18 months after the expiry date printed on the card
- a share code - you’ll need to sign in to your UKVI accountShe must take the same ID she used to book the test when she attends the test appointment.
They attended the embassy to request a new one and apparently this was posted out a week ago, but has not yet arrived.
Was it a same-day emergency passport appointment?
Does know how the passport has been posted (Royal Mail, courier etc.), and can she to contact the embassy or relevant postal service for updates on the package?
It's still a few weeks before her visa expires, so there's still time to receive it.
What is the likely lead time on booking the test, and is the result immediate. She is likely to be doing it in Reading. Do you get a choice of dates and locations when applying?
Not sure what the available booking dates are like at the moment, but when you click on the 'Start Now button to book the test, it says there are optional services she can pay for, such as booking a short notice test, so she can take the test within the next 24 - 72 hours (costs £15.00 extra).
I believe she will have a choice of where to book the test, so she can see what's available.
Once she has passed the test, her Life in the UK account will be updated with her Unique Reference Number (URN) to show she has passed it... she then enters this number on the ILR application form. I assume this
Has she been studying for the test using the official Life in the UK test book, and trying practice tests to get ready for it>
I would say the main concern, rather being able to book the test, is whether or not she is ready to pass it and if she will have enough time to retake the test if she doesn't pass the first time... the rule is that you have to wait 7 days after failing the test before you can book another test. You can take it as many times as you like, but with the 7-day wait to rebook, and the wait between booking and taking the test, the timing can get tight.
I have seen cases though, where people have had to submit their visa application before they were able to pass the test, because they couldn't get an appointment until a few days later... so they applied anyway, without their URN, and then updated their application with the URN after they passed.
But if all else fails and she isn't able to pass it, as long as she gets the application submitted before her visa expires, she will just be issued with another FLR(M) instead of ILR. Which does mean having to apply for ILR again once she has passed, but at least it means she will still have a valid visa to live in the UK.
