"Lodged" our application, and passport related question

[bostonian]

Funny around here (New England), "lodged" has a meaning more akin to "stuck." Like something lodged in your throat. Kiwi's seem to prefer that term as "submit."

Anyway, we submitted our SMC visa application and London has received it. We are glad all the legwork is over. What an effort! I didn't think about what would become of our passports, we just sent them along with the application paperwork. Does anyone know... will INZ retain our passports (for up to 6 months) until we pay the migrant levy? of will they send them back after deciding? or will they send them back as soon as they are sighted?

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Thanks,
Dave

[JandM]

Once they've seen the passports, they CAN send them back as soon as you want them. Just let them know.

('Lodge' in UK usage, as well as NZ, means 'put in', more or less. People commonly talk about 'lodging a protest', or 'lodging an appeal', as well as an application. We have 'submit' as well.)