Hi. If you think you might need you passport for travel or identity purposes while your application is being decided, it is okay to send a certified copy of the ID page in your passport. You will then be asked to supply the passport once the visa has been approved. If you have already sent the passport and suddenly discover you need it before your application has been decided, just contact the INZ Office and ask for it to be returned. I have never yet found this to be a problem. Kind regards. Karen