Urgent question regarding six month validity of passport

[en99 0]

I hold uk refugee travel document

the exipre date of my travel document is march 2013 and this is my only travel document

My name was also selected in dv 2013 and my visa is now ready and send my travel document but they told me I need to send a new travel document because the passport should be valid for at least 6 month

But because it is a refugee travel document it is not in my hand to extend or apply for a new travel document and after march 2013 uk border agency will go through my case again and will issue me indifinte leave to remain and then I can apply for a new travel document. This process may take about 4 to 8 month and by that time my DV visa will be no longer valid

I have sent them an email and waiting for their response but if they say no I really don't know what to do.

Do you have any suggestions or recommendation for me?

Do you think how helpful it is if a lawyer contact them?

I am really shocked and depressed . I have talked with a few lawyers before and they all told me they know this kind of travel documents are different and it is not possible to renew them

But unfortuantely their answer was no

I greatly appreciate your help

[ndu26 114]

so sorry to hear about ur challange. the rule about the 6months validity is a standard for most countries. It wnt make any differenceif the lawyers contact the DV people. Your best bet is to see how to overcome the challange on the side of the people responsible to renew the refugee visa. what if you tell them the reason you are asking for a renewal; that you have been approved for the Dv visa but just need your passport to be valid for more than six months.

what if you geta regular passport that has nothing to do with being a refugee , how does that work in your current country?

[Boggy1974 124]

what if you geta regular passport that has nothing to do with being a refugee , how does that work in your current country?

I actually agree with this suggestion. Why not get a new passport that has nothing to do with your refugee status in the UK? Especially when your old passport expires in 3 months? Your original country must have an embassy in the UK, so you go there and explain your situation. They should be able to issue you a passport. That will be much quicker than waiting on the UK authorities...If your embassy does not issue it's citizens passports in the UK, you can still arrange with your folks back home to get you a new passport - i.e. get the forms, fill it out and sign, attach your photo(s) and payment and send it back to get a new passport issued - noting that your current passport expires in 3months.

Also, I'm sure the DV visa presents better opportunities for your life & future since it will change your status as a refugee in the UK. The DV visa will make you an immigrant with permanent residency in the US. If you want to get the DV visa then, you really need to think outside the box...think about it and make your pick.

Edited January 24, 2013 by Boggy1974

[Asia 2,498]

Is there an option to get a temporary passport for you in the UK?

I mean, in my country you can get a temporaty passport. You must meet some special conditions to apply for one (and I think winning a green card is such special condition) and it's valid for only a year (which is enough for you).