I have heard of a similar situation. If you do not intend to fly for the next 3 months, and can be alrite without your passport, then you can submit it. It takes on average a max of 3 months or so. The other alternative is to write to them the reason for not sending your passport but its totally your call. Either ways, you are going to go through the process. So decide how important is the passport to you in the near future and act accordingly.
All the best.
Kind Regards,
Nick