I'll be making a visa application in person in Manchester shortly.

If you submit your application to the CVASC, I’m afraid the CVASC won’t offer to return your passport by post. You need to collect your passport on your own or find someone ease to collect it for you. Besides, the CVASC advises the applicant to use the Royal Mail if the applicant wants to use the postal service, but it is not compulsory.