Going back to the US with my kids

Well, I don't know if we can get around leaving now. The tickets for myself and the kids have been purchased. If I were to file DCF, what part of the process do we have to get through before the kids and I could leave? I know that we will have to spend time apart, but the less the better.

DCF (Direct Consular Filing) Process:

http://www.usembassy.org.uk/dhs/uscis/i130filing.html

and

http://london.usembassy.gov/cons_new/visa/iv/ivprocess.html

Edited to add:

How Long is anyone's guess...

http://london.usembassy.gov/cons_new/visa/iv/immediaterel.html

If I were to file DCF, what part of the process do we have to get through before the kids and I could leave?

You can leave once your I-130 has been filed through the DHS unit of the Embassy in London.

Hopefully it's just the stress making my brain go numb... but I am trying to fill out the I-130 for DCF, and want to make sure I'm not messing it up terribly so that it's denied or sent back to me.

1.  The address information for both myself (petitioner) and DH (relative)...should be our UK address I'm assuming, but want to double check.

2.  Information about Alien relative...list Husband/Wife and all children of relative...
  -- myself and my kids only? He has no natural kids of his own...and is that only the family that lives here with him? Or should I include my son that is in the US?

3.  Address in the US where your relative intends to live, would be my sisters for now, as I don't have a rental yet. But then it asks for my relatives address abroad...that's just our house here yes? And will it matter if the address for him in the US is the same as the person that is going to act as his sponsor?

Our tickets (girls and I) are booked for March 31...if I were to get this form into them by the end of the week, would it be reasonable to assume they would have at least processed it before then so that we can leave as planned?

Sorry for being such a pain...just haven't been looking into the DCF thing long enough to understand what everything means and all that.

1.  The address information for both myself (petitioner) and DH (relative)...should be our UK address I'm assuming, but want to double check.

That is your address here so that would be correct.

2.  Information about Alien relative...list Husband/Wife and all children of relative...
  -- myself and my kids only? He has no natural kids of his own...and is that only the family that lives here with him? Or should I include my son that is in the US?

Just do what it asks for on the form, no need to complicate things unnecessarily.

3.  Address in the US where your relative intends to live, would be my sisters for now, as I don't have a rental yet. But then it asks for my relatives address abroad...that's just our house here yes? And will it matter if the address for him in the US is the same as the person that is going to act as his sponsor?

That will do. They need an address in the US as that is where his green card will be sent once he has entered with a valid IR visa. It shouldn't matter that the address of your sponsor will be used for now.

Our tickets (girls and I) are booked for March 31...if I were to get this form into them by the end of the week, would it be reasonable to assume they would have at least processed it before then so that we can leave as planned?

If you were to FedEx it then you would have proof that they have received the application. I wouldn't go as far as to say it would have been processed by then but at least you will have some peace of mind regarding the location of the application. With any luck you may get an indication that it has been put into the system before you leave.

Don't forget that you will need references from a few people that have known you two as a couple which will be required at some stage in the process and your husband will need a police certificate too.

For further experiences/timelines/help pertinent to gaining an IR visa via the Embassy in London you might want to take a look at visajourney.com, diveintoamerica.com or britishexpats.com.

I hope you realize once you put your husband's immigration paperwork in he will NOT be able to visit you.  His passport number will be flagged and he will be turned back if he attempts to enter the US.  I'm sorry I don't have any info on DCF- since I hadn't been in the UK long enough we had to go the longer route, which was awful, long, and required a lot of time spent apart.  Good luck on your journey.  I'm sorry you were so unhappy in the UK and wish you lots of luck in the future.

We DCF's in 2004, so it's been a few years.

However, Cookie is correct; once the paperwork was filed, DH was not able to visit the US.  We stayed in the UK as a family until our house sold and the immigration process was complete.  I did, however, make a trip to the US by myself to buy a house as DH was not allowed to travel.

Also, and I realize that this may have changed, but it was required that the US spouse had to reside in the UK for two years to be eligible to file through the London Embassy.  This may have changed, but if it hasn't, you should know this.

I know that you have your tickets purchased already.  However, you may need some time to research everything so that you don't make a decision in haste that you may regret in the future.

Good luck, whatever you decide to do.

I hope you realize once you put your husband's immigration paperwork in he will NOT be able to visit you.  His passport number will be flagged and he will be turned back if he attempts to enter the US. 

However, Cookie is correct; once the paperwork was filed, DH was not able to visit the US. 

You can visit while the I-130 is processing as long as you bring proof of your intent to leave the US after the duration of your stay.

Only the IO, (immigration officer) at your POE, (point of entry) can make the decision on whether or not you will be allowed into the country.

Of course it is best to spend at least as much time out of the US as you do in it and answer any questions asked of you honestly and simply.