More visa questions for dependent children

Two questions:

1. When you go for spousal visa interviews, and you want visas for dependent children that will be moving also, do they have to come with you? (Or can you have "adult holiday time" while in New York? A few days in the big apple without the twins would be wonderful!)

2. I have a son who is finishing up high school this coming year and staying in our home with my mom so he can attend his senior year while we're in the UK. He wants to come to the UK after high school and attend post secondary school there etc. The thing is, he turns 18 this coming April. Can I get him a visa at the same time we all do as a dependent child...and not have him actually move over until after he graduates? Or, would he have to move over before turning 18 and not finish school here?

Thanks!

For question 1....you only need to have the child's passport with you (and a letter from his/her father giving permission for the child to move to the UK...if that's an issue for you).

Not sure about question 2.  Good luck!

I got our visas in 2002, so it might be different now.  But I was told that my kids did not need to come in person to the Consulate, but that they did need to be present in the US at the time of application (obviously they would be because I needed to take their passports to the Consulate!).

As for your older son, he'd have to be moving with you as your dependent to secure the visa.  And if he turns 18 in April (i.e. before he finishes US high school), he can always apply for a student visa to come study in the UK.  That would be completely separate from your visa, though.