RANDYSWAY

I'm an American citizen married and living with a British citizen in the Uk.
My marriage has sadly failed, and i just want to go back home now.
My husband doesn't have the money to pay for my kids and i to fly home as he is now unemployed and losing our home too. His family won't let us live with them, only him, and i only have a settlement visa with no recourse to public funds!
In america i have family willing to take us in and help us resettle again there. Can anyone Please tell me if the U.S. Embassy in London can help me get home, and who to contact for help??
im so sorry and thank you to all whom replyed but my kids are not my current husbands children, they are from my previous marriage. im just desperate to return back to the usa.

penguinsix

First, you'll have more luck if you try to the US expats in the UK messageboard. Several of them have been there done that.

http://talk.uk-yankee.com/

In the past there was some program for aiding the destitute, but it was subject to abuse and I'm not sure if it still exists. They say they can help arrange for a relative to wire you funds, which I'm assuming is not really an option (or you would have done so already). Another option is for a relative in the US to get a credit card and then purchase a ticket on your behalf and then you pay them back.

hobbes79

Kids are going to be an issue... your husband will have to agree to allow you to take them with you if you choose to do so.

If you go to the US with them without permission, it can be considered kidnapping.

Of immigration concern, you'll need to make sure the US Embassy issues them a "Consular Report of Birth Abroad" if they were born in the UK, and then of course get a US passport for them (if you haven't done so already).

SecretGarden

Good point, but I read it as they were "her" children, not her children with him. Important distinction.

The OP has now edited her original post to indicate this.

~SecretGarden

penguinsix

By the way, I would suggest talking to an attorney about your divorce. While your husband may be broke, you have some rights to some funds or at least a judgment against him in the future. Do not abandon your rights to future earnings simply because there are none now.

hobbes79

Ah, yes, made an assumption.

I assume then that the kids were born in the US? And already have a US passport? Basically ok on that front then.

Noorah101

As someone else suggested, my idea would be to have the helpful family in the USA buy your tickets.

Rene

Jerseygirl

It's still not clear what nationality the father is...if he's British she may still have a problem...if he's American obviously there isn't one.

Rete

Yes, there might be even if he is American. If he is domiciled in the UK, he might not want his children to be removed from the UK and returned to the US. Still a letter of permission would be required.

Mummy in the foothills

So long as the kids are US citizens your are good to go, unless their father (ex partner) in also in UK and doesn't want them to leave.

Jerseygirl

True...I'd not thought of that scenario.

chartreuse

It's worse than that. Even if he is not the biological father, If he's accepted status as father to the kids, then he has certain rights, which must be addressed.

Manc

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 4.01; Windows CE; Smartphone; 176x220))

I'd be amazed if there is no UK equivalent of affidavit of support...........