We are PCSing to Lakenheath in December and I was wondering about going non-command sponsored. My son was medically approved, but my husband was not. If he chose to come anyway, what sort of visa/passport would he need to apply for? I know some of you ladies have been through this recently, so any advice is appreciated. We have been told that my husband could be cleared by October of this year or April 2012 at the latest. We'd just like to go ahead and get our family together over there instead of waiting.

If he went ahead he would need to apply for a work visa for the UK in order to live there in his own right. Also if he is not command sponsored he cannot live on base or use Tricare there.

He wants to come slightly after us. Is the work visa the only option or could he still get a military dependent visa if he is not on my orders? My son and I were going to fund a house and he was going to follow about a month later.

No he cannot get a SOFA stamp/visa unless he has command sponsorship. If he attempts to show up with it or a work visa he will be denied entry in.

he will need a work or student Visa-
he cannot get a SOFA with out being command sponsored- he will be able to get seen at the MTF only on a space avail basis,
you will not get OCOLA with him as a dependant-

if your son is going you will need a family care plan before they ( the command) will let you bring him over -
your DH may or may not be able to shop at the commisary or exchange

and if anything happens and they need to evacuate dependants he will be the last one out- if they will even pay for him to leave- that may be out of pocket.

The shopping thing.....I had a military ID despite not being command sponsored...I also took the driving test and got my fuel card HOWEVER I have been told since then that they are now very strict on checking CS paperwork before giving people fuel cards and base driving licenses.