Bringing family back to the UK

[15850049]

To make a long story short.
I am British (by birth in the UK) and American through naturalization.
My wife is a US Citizen, our 2 children are American by birth, British by the Grace of God

We live in the US but we want to move back to the UK and I am confused.

I earn more than 18,600 GBP here in the States and have done so for the 4 years while living here. From what I can deduce from the income requirements here are the things I have to prove.

1. Income of at least 18,600 GBP in the USA for 6 months (12 months if more than 1 employer)
2. Employment starting within 3 months of my wife entering the UK of at least 18,600 GBP.

My question is - Does the above scenario have to be with the same employer?

If so I guess I'm screwed, we have 30,000GBP in savings but I refuse to leave my family for 6 months, I am the main bread winner and can't afford to support 2 households! Uncle Sam can keep my tax dollars if thats the case.

[15850049]

Also if I include my offer of employment in the application, how quickly are the applications processed? What I don't want to happen is that it takes 4 months to process and then my job offer is no longer valid.

Government really makes this difficulty!

[Amber]

See Visa processing times in the USA (click)

The job offer doesn't need to be the same employer. And savings over £16000 can also be considered providing you've held them for 6 months.

[15850049]

See Visa processing times in the USA (click)

The job offer doesn't need to be the same employer. And savings over £16000 can also be considered providing you've held them for 6 months.

So by having the 30,000GBP I only need to find a job in the UK that pays 13000 PA?

(30,000 - 16,000)/2.5 = 5600
18600 - 5600 = 13000

Also the processing time for 90% of settlement visas is 40 days so as long as I have a 90 day offer letter at the time of application I should be ok?

I am not salaried, I am paid hourly and am full time, I read somewhere they take your lowest grossing paycheck from the past 6 months and use that to calculate your gross income, I'm worried that I take any unpaid leave that they will use that 1 check and deny me based on income requirements. Is this true?