Correction
You can do all the TSA stuff before even hitting the US - the only complicated issue is the fingerprints (but there are a couple of locations in the UK you can go to). I actually went to Paris.
I go out to the US on the 20th Jan, and start flying on the 21st (jet-lag permitting!).
So, you don't have to 'waste' a week in the US, you can do EVERYTHING before departure...
Sam.