need advice on UP visa documentation

[To whoever can help!
I am a female US citizen living in the UK with my boyfriend who is a British citizen. In a few weeks it will be my two year anniversary living here in the UK and we are looking into applying for my UP Visa. I have contacted a firm for advise and basically they are just telling me what I already know. My BF and parents have been supporting me for the last two years due to the fact I can not work here, so I have been fortunate enough to not be away from by boyfriend and the UK for any longer then two weeks.

The main documentation that proves our relationship exits and that I am living here is a tenancy agreement of two years with both our names on it and our passports, apparently I have been told that this is not enough and I am stressing about it all. I have not been working so, all my bank statements have been handled by my parents in the US. I don't know what other documents would be needed, can anyone advise on this? are pictures, letters enough?

Also, I am not sure to go through the route of hiring a lawyer in the UK to handle the whole case. They seem to be costly and I am not really sure if I can apply for the UP visa here or if I have to apply in the states. Does anyone have an opinion or experience with a lawyer, do they make the headache go away? is it worth it or should my boyfriend and I apply within the states ourselves. I appreciate any feed back!

What visa did you have when you entered the UK?  If none, I believe you would have to leave the UK and apply at a UK Consulate in the States.

Thanks for the helpful info guys! I don't have a visa to stay in the UK. My BF and I are able to visit my family every 3-6 months for a 10 day holiday.

Garry your so helpful! after talking to my bf about the whole UP visa we may be considering a quickie marriage in vegas, the visa application I would would need is the VAF2. If I applied for the FMR as a unmarried partner would I need to pay the extra money to apply for the VAF2 as well? also do you recommend physically going to the consulate or doing all of it online?

I to would like to know if it is better to go to the consulate in NY than to mail the stuff, When Chris and I go back in April we only have 28 days till we have to return home to the UK.
 

Garry your so helpful! after talking to my bf about the whole UP visa we may be considering a quickie marriage in Vegas, the visa application I would would need is the VAF2. If I applied for the FMR as a unmarried partner would I need to pay the extra money to apply for the VAF2 as well? also do you recommend physically going to the consulate or doing all of it on line?

Thanks for the helpful info guys! I don't have a visa to stay in the UK. My BF and I are able to visit my family every 3-6 months for a 10 day holiday.

I know it's none of my business but out of curiousity, how do you manage going to the US and then re-entering the UK if you've been overstaying? This is assuming your parents are in the US...

It doesn't sound to me like she's been overstaying...just that she's entered as a visitor multiple times over the last two years.  She's been very lucky!

no worries in asking me, yes I have been really fortunate to be able to not overstay my welcome by visiting the UK multiple times. My parents and my BF have been supporting our relationship in order for me to do this.

no worries in asking me, yes I have been really fortunate to be able to not overstay my welcome by visiting the UK multiple times. My parents and my BF have been supporting our relationship in order for me to do this.

My mistake, sorry.  Wouldn't this be better off in a thread that wasn't about overstaying? 

My mistake, sorry.  Wouldn't this be better off in a thread that wasn't about overstaying? 

Done!