what to do, what to do......any advice??

Here's our situation:
My UK partner has overstayed here in the US. We intend to move to the UK beginning of Feb. '06. She is getting her passport renewed here in a few days and once that is done we plan to apply for the UP visa. I've gotten advice on one board already but was hoping Garry might read this and re-advise. Will her overstaying affect me getting approved for a visa? If we decide to get the visa once we're over there, instead of getting it in the States, will I get turned down for "entering under false pretenses"? (ie: entering as a visitor knowing I would shortly after apply for the UP visa)
I've heard that they frown upon these in-country switches. If this is true, should we take our chances and just apply for the visa here and hope they overlook her overstaying?
Thanks for reading and THANKS for any advice rendered!! As you can imagine our stomachs are in knots!

You have no choice, really - you have to get the UP visa before you enter the UK.

A visa is entry clearance.  You have to obtain entry clearance BEFORE you enter the country of choice.

I've gotten advice on one board already but was hoping Garry might read this and re-advise.

My own thoughts haven't changed.

You have no choice, really - you have to get the UP visa before you enter the UK.

A visa is entry clearance.  You have to obtain entry clearance BEFORE you enter the country of choice.

yup what peedal said, you can't change from a visiting visa to another visa while still being in the UK. They stopped allowing people to change it  awhile ago because people took advantage of it . So now you have to go to the consulate in US and get your clearance