Visa Gudience Needed - Tier 2 ICT or other options?

So, my boyfriend soon to be fiancee (i think) lives in the UK (UK citizen) and I'm in the US (US citizen).  I work for a global company that I'm hoping will be able to transfer and sponsor me to a job in the UK (but haven't brought this up to them yet).

I've been researching options to move to the UK later this year, marry him at some point (not in the UK) and live there for 5+ years before maybe returning together to the US.  There are so many visa options and I'm becoming quite confused...hence the post.  On of my main concerns is how to be eligible to work in the UK immediately, and I'm finding a lot of contradictory information on that.  So, what is the best approach?

1) Do I try for a Tier 2 (intra-company transfer) visa, even if we are engaged.  Get married and then try to switch to a spousal visa? Or, will there be a problem getting married somewhere outside of UK while I'm on this visa?

2) Do I need to look into getting married before moving to the UK? (not my preference )

3) Is a partner visa an option if we are not living together now? 

Based on my scenario (thinking I can stay with my global company that could sponsor and transfer me there), what would people advise?

THANKS!

So, my boyfriend soon to be fiancee (i think) lives in the UK (UK citizen) and I'm in the US (US citizen).  I work for a global company that I'm hoping will be able to transfer and sponsor me to a job in the UK (but haven't brought this up to them yet).

I've been researching options to move to the UK later this year, marry him at some point (not in the UK) and live there for 5+ years before maybe returning together to the US.  There are so many visa options and I'm becoming quite confused...hence the post.  On of my main concerns is how to be eligible to work in the UK immediately, and I'm finding a lot of contradictory information on that.  So, what is the best approach?

1) Do I try for a Tier 2 (intra-company transfer) visa, even if we are engaged.  Get married and then try to switch to a spousal visa? Or, will there be a problem getting married somewhere outside of UK while I'm on this visa?

It's not a problem to get married somewhere else.  You just need to make sure that the marriage is legally recognized in the UK.

2) Do I need to look into getting married before moving to the UK? (not my preference )

If you can't get your company to sponsor you for a Tier 2 ICT then you can marry in the US and apply for a spouse visa from the US.  You can work immediately upon entering the UK.  Or you can apply for a fiance visa to get married in the UK.  You have 6 months to marry and then you apply for FLR (M) which is further leave to remain as a spouse.  You cannot work whilst on a fiance visa.  Or marry elsewhere, return to the US and apply for a spouse visa.

3) Is a partner visa an option if we are not living together now?

 

No.  The major requirement to for an unmarried partner visa is that you have lived together with joint responsibilities like joint tenancy, joint bank account, joint bills for a minimum of 2 years. 

Based on my scenario (thinking I can stay with my global company that could sponsor and transfer me there), what would people advise?

THANKS!

If your company can sponsor you, that's fine but Tier 2 ICT doesn't lead to settlement so you'll probably have to switch to FLR (M) at some point depending on how long you intend to stay in the UK.