Q about applying for spousal visa from the UK while visiting

I'm looking to apply to enter the UK (I'm a USC) with my wife (UKC) for a spouse visa next summer-ish (retiring, I meet all the usual eligibility requirements).

I trying to do some due-diligence here and on the gov.uk web pages for visas and immigration, I had seen mention of applying from inside the UK for a spousal visa.

I'm guessing this is for people who for whatever reason got split up in going to the UK where one spouse who's the UKC was there/could be there/works/whatever and the other spouse is outside the country?

In our situation, my wife is resident in the US with me, we got married in 2012 and she moved over to the US  just prior on a K1 visa (and has since become a US Citizen).

We are wondering why we couldn't go to the UK to live, me on the standard visitors visa, then apply for the spousal visa for me to stay (planning on living there indefinitely)?  (ps - we own a house in the UK already)

thx

I'm looking to apply to enter the UK (I'm a USC) with my wife (UKC) for a spouse visa next summer-ish (retiring, I meet all the usual eligibility requirements).

I trying to do some due-diligence here and on the gov.uk web pages for visas and immigration, I had seen mention of applying from inside the UK for a spousal visa.

I'm guessing this is for people who for whatever reason got split up in going to the UK where one spouse who's the UKC was there/could be there/works/whatever and the other spouse is outside the country?

In our situation, my wife is resident in the US with me, we got married in 2012 and she moved over to the US  just prior on a K1 visa (and has since become a US Citizen).

We are wondering why we couldn't go to the UK to live, me on the standard visitors visa, then apply for the spousal visa for me to stay (planning on living there indefinitely)?  (ps - we own a house in the UK already)

thx

Unfortunately not. There was short term provision to apply while on a visitors visa due to Covid but that expires at the end of the month.

If you’re applying to stay in the UK long-term
You can apply from the UK to switch to a long-term UK visa until 31 July 2020 if your leave expires between 24 January 2020 and 31 July 2020. This includes applications where you would usually need to apply for a visa from your home country.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-advice-for-uk-visa-applicants-and-temporary-uk-residents

You will need to apply from the US as is usual.
https://www.gov.uk/uk-family-visa