PBS Dependant as unmarried partner

[afshock]

Hello,

I'm new to this forum however I tried to find the answer on my question in internet for sometime but was unable to do it. Hope to get some help here.

Me and my girlfriend are both Russians who are in UK under Tier 2 ICT visas. Now I'm thinking to change the job by switching to my girlfriend's ICT visa as dependant. We're not officially married but as I know there is called unmarried partner category and you need to be together with your partner for at least two years in order to apply. We've been living together for the 3 years in Russia and then came in UK 3 months ago.

Questions I have:
1) Is it possible to prove to UKBA that we were together for more than 2 years by providing original Russian documents with translation ?
2) Can the following documents be considered as an evidence of our civil partnership:
a) Apartments rental agreement there is written that we were living together there.
b) Letter from bank which says that I had bank loan in one of Russian banks and my girlfriend was a guarantor.
c) Letters from our British and Russian friends that confirm that we are together for more that 2 years.
d) Photos from our vacations.

Can anyone please shed some light here as it's impossible to find answers to these questions somewhere else.

Thanks in advance!

[Apam]

Yes you can! However it's upto ukba to accept these as a proof of your relationship. Usually they do, only way of knowing is to give it a go. In worse case, you can continue on your ict visa.
Good luck.

[afshock]

Thanks! Further questions:
1) Can I apply for Dependent visa with Active TIer2 ICT visa so that I will be able to come back and continue working in the worst case? Or I need to leave UK first and ask my employer to notify UKBA that my employment in UK has ended?
2) Once I get Tier 2 Dependent visa - do I need to wait 1 year before applying for Tier 2 General visa (considering the fact that I originally came in the UK under Tier 2 ICT visa)?

[Apam]

1. You can apply for ict dependant visa only from your normal country of residence ie Russia in your case.
No need to tell your employer anything. Your own ict visa is automatically cancelled. Once it's done, then tell your employer you are no longer on your ict visa, they will then inform ukba that they are no longer sponsoring you.
2. From ict dependant, you can switch to tier 2 general. ...also from your country of residence and no need for 12 months cooling off period.