Know that you are not the only one wondering this, so it is good that you ask.
To complement what @secret.simon already said:
victoriangkb wrote: ↑Sat May 08, 2021 11:53 pm
we have never lived together apart from the weekends where we stay over at each other’s or when we travelled together. One of the reasons we never cohabited is also because my family is Chinese, very conservative and wouldn’t allow me to move out unless I am married.
This is why your chances are zero, I'm afraid.
You have not yet formed an adult family unit with your boyfriend, that is independent from the authority of your parents, and where you have taken on financial commitments as a couple. There is absolutely nothing wrong with this, but it means your relationship is not "akin to marriage", and therefore not eligible for this route.
I have been advised that an EEA family permit is still possible even though we have never officially cohabited.
I'm afraid there is also a lot of misinformation around, here and elsewhere, where people:
1. Interpret the sentence "unmarried partner" as meaning any couple that's not married.
2. Think that a relationship that is more than two years old automatically qualifies them for the unmarried partner route
As @secret.simon explained, "unmarried partner" means the relationship is "akin to marriage", in other words, the couple is already operating as a married couple, specially in financial matters.
And please note that even if you did have two years of cohabitation, that is only
one of a number of usual requirements, not a sufficient requirement on itself.
It is true that sometimes couples with less cohabitation time can be successful, and it is true that the EEA unmarried partner family permit is still open until June 30th 2021, but as far as I know,
that only works with very strong alternative arguments (having the joint responsibility of raising children being a usual one). So according to your description of your relationship, it does not seem that the advice to apply for a EEA FP is fit for your situation.
Last but not least, this does not mean you have to leave the UK if you are opposed to marriage right now. You can of course explore other immigration options to extend your stay (Student, Post Study, Work).
My posts express what I believe are the facts, based on the best of my knowledge, about the topics discussed in this forum. They do not constitute immigration advice.
