US girlfriend to join me, an EEA national in UK

[emphram]

I'm an EEA national, having lived in the UK for 2 years, self-employed, not dependent on any public funds.

My girlfriend of 6 months is a US citizen, and wants to move in with me in the UK. It's maybe fast by conventional standards, but we've been good friends for over a decade, so it makes sense for us.

As a US citizen she can of course come to the UK for 6 months as a tourist without a visa, but she wouldn't be allowed to work, and she wants to pull her own weight. She's not qualified for a work visa on skilled labour on its own merits.

It's unclear to me if;
a) The EEA family permit allows her to work in the UK or not;
b) If she's eligible for the permit or the residence card as an unmarried partner of less than 2 years who is not financially or healthwise dependent on me;
c) If being a fiancée would qualify as a "spouse", or evidence of a strong unmarried spouse-like relationship;
d) If there is some other route she can use to live and work in the UK?

Thanks a lot for your answers beforehand!

[noajthan]

I'm an EEA national, having lived in the UK for 2 years, self-employed, not dependent on any public funds.

My girlfriend of 6 months is a US citizen, and wants to move in with me in the UK. It's maybe fast by conventional standards, but we've been good friends for over a decade, so it makes sense for us.

As a US citizen she can of course come to the UK for 6 months as a tourist without a visa, but she wouldn't be allowed to work, and she wants to pull her own weight. She's not qualified for a work visa on skilled labour on its own merits.

It's unclear to me if;
a) The EEA family permit allows her to work in the UK or not;
b) If she's eligible for the permit or the residence card as an unmarried partner of less than 2 years who is not financially or healthwise dependent on me;
c) If being a fiancée would qualify as a "spouse", or evidence of a strong unmarried spouse-like relationship;
d) If there is some other route she can use to live and work in the UK?

Thanks a lot for your answers beforehand!

a) It will - if gf is granted a FP

b) 6 months is not a 2 years durable relationship akin to marriage.
HO plays hardball on this.

c) No, it won't

d) UK Tier 2 (work) or Tier 4 (student) routes.

[vinny]

d) Marriage?

[emphram]

a) It will - if gf is granted a FP

b) 6 months is not a 2 years durable relationship akin to marriage.
HO plays hardball on this.

So is there even a chance of her getting the FP in the first place?

[noajthan]

So is there even a chance of her getting the FP in the first place?

Not on the basis of a relationship without evidence of joint venture and/or children and no evidence of cohabitation for 2 years.
Even married couples with 6 or 7 years time served have been known to be refused a FP at first attempt.