Best way to settle in UK for a japanese national

[stella11]

I need some advice regarding the immigration of my Japanese boyfriend to UK.
We've been together in Japan for 6 months, after which I had to come back to UK to finish my degree.
I don't intend to go back to Japan as there's many things I don't like about the country, but he is more than willing to come to UK and start his life here in about 2 years. He is under 30 so he can apply for a young person Visa with a validity of 2 years (correct me if I am wrong), but after that I don't know what he could do to get another visa or stay longer.
I've looked into a few options as
a)applying for a Tier 2 or 5 visa, but he would need an employer willing to sponsor him and that's not very easy
b)get married and apply for a spouse visa, but I am very afraid of this route as I have read many posts of people having their marriage not recognised
c)apply for a visa as a partner of unmarried couple, but we would need to live 2 years together, duable, but he would still need to stay at least another 6 months to get the visa approved I reckon.
We can't try the Surinder Sigh route as I am not a British citizen (on the way to get my citizenship though) and I don't want to go back to my country (Italy) as the situation is not one of the best.
What are our actual options according to your expertise?

[CR001]

A) tier 5 easy enough if he qualifies. Tier 2 more challenging.

B) nonsense about marriage being recognise. You need to earn at least £18,600pa and provide proof of six months payslips and bank statements for a spouse visa to be considered.

C) this fail as the 3 years cohabitation in a "relationship akin to marriage" is mandatory for an unmarried partner visa. You don't have to be British to do surinder Singh. If your Italian you can also do it but not through Italy. Do you have PR?

[Casa]

A) tier 5 easy enough if he qualifies. Tier 2 more challenging.

B) nonsense about marriage being recognise. You need to earn at least £18,600pa and provide proof of six months payslips and bank statements for a spouse visa to be considered.

C) this fail as the 3 years cohabitation in a "relationship akin to marriage" is mandatory for an unmarried partner visa. You don't have to be British to do surinder Singh. If your Italian you can also do it but not through Italy. Do you have PR?

I think a blip with CR001's mobile...2 years cohabitation.

[stella11]

A) tier 5 easy enough if he qualifies. Tier 2 more challenging.

B) nonsense about marriage being recognise. You need to earn at least £18,600pa and provide proof of six months payslips and bank statements for a spouse visa to be considered.

C) this fail as the 3 years cohabitation in a "relationship akin to marriage" is mandatory for an unmarried partner visa. You don't have to be British to do surinder Singh. If your Italian you can also do it but not through Italy. Do you have PR?

A) Tier 5 seem to be mostly work experience visa and by the time he will apply he will have had 4 years experience working for some company I don't know if he will be even considered!

B) sorry but I have read so many horrible stories that I got very scared. Yes I am aware of that I think I will be able to prove that

C) I was checking a few days ago and I was pretty sure it was 2 years and not 3. Would it be duable in that case?

D) Surinder Singh I will apply for my PR next July, is there any specific guide on how to apply, following that route?

Also any other option I forgot to check?

[Casa]

A) tier 5 easy enough if he qualifies. Tier 2 more challenging.

B) nonsense about marriage being recognise. You need to earn at least £18,600pa and provide proof of six months payslips and bank statements for a spouse visa to be considered.

C) this fail as the 3 years cohabitation in a "relationship akin to marriage" is mandatory for an unmarried partner visa. You don't have to be British to do surinder Singh. If your Italian you can also do it but not through Italy. Do you have PR?

A) Tier 5 seem to be mostly work experience visa and by the time he will apply he will have had 4 years experience working for some company I don't know if he will be even considered!

B) sorry but I have read so many horrible stories that I got very scared. Yes I am aware of that I think I will be able to prove that

C) I was checking a few days ago and I was pretty sure it was 2 years and not 3. Would it be duable in that case? See my note in CR001's post. 2 years[/b]

D) Surinder Singh I will apply for my PR next July, is there any specific guide on how to apply, following that route?

Also any other option I forgot to check?

[noajthan]

I need some advice regarding the immigration of my Japanese boyfriend to UK.
...

We can't try the Surinder Sigh route as I am not a British citizen (on the way to get my citizenship though) and I don't want to go back to my country (Italy) as the situation is not one of the best.
What are our actual options according to your expertise?

To do SS you would be planning to go home to home country at the end of it, which doesn't seem to be your plan.
And to do SS you need to be married or in a durable relationship,