Hi everyone,
This thread has been so useful in understanding what to expect from the Home Office. I didn't post about my application before, but here it is:
Unmarried partner (Canadian) of an EU citizen (French), who is a PhD student. I entered the UK on a Tier 5 Youth mobility visa when we moved here and started living together 2 years ago. (We had lived together 2 weeks short of 2 years when I sent the application.) I was able to keep working continuously after showing my employer the guidelines for leave under Section 3C, but both they and I are very relieved to finally have the card! And I can leave the country to visit family for Christmas and just come back to normal life.
Application timeline:
Application sent: 15th July 2015
Application received by Home Office: 16th July 2015
CoA w/o right to work and Biometrics letter received: 2nd Aug 2015
Realized we missed the requirement for health insurance, so bought some quickly and sent documents to Home Office: mid-September
RC received: 14th Dec 2015