EEA family permit refused

[naruto08]

My application for an EEA family permit (unmarried partner) has been denied. The decision was made a day after I passed all of the requirements.

These are what i passed:
1. my passport
2. copy of my EEA partner's passport endorsed by her embassy
3. a JOINT bank certificate showing only 545 pounds in it
4. certificate of car registration under our names
5. certificate of car insurance under our names
6. letter from my mother stating that me and my partner are the ones residing in her rented studio-type apartment (the lease of contract was under her name since me and my partner do not have a checking account to pay for the rentals)
7. proof of billings under my partner's name bearing the address of the studio-type unit stated above
8. my transcript of records from my previous school bearing the address of the studio-type unit stated above
9. our old passports showing our joint trip to Macau
10. 2 sets od ID's showing that we live at the same address
11. a lot of pictures (2001 - present)

THE DECISION:
you have shown no evidence that you and your partner have been in a relationship akin to a marriage for the last 2 years. None of the documents you have provided show you to be living at... (address of the studio type unit) along with your EEA national partner. your bank document is only showing as june 2009 and november 2010 and has only 545 pounds in it.

i therefore refuse your EEA family permit application because i am not satisfied that you meet all of the requirements of regulation 8 of the immigration (EEA) regulations 2006 and paragraph 295A (i/v/vi) of HC395 (Immigration rules)

QUESTIONS:
1. Can i make an appeal?
2. If they don't require financial statements, why did they include our bank document in their decision?
3. what do they mean by durable relationship?
4. is marriage the best solution to this problem?

[vinny]

See also durable relationship.

[Plum70]

4. is marriage the best solution to this problem?

If your r/ship is for the long term (which it appears to be), and you both are comfortable making it 'official', then marriage will definitely simplify things.

[86ti]

4. is marriage the best solution to this problem?

If your r/ship is for the long term (which it appears to be), and you both are comfortable making it 'official', then marriage will definitely simplify things.

But keep in mind that they still will want to be satisfied that this will not be a marriage of convenience.

[Plum70]

Indeed.

[naruto08]

do we have grounds to make an appeal?

[vinny]

If you have evidence that demonstrate living together and a relationship akin to marriage/civil partnership for at least two years, then yes.