For love or work?

I'm a Canadian in love with an American girl. I'm trying to find the best way to stay in the US so we can get engaged and eventually married. I will hear back about a job offer in a week or so but it isn't quite one of the TN NAFTA visa jobs (but it's close). We weren't planning on getting married right away but are willing to do it if it is the easiest path to living in the states.

If I get a job offer what's involved in getting a Visa to work for a while? Would it be easy to get my employer to adjust by job description so it fits a TN NAFTA visa? I've heard mixed reviews about them and converting them to full citizen status.

This is the best resource I've found about this tricky topic so far.

Help me canuck abroad, you're my only hope.

Would it be easy to get my employer to adjust by job description so it fits a TN NAFTA visa? I've heard mixed reviews about them and converting them to full citizen status.

The job MUST FIT to the profession under the TN category and not adjusted otherwise maneuvered just so you can be approved. This is risky and if you or the employer get caught,you may as well cancel your plans to live in the U.S. So it's important the job is a profession to that of a TN otherwise the employer can sponsor you for the H1B.

Marriage as a way to get in is always better if you and the person genuinely love one another but again, there are a few hurdles you and your partner must cross before you get to the finish line. visajourney.com has all the info you need there.

Thanks for the quick reply. I'm trying to find out what the soonest I could start work would be, the employer would obviously prefer in the next month and a half. I tried visajourney.com and others but I can't find a definitive answer.

Once all the forms are submitted am I able to work during the initial period? or do I need to wait the 3-6 months for final approval. This still seems shorter than the 8-9(?) month wait for a marriage visa. But will an employer really wait that long? I don't think it makes a difference but I would be working for a university.

Thank you very much for the help.