US Boyfriend, Native American CA Girlfriend

Hi, I've tried looking online, and so far have not found the info I need so figured I'd try this. I am a US citizen and my girlfriend of 5 years is a Native American Canadian born with just Canadian citizenship. We want to get married here in the US, but, she has no intention of staying or getting citizenship, as she has a job and soon an apartment. The idea is, for the next time she visit's me, for us to get married. She plans to go back home and continue working while I finish school for a technical diploma in auto mechanics, then when I am done with school, me moving there to live with her. I also, from about 5 years ago, have an assault charge here in the US on my record that is currently preventing me from freely entering Canada, but I am in the process of working on fixing that. With all that, my question is, what would we need to do to make our marriage legal and accepted not only here but in Canada too so that I can eventually move there within 2 or 3 years? Presuming I can get the rehabilitation form accepted for the assault charge, or if possible, showing our marriage as help with it.

Here's my experience...I recently moved to the USA under section S13 as a American Indian born in Canada. I went through the Toronto airport stating exactly as above and went into the 'back' room to meet with an immigration officer. I showed him my "quantum" letters from my native band and INAC. INAC doesn't do those kinds of letters, but confirms your ancestry, but your band office might be able to supply them although my band letter was an exact copy of the INAC letter. I also brought two passport sized photos, my passport, my employment letters, my status card and birth certificate.

The officer there was very helpful, but woefully inexperienced with this kind of thing, so it took awhile to find the right document (Form I-181), but eventually he found the correct form that for whatever reason was a manual one that he filled out an gave me a copy of. I also gave him the originals of my INAC and band letter.

He started the process for the green card, took the pictures I brought and index fingerprints. He stamped my passport with the Autorization stamp with S-13 written in it and once I asked if this would allow me to move back and forth across the border with out having to go through this again, as well as start employment, he then consulted a fellow officer and stamped it with the Authorized to Live and Work date for a year so I would have enough time to get my green card. (Seems I didn't have a choice in this, although I 've read differently in other places) Still I need one because I want to sponsor my husband.

Thank goodness I kept multiple copies of everything and I asked the questions. HOWEVER, I did not get something called an A number from him, although I asked if I had everything. This became a problem when I went to apply for a SSN number. I did this the second day I was there, but was told I had to wait until I was in the Homeland Security system, likely three weeks. They won't process you until you are. This was the beginning of the run around. I waited the time required, went back in and was still not in the system and since I didn't have an A number, they couldn't look me up. I called Homeland Security and navigated the horror of the menu system, only to be told I had to wait at least a month. I waited again and called agian and was told to go to the local field office with my documents and see what they say. Meanwhile I could work, but my emplyer couldn't get me into the system because I was missing the SSN number, uuggghhhh!

Finally had the appointment with HS and they processed me and gave me the A number I needed. However this is not the Reciept number you need to login online and check your status or when you call the 800 numnber. You get that about a month after you get processed, they also told me that the Border Services system and theirs was not integrated (huh?) so my original documents were likely still in Toronto. I also had to go back to HS for fingerprinting and and pictures, but they waived any fees (Fees?). Just the other day I got notification they ordered production of my new card.

I learned the following:
Have a copy of everything
Make sure you get the correct stamps in your passport
Get that Alien number
Try to keep your originals and give them the copies
Get a copy of whatever they can give you when you are filling out information.
I traveled several times across the border and kept a copy of everything with me at all times. At one crossing the officer said that the stamp that meant anything was the Authorized to Live and Work.

I have to say as well, although I've heard stories about Border Services, Homeland Security and Social Security I have had the best experience with the staff at those places.