What can I do to stay in USA longer?

If I do stay here illegally,

You're making a broad assumption that what you're doing is illegal, only an immigration judge can actually make that decision. If you stay for say, ten months, but maintain non-immigrant intent, possibly a judge would consider you aren't breaking the law, after all, you're waiting on an immigrant visa for your partner for a foreign country - pretty strong evidence of non-immigrant intent.

CBP may not like the fact you stayed ten months and that might cause you hassle if you visit the US to visit but it's not technically illegal until a judge says it was.

-- Wed Nov 18, 2009 1:45 pm --

I am an Australian that fell in love with an american.

Not a pleasant story but not strictly relevant to the circumstances because Canadians are treated differently under US immigration law.

How does the US immigration knows if I have exceeded the maximum stay of 180 days? (Assuming I went in by car and left by car)

Also, does the US immigration share that info with the canadian counterpart?

Do all canadian border croossings swipe or scan your passport when you re-enter the country by car?