Oh wow, didn’t realize Pittsburgh was more than 100 miles from the border. That’d be an option then.
(NOTE: I edited this in case she ever stumbles in here, since she knows this place exists. Odds are super low, but blowing the surprise with a forum post is a stupid risk to take.)
Once we are eventually engaged, it’s a question of waiting to plan a big wedding or getting married legally right away and planning the big ceremony and reception to be, well, ceremonial.
The situation with COVID and stuff like this factors in. Once she’s officially a resident with a green card, a lot of stuff gets cheaper - tuition, interest rates on loans, some legal fees go away. She also can’t visit her family without a green card, as she’d almost certainly be denied re-entry on her student visa because the covid era rules are being weaponized by the racists.
So I’m guessing we’ll do a quick official marriage after I propose and plan a celebratory ceremony for 6-18 months later.
Then after official marriage it’s 3 years before she can apply for citizenship, and however long that takes.