Never give #1 priority to studies and number two to paper in this country if you entered as a F1 student. Paper should be the first one.If you can get papers in few years then those you can always go atten universities after that. They are not going to shut down and run away in few years. You are lucky that you have someone who wants to marry you today. There are lots of people, good educated people with Phds who migrated to canada cuz they couldn't get the papers. this h1 path to green card is a big headache. I knew some people who had done out of state marriage.. they said they had to prove why they did that, like studies, employment with better pay etc.. make sure you take lots of pics when you visit each others..