Okay, I'm just struggling to understand when is an appropriate time to do antyhing. I've been here for a year, my partner and I were together for 3 years before that. I travel home regularly to see family and friends, so finding a time to get married, file the paper work, and wait for the travel document is difficult. It seems as though you are stuck in the country from the moment you can actually marry until then process you, which is also more difficult because I entered on a J-1...
I am by no means trying to get around immigration law or commit fraud, I am trying to understand how a J-1 holder can apply for adjustment of status without it being assumed its fraud or will malintent.