The "Plan" (opinions needed!)

Liz (Shayde) and I have had a little timetable worked out for a while now; now I have a job, the plan was for her to visit in March to get the paperwork she'll need for the fiancee visa application, fly back to the US, put in for the visa, and hopefully be here by mid-April.
However, I have spent the last 2 weeks feeling very ill (I've hardly kept anything solid down since last Monday ), and because of this I haven't been able to complete my training at my job yet. My bossses understand; I still have the job. But since it is door-to-door sales, this means I might not be making a that much money by the time she visits in a couple of weeks.
So, I came up with an idea. I would greatly appreciate people's input on it.

1. Liz visits in March as planned. We get as much paperwork sorted as possible. She takes it back with her to the US.
2. If I am still not in a position to suport her by mid-April, she comes here on a tourist visa. I can persuade my Mum to put her up for a few weeks, while my money improves (basically, it is a matter of time), and then I can get a place Liz and I can live in together.
3. When we feel we are at a stage financially where we will be able to get the visa, Liz goes back to the US and applies for it.
4. Liz moves here.
This plan would prove that I am financially capable of supporting Liz until we marry, and she gets a job, and also that we are capable of living together.

Are the visa people going to have a problem with Liz being here so long? Not to mention with such little gaps (a month-month 1/2) between visits? She wouldn't be working, I would be supporting her.
Is anyting in this plan likely to count against us on either end? Would it be likely that anyone official might decide that we'd been "living together in a relationship" while she was here, and would that count against us in any way?
All I know is that we HAVE to be together. It's getting truly unbearable being apart.

just a thought- can you get a co-sponsor for your application (your mum, maybe?) The amount of money you have saved isn't so much important as the fact you have a stable job, and a co-sponsor should cover the difference enough if you're really worried so you'd be able to stick to your original plan.  Otherwise, just have her wait a few weeks in the US until you feel comfortable applying for the visa- much less expensive than all that extra flying back and forth across the Atlantic!

My Mum is somewhat hesitant to co-sponsor; she sees it as a legally binding contract to take care of us both, and she's not that well off. She will if it comes down to it though. Plus she is on a pension, and I don't know if that could count against it as "recourse to public funds" in any way. She does own her house outright though, so there would always be a roof over our heads if we needed it.
My thoughts on the flights are that by the time we're financially sorted enough to apply for the visa, I'll have the money to get Liz's ticket anyway. Plus, she keeps an amount of money safe in an accout in case she needs it, and that would cover the ticket also.

I like your plan, although as a million other threads on here would suggest there is always a chance that Liz will face intense questioning on entry as a visitor.

Your mum has a good attitude - I wish that more sponsors and co-sponsors took their responsibilities this seriously.  However, it is not a legally binding contract, and the fact that she is on a pension would not count against the application unless it is so little (ie state pension only) that it would hardly help to show Liz can afford to be supported.

Victoria

The main point about Mum being a co-sponsor is that she owns her own house outright; it was in my parents' wills that when one of them died, the mortgage would be paid off in full, so when my dad died in 1993 the house was fully paid for. This means that we would always have a roof over our heads while I save the money to afford the deposit on a flat. And by the time the tourist visa is up (most likely well before then), I'd be earning enough money to get somewhere for us anyway.

Honestly, my feeling about the best plan for you would be:

Have her visit in March, go home and get a job (if she doesn't already have one) to save up as much money as she can to help when she lives with you.  Its SO expensive to start out a new life!
When you are financially ready to have her fly over, then apply for the visa.  Because you'd be living with your mother for awhile, that will help as well (you don't have to pay rent for a bit).

Just my idea....good luck no matter what you decide

Thank you!
Liz is visiting in just over 2 weeks! We're going to sit down with Mum, and try to work out what we're going to do.