I appreciate the input, maybe we'll await for 15 months then if that might help....or we ll hire a lawyer to help at 12 months mark if we can't wait
I'm not, of course, saying either that your file has anything wrong with it - again, don't know your case and only you do. Whether waiting an additional one, two, three, five months helps - hard to say, likely marginal for each individual additional month (comparing to say a couple residing together for several years).
These factors that
tend to mean additional scrutiny - well, also can't say whether that means a long wait.
Lawyer or not, marriage or not, exactly when - things that are up to you and your partner.