Does my plan/timeline sound like it will work ok?

[zooch76 9]

One thing you always have to keep in mind when entering any country is the amount of discretion the IO has. You could enter into the United States at five different times using five different POEs and each time an IO could tell you something different. Even at the same POE, each officer could tell you something different and treat you differently. The amount of discretion they have is HUGE and it is very much the luck of the draw who you get or what kind of mood they are in. And using the defense "But they let me do it last time" will get you nowhere.

As the OP can see from all the different answers here, it seems like there is no cut & dry answer. I'd suggest having a rock-solid case before making any trips outside the country.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Zooch, agreed.

[Boiler 45,486]

H and L allow dual intent,

F does not.

[lp2002 0]

Hey, I'm the OP - thanks for all your input.

To clarify my situation: I am actually about to start a new job which would be a 'permanent job'. What I have been doing since my OPT started this past summer was a 'post-graduate fellowship', which was temporary in nature so I was never concerned about the intent issue, even once I was married (as some other posters have said, my wife could always have applied for a Canadian GC). I am now about to start the permanent job, sign a new lease (that would last past the expiration of my EAD), etc -- so I agree, there might be a intent issue here. I may end up going to get some professional advice about this before travelling over xmas. I'm honestly not as concerned about running into a problem while crossing the border than I am about it coming up when my AOS is being processed.

Also - just to clarify some things that were said about travelling on OPT: you 100% may travel on OPT. You just need to have all your papers with you, and a letter from your employer. In fact, I also travelled post-graduation while my OPT application was being processed - the foreign student adviser at my school thought I was insane and told me it wasn't allowed, but I went and read the actual regulations, and it clearly was allowed -- the main thing was that I had to show proof that I had applied for the extension, and that I had a job lined up for once my EAD arrived.

[Boiler 45,486]

You have an EAD for OPT, you will need an EAD for a permanent poisition.