Without an EU passport you may not get paper. Any chance of an Italian or Irish grandparent to sort that one? If not it will be uphill.

Only consider a Cambridge / RSA CELTA. This is the most respected cert here and will travel well also. The young learner add on will be of little use here as your best (only) bet of an employer will be a private language school. These mostly deal with young adults and working people. The worst pay is about 30 an hour and 50 is sort of average. Naturally it varies by area. Forget about the state sector. Bang on the door of PLSs when you arrive...

So do your CELTA before you get here, teach privately at rock-bottom rates regardless if you get papers or not. Start with conversation classes until you build up your confidence. You may get some hours with a school but it would be wrong to give you the impression that you will be able to get one employer that could offer you enough work to live on.

Save up and come here with the attitude that it will be a long vacation/experiment and as many dollars as you can. You might get lucky but make sure you have an exit plan!

If the woman thing works out she can maybe help get those papers .

Good luck!