From the OP:
I am currently at a big cross road in life- deciding between Seminary, College, & possibly marriage. It is very possible that next year I will be married
We’re talking about a possibility, and nowhere near immediate. The three years until now is water under the bridge, but from now going forward, continuing to see him is dangerous and assur.
If you’re ready to get married, get engaged and married (quickly). If not, you must stop seeing him until you are. Probably, one of you should go to Eretz Yisroel and one stay in the US.
Gavra, do Syrians have a different yetzer hora? There’s no way to rationalize a 3-4 year relationship as a necessary prerequisite to marriage. The Syrians I know, who follow halacha, do things similarly to the litvish/yeshivish: approximately 6-15 dates over a month or two.