delaying nikaah

Q: I am a 26 year old girl. I got a proposal last year and it's already been a year. He and his family are assuring us that once he gets a job and settles, then only will we proceed further. My parents are very worried about me. I dont want to be the reason of my parents sadness. Actually the main problem is that he is from South and I am from North. In South marriage, there willbe a grand show off and all that but currently he is jobless. My parents still agreed and are ready but he is stuck on one thing that he needs a job. We must just wait 8 more months. I just want a halal relationship. One more thing I would like to ask is that we did a register marriage in January 2017, just to avoid wrong deeds but now I am feeling that without Allah's blessing how can we be happy. So I am insisting to get marry according Islamic shariya but he says that he can't do it now and he needs time. Please suggest what to do because I am completely lost. I really dont know what to do. 

Q: I know a girl for 7 years. In the last 6 months we started developing feelings for each other and dated a few times but nothing physical. We have decided to stop dating so that it does not damage our future together. We plan on getting married in 3 years time. Is it permissable to read istikaarah salaah now even though we plan on getting married later and what is your advice for this period of time?

Q: My question is if a brother has asked my father to marry me and my father likes him but wants us to get engaged for a period of time before marriage, what should I do. My father is my only wali and I would prefer to marry this man in order to make things halaal instead of possibly falling into haram. However I feel that my father is acting in a cultural way rather than Islamic. Could you please help me Insha Allah.