Legalising my situation in Spain

Hello everyone,

I am a EU citizen (portuguese) that has been living in Spain with my Spanish boyfriend for a couple of weeks now, with the purpose of finding a job and integrating your culture. It was fairly easy to learn a sufficient amount of Spanish to get by and begin to stand on my feet, given the similarities between our languages, even though I’m still learning.

A lawyer advised me to wait to get a physical contract (looking for a job and getting selected so I could bring the contract to the cita as a demonstration of a job offer) so that I’d get either the green NIE or the white sheet, and I wouldn’t have to worry about the time ticking this way - as I understand we are given 90 days to find a job. I heard a lot about the employment situation in Spain being a bit critical and rough right now, which was my main concern, so for now I'm a turist in your country.

Well, I got into job hunting and I did receive phone calls but unfortunately no one will hire me without the NIE (I was informed that being an European citizen would be enough to work, but it seems companies are under the impression it’s too much of a hassle? In any case I understand. Why go through the trouble when they can perfectly get a local worker.)

We’re even pondering marriage if it would help the situation. Going back home would be tough for me, as I moved here for obviously my partner but I also have personal and family issues going on, and if possible we would like to avoid me having to go back. I did bring saved cash and I don’t have a lot of expenses right now, so it’s enough to sustain myself, but it’s not enough to meet the 9k requirement to obtain the NIE through the unemployment way.

I guess my main question is: If I get the NIE provisional and I get past the 90 day period without getting hired, what would happen then? Our main concern is that I would be under the risk of deportation.

Thank you in advance for your time.

Edit: Thank you for helping in clearing these doubts. As it turns out the information we had wasn't correct.