POE question

[internationall 0]

Hi.

I'm from Sweden and I'm going to the US in June on the Visa Waiver Program with the intention of marrying my girlfriend. My return ticket back to Sweden is in late July, and after that(when I'm back in Sweden) we will file the papers for the CR-1 visa. So the plan is completely legal.

However, at the port of entry, when the officer asks me "What are you going to do in the US?".

Does it matter if I say "Visit my girlfriend" or do I have to say "I'm going to marry my girlfriend".

Will it be considered a lie, or appear suspiciously, if I only say "Visit my girlfriend", and he later finds out that I will get married?

I don't want to tell him "I'm going to marry my girlfriend", if he doesn't specifically ask the question "Are you going to marry her?", just to avoid to much questioning and trouble.

Thanks!

[Dal&Rose 45]

You can honestly say you are visiting your girlfriend. It doesn't matter if he finds out you got married. You don't have the intention to stay, you plan to return home and procure a proper visa. I say this with experience, my husband visited, we got married within 12 hours of him arriving, and he then left. We are pursuing a CR1 now.

[Dutchster 1,106]

Countries like Sweden/France/Germany/Netherlands etc are free/granted to use a VWP instead of a tourist visa. They always say, don't take advantage of this "generous" program. Entering the US on a VWP and telling the CBP officer, "I'm marrying my girlfriend" could turn into him putting you on the next plane back to Sweden. However, if you just tell him you're visitin your GF - then there will be no problem.

[Ellie__ 8]

Yes you can say you are visiting your girlfriend, you don't need to tell them you are getting married, because you are going home!

The only problem is when people visit on a tourist visa and want to stay.

This is not your problem!

Congratulations for the wedding!

[mallafri76 1,012]

Like others have said, just say visiting your girlfriend. Unless you have a long history of visiting and only staying a short ticome, I wouldn't bring up the wedding unless specifically asked.

Congratulations on your upcoming marriage and good luck with the visa process. We have an active Scandinavian thread going in the regional forum. Come find us there.