Having a return ticket is much better than not having a return ticket, but be aware that in and of itself the return ticket is not going to prove to a CBP officer that you have no intention of staying and adjusting status. Many, perhaps most, immigrants arrive with a round-trip ticket, if for no other reason than that a round-trip ticket is often less expensive than a 1-way ticket and the return portion may yet be usable 'some day'. Be prepared with more than just your ticket.
Deciding when, or if, to let a CBP officer know that a wedding is on your agenda is a really tough call. You don't have to provide information that isn't asked for, yet the statement "I'm here to visit my fiancee" is likely to generate a follow-up question along the lines of "How nice, when do you plan to get married?". Depending on your answer to that, and your demeanor when answering, and the CBP officer's state of mind at that moment, the discussion could go off in any number of directions. It may not help the next person who has this FAQ, but it will be interesting for us to learn how the entry goes for you when the time has come.
Regards, JEff

This is a good point to make for future 'newbies' who may read this thread. It's so important to understand that immigration is a two-step process and that the two steps are usually handled by two separate and distinct government agencies.

Regards, JEff

Thanks, I will post how it goes.

At THIS very moment, the I-129F is not pointless, since you are still unmarried. As soon as you get married it will become void. Might be a good idea to still withdraw it in writing so you have a paper trail, before submitting the I-130, so you won't have two conflicting immigration paths going on at the same time.

Even if the Immigrant Visa process uses some of the same forms as the K-1 process, you'd still need to fill them out again, new, and make a whole new I-130 package submittal. It's a new application, for a new benefit, so it won't speed up the process at all. The only thing it will speed up is how fast you can fill out that form (for example, the G-325A), since you can just copy the information over to the new form without having to think about it or research the information again.

The Immigrant Visa process takes about 8 - 10 months to process, so after you marry in July, you will most likely immigrate to the USA around March - May 2012. You can still visit each other in the meantime.

Rene

Further, a return ticket is a requirement for using the VWP.

Also remember to have a current ESTA approval.

For whatever interest it might have, after I submitted an I-129f for my wife 'we' decided (i.e. she and her family decided) to instead get married before she came to the USA. I waited until after we had gotten married to write to USCIS asking to withdraw the petition, just in case 'we' decided to have another change of plan.

Regards, JEff

Yes, I agree this is a good tactic. Timewise, I meant that they should formally withdraw the I-129F *after* they get married, but before mailing off the I-130 package.

Rene

Thanks for the advice it makes sense to use that tactic

Any advice as what to say to the CBP officer when i'm asked the purpose of my visit?

Be honest - you're coming to the US to get married, you'll be leaving soon afterwards, and your wife will then start the process for an immigrant visa for you.

Ian

Yes. Always be honest. Only answer the specific question asked. Do not offer more information than asked. If asked, always tell the truth.

Rene

It's deja vu all over again (Yogi Berra)

Regards, JEff

There's an echo in this thread!

Regards, JEff

I thought perhaps he missed it first time around!

An amusing historic aside, though... in the days before Usenet, an "echo" was the name given to online forums. So, "an echo in this thread" is quite the interesting comment!

Ian

Thanks guys, I did'nt miss the honest comment earlier, I'm always honest anyway to my own downfall sometimes.
I asked again to see if anyone had a more specific answer, perhaps someone has been in my situation what was their response etc.
Would be interesting to see what has worked and what hasnt.

Appreciate all your help

I would never recommend doing this, it is risky and they are clamping down on this big time, however the CR-1 route seems a better practice, but as your family have paid out for tickets you are stuck between the rock and a hard place, only you can decide the best practice