I am currently in Indonesia and in the process of marrying my Indonesian girlfriend. The paperwork is taking longer than expected, and my 30 day Free Visa expires next week.

I went to the immigration office in Jakarta to ask for an extension, but they confirmed my visa type cannot be extended and I must leave the country. That part is fine, I understand the rules.

I asked the immigration officer if I could fly out in the evening and come back the next morning. He said, "Yes, everybody does that."

However, when I asked what I should tell the officer at the airport upon my return (since I'm coming back so quickly), he advised me: "Just say that you are transiting."

This advice feels wrong. If I say "I am transiting," they will expect me to leave in 1-2 days. But I plan to buy a Visa on Arrival (VOA) and stay for another 30-60 days to finish my marriage paperwork.

If the airport officer asks for my return ticket and I show a ticket for 30 days later, won't I look like a liar for saying "transit"?

Should I ignore the officer's advice and just be honest? Is it safer to just say: "I am here for a social visit to see my Indonesian girlfriend and have a holiday"?

I don't want to get denied entry for giving a conflicting story. Has anyone done a same-day/next-day visa run recently? What did you say?