Expenses

Expenses

Below is a breakdown of the TOTAL potential and likely cost of immigration, contributed to the ASAWA forum by one of our most prolific posters. He prepared this list so that, "folks starting out can see things with their EYES WIDE OPEN and ensure that they have the resources to finish what they start."

The whole immigration process can be really expensive. And, if you don't have enough money, even getting her here can be quite an expense.

I'm not out to scare you, but I do have a tentative list of expenses that I post from time to time. You can cut or reduce some, and some are inflexible. This is an extensive list of "everything I can think of." Before taking the first step, you should read through it and do some personal calculations.

One time expenses:

$800-3000 - Your one time trip to see her (required by K1, you must meet in person) Include money for accommodations, trips, gifts, etc...
$800-3000 - Your return trip to marry her (if you decide K3/IR-1 and don't marry on your first trip!) Include money for accommodations, honeymoon, gifts, etc.
$25 for various ADIT / Passport photos needed along the way (Her)
$25 for various ADIT pictures for you (4 total -- 2 for K1/K2/IR-1 Petition & 2 for AOS)
$110 for I-129F (K1 application if you go this route)
$15-50 - Fees for obtaining State certified copies of your Birth Certificate, Divorce Decrees, or other things you may need to include in your I-129F Petition.
$110 (estimated per person) for round-trip plane tickets for CFO Seminar (manila/cebu) required to get passport. Double if sending chaperone.
$??? Stay in Cebu/Manila for CFO Seminar
$2 for CFO Seminar Fee
$50 for Passport application
$25 for 4 Birth Certificate copies at NSO
$110 (estimated per person) for round trip plane tickets to Manila for St. Lukes visit. Double if sending chaperone.
$??? Hotel/taxi/overnight expenses for St Lukes Visit - Requires 2 days (Mo/Tu,Tu/We,We/Th plus 1 Friday for Interview with buffer Best to make it 1 week Sunday-Saturday or so))
$100 for Pink Receipt (Visa Petition Fee that you take to St. Lukes)
$85 for St. Lukes Exam
$110 (estimated per person) for round trip to get CFO Stamp after Visa is issued unless you plan on doing it on your way out of the country. Then exchange this for the cost of a hotel and 1-2 days stay to ensure you get it)
$2 for CFO Stamp Processing Fee
$800-4000 - For her to travel to the US Alone or For you to go to the Philippines to escort her back when visa is approved. It's dangerous to buy them before you have the Visa in hand, and unless you are willing to wait after it is... tickets on short notice can be expensive!
$35 for a marriage license back in the states
$0-$10,000 for a wedding depending on whether you go for a Civil Ceremony or a church wedding
$255-595 to file for adjustment of status forms the day after you get married (with 90 days of entering the country). If planning on filing Advance Parole, Work Authorization, and AOS, then use the $595 number.
$50 for finger printing fee related to Adjustment of Status
$16-25 to get a new Department of Transportation ID for your lady
$??? - Does he have a cell phone? You may want to get her one on your first visit
$??? - Did she have to quit a job? You may have to replace the income while she runs to perform the tasks required to get the visa
$0-500+ one time costs to buy warm clothes, close-toed shoes, fleece, an electric blanket, rice cooker, and various other things that she may not have because she lives in a tropical climate.
$0-1000 for one time medical check ups, dental checkups, doctors visits, etc if she is from a poorer family and she has some health needs when she arrives.
$0-100 so she can throw a going away party to say good-bye to all of her friends. This will inevitably happen.

And these reoccurring lifetime expenses:

$20-500/month phone bills during visa process depending on whether you use Phone Cards or call direct without realizing the costs.
$0-40/month before she arrives to send her so she can visit Internet Cafes to email you or buy cell cards to call and/or text you.
$50-100/month more per month for food expenses for two people instead of one after you get married
$25-75/month in miscellaneous expenses (toiletries, clothes, personal items, incidentals) to cover your ladies expenses after marriage
$??? monthly remittance to her family after marriage
$??? monthly long distance so she can talk to her family after marriage
$??? monthly cost of birth control (not covered by insurance)
$??? monthly cost of life insurance premiums so you can protect her
$??? employer charge to go from Single Health insurance to Family health plan if you are not automatically offered Family protection by your employer
$100-500 if you decide to put her into drivers education classes
$??? if you decide to buy another car so she has her transportation after she gets her license
$??? monthly increase in your car insurance for having another driver
$??? monthly entertainment costs. When your girl first arrives, you will probably start the equivalent of "dating" even though you are newly weds!

What is the #1 financial mistake of men who are new to Fil-West relationships?

They call the Philippines using their regular long distance carrier!

Don't do it! Please visit SpeedyPin, one of ASAWA's primary sponsors. As most Fil-West couples already know, using a phone card can save you a lot of money!