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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!
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