Overseas Cash Flow

[Chuckles 0]

Yah, the questions slim brings up are worth asking. I don't know if they apply in anyones case here. But, and I think slim knows this, many Russians have no money left over at the end of the month after paying for basic needs. Heck, even I don't have any money left over at the end of the month after paying bills. But, being American, and the realities of our economies, I have access to money. Did you know that visa's now cost 360 bucks a pop? In my case I need 2 of them for my fiancee and her daughter. That's 720 dollars right there. These prices are not 'adjusted' for Russian incomes. My fiancee can live easily for 2 months, and live well, with just that amount of money. So, hence the need for the ATM card...

[slim 1,525]

I hope there are no "I told you so...grins" down the road!

That wasn't the purpose of my post, and from the sounds of the replies, everyone on here looks like they've got the financial issues pretty well lined out with their S/Os. That's great!

The purpose of my post was (and still is) to highlight that if you're that guy that's reading this thead thinking "hey, my girl did say she needed some money from me every month" in the hopes that you'll find a good way to send her money, that hopefully you would consider what exactly you're sending the money for, and more importantly, WHY you're sending her the money.

If she was perfectly fine in Russia (living on Russian wages) before she (hit the jackpot and) got engaged to you, why does she all the sudden need your money now?

I understand if you've already been engaged and things come up, and you have the means to support her. That's awesome. I wish I could send my girl a couple hundred bucks a month. Just to "ease" her burden there. I would feel great knowing that she's satisfied financially and doesn't have a care in the world now, because I'm "taking care of her." That would make me feel good, and I would love to do that for her.... but I can't!

All I'm saying here is that if you can, and you want to.... that's great! But, if you guys are in the "building up" stages of your engagement and she's wondering what her "allowance" is going to be.... you better start saving now because when she gets to the U.S., she's not going to be spending "Russian wages", she's going to be spending your "American wages" and at the American rates.

[garya505 2]

Ya, if you're sending a lot money something ain't right and there's trouble ahead.

[Satellite 1]

Did you know that visa's now cost 360 bucks a pop? In my case I need 2 of them for my fiancee and her daughter. That's 720 dollars right there.

Where you getting these numbers from? Last time I checked you were doing a K1. Which is a non-immigrant visa and according to the US Embassy in Moscow the price is still $100.

"Please pay the application fee ($100 dollars for each applicant) ON THE DAY OF THE INTERVIEW only after an Embassy employee instructs you to do so."

http://moscow.usembassy.gov/consular/consu...cord_id=fiancee

[Chuckles 0]

Did you know that visa's now cost 360 bucks a pop? In my case I need 2 of them for my fiancee and her daughter. That's 720 dollars right there.

Where you getting these numbers from? Last time I checked you were doing a K1. Which is a non-immigrant visa and according to the US Embassy in Moscow the price is still $100.

"Please pay the application fee ($100 dollars for each applicant) ON THE DAY OF THE INTERVIEW only after an Embassy employee instructs you to do so."

http://moscow.usembassy.gov/consular/consu...cord_id=fiancee

The website is outdated. The numbers come from the package sent by the embassy.

[Neonred 3,564]

WOW..... What a jump! The cost was only $100 back in March. How could they go up that much in a few months? Are you sure about that price? For a K-1?

[garya505 2]

All I can say is, love is blind. If someone is sending a lot of money to their fiance I would worry a little about the nature of their relationship. My fiance has never asked me for a penny though she knows I would give her whatever she needs. And she still works 70 hours a week! I usually have to bug her to tell me what she needs.

[Satellite 1]

The website is outdated. The numbers come from the package sent by the embassy.

Is the state's department website also outdated?

http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/types/types_1263.html

I think you might be confusing the cost of the K1 non-immigrant visa with the CR1/IR1 immigrant visa which is $335 + $45 security surcharge.

Edited August 24, 2006 by Satellite

[Chuckles 0]

The website is outdated. The numbers come from the package sent by the embassy.

Is the state's department website also outdated?

http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/types/types_1263.html

I think you might be confusing the cost of the K1 non-immigrant visa with the CR1/IR1 immigrant visa which is $335 + $45 security surcharge.

Perhaps you are right, it seems others have recently paid 100$. That is a relief...

[mrsushi66 0]

The check I wrote for I-129F (K-1) to USCIS was $170USD.

I know there will be other costs.

Back to the money and such. I could not believe it when she asked if when she got here if she would have access to money. I told her once she felt comfortable that she could take over the family budget so that she would be familar with just what our money situation will be like. In my opinion there is nothing like doing a budget to drive home how important money mangement is.

Her parents are retired and she has been supplimenting their retirement currently and I told her once she had the budget down if we could swing it we would continue to help her parents. It is very improtant to me that her family be taken care of and I have never felt she has been demanding or eager to get access to money that will be ours anyway.

Paul

Edited August 24, 2006 by mrsushi66

[Marc and Olga 0]

The check I wrote for I-129F (K-1) to USCIS was $170USD.

I know there will be other costs.

Back to the money and such. I could not believe it when she asked if when she got here if she would have access to money. I told her once she felt comfortable that she could take over the family budget so that she would be familar with just what our money situation will be like. In my opinion there is nothing like doing a budget to drive home how important money mangement is.

Her parents are retired and she has been supplimenting their retirement currently and I told her once she had the budget down if we could swing it we would continue to help her parents. It is very improtant to me that her family be taken care of and I have never felt she has been demanding or eager to get access to money that will be ours anyway.

Paul

They are referring to the actual visa application which is paid at the embassy in Moscow at the time of the interview.

Currently we are trying to figure out how to get funds from here to there...we are going to try a bank transfer. Wish us luck! LOL

[Thomas-n-Elena 0]

Wow I never thought I could spark such a debate, I trully am a trouble maker like the nuns in school said I was. Acutally Elena and I have spoke often of money and she looks forward to the day when she can get her career restarted here in the US and I told her when she starts raking in the money then she can support me, hehehe. Actually I dont live an extravagant life and neither does she. If she had the money to pay for everything she would (and pulling patients fillings out is not an option) I am happy to pay for everything and anything I can. She lives quite comfortably on what she makes but it is nowhere near what she needs for fees and such.

Funny thing she gets very angry when I spend too much money on her, I told her that I can always make more. We love each other very much and money rarely is an issue. We both agreed early in our relationship that we would be open and honest with each other about everything.

I fear for anyone who would enter a relationship with anyone that is based on money.

Good luck to everyone in their VISA quest. I am now on day 15 from approval to NVC and still noone nows nothing. nyet. nada, bubkas.

Good day to all

[Satellite 1]

I fear for anyone who would enter a relationship with anyone that is based on money.

This has been done for centuries. I guess we as a society have done alright. The whole marry for love concept is actually a modern trend.

[Neonred 3,564]

The check I wrote for I-129F (K-1) to USCIS was $170USD.

I know there will be other costs.

Back to the money and such. I could not believe it when she asked if when she got here if she would have access to money. I told her once she felt comfortable that she could take over the family budget so that she would be familar with just what our money situation will be like. In my opinion there is nothing like doing a budget to drive home how important money mangement is.

Her parents are retired and she has been supplimenting their retirement currently and I told her once she had the budget down if we could swing it we would continue to help her parents. It is very improtant to me that her family be taken care of and I have never felt she has been demanding or eager to get access to money that will be ours anyway.

Paul

They are referring to the actual visa application which is paid at the embassy in Moscow at the time of the interview.

Currently we are trying to figure out how to get funds from here to there...we are going to try a bank transfer. Wish us luck! LOL

Beware of the bank transfer. There are hidden costs. I have done this before and your bank will charge you a fee, perhaps $25 or $35. Then each intermediary bank will take a percentage, and there will be some loss an the exchange. My bank could not tell me about the costs up front and claimed they didn't know what the charges would be and said they had no control over the charges. I switched to the ATM method.

[slim 1,525]

K-1 application fee that YOU send in: $170 (USD)

Fee that your lady takes to the embassy interview with her for K-1: $100 (USD)

Bank transfers are more expensive and have more fees. The ATM route is probably the best, although I sent $500 in June for $42 through Western Union. She goes to the Western Union place (like the bank or supermarket or wherever) and shows her passport and says your name then gets the money. Easy! $42 is kind of high, but I think the bank transfers are more with the percentage plus the international transaction fees. If you have time, send an ATM card now. (And don't be a dummy and send your pin with your ATM card. Call her and tell her!)