LETS DO THE MATH

[extremerecluse 32]

Everybody in this website always states that the fees they are required to pay are high. So, I decided to do some simple calculations. I have filed my I-129F for my fiance as well as her three kids. First, I paid $340 in December 2010 to USCIS. I have read posts from senior VJ members that each petition takes about 20 minutes to review and approve or deny. $340 for 20 minutes of service, after the file sits in a pile for 6 months. The case gets transferred to NVC. NVC performs one manhour of work on the file. Then the case gets transferred to the Embassy where two manhours are spent working on my file. I then pay $1,400 for the visa fees and $800 dollars for the medical. After the POE I pay $3,400 for the Adjustment of Status which takes another 2 manhours. Then I pay $400 for lifting of conditions which takes 1 manhour. Now lets add it all up! I come up with $6,320 in fees. Now lets add up the services that were provided. I come up with a whopping 14.3 manhours to provide all services. I will round up to 15 manhours required to perform all services concerning my entire case. I then come up with $421 per manhour. Keep in mind that everything that USCIS and DOS provides is done so without intent to make any profit; a zero sum balance. Lets say that on average that each US Government Employee who handled the case makes an average of $30 per hour. Now, we know that the US Government is taking in $421 for every $30 that is going out. That leaves a net positive cash flow of $391 per manhour worked. Remember that the US Government operates on a zero sum balance sheet; no profit. I am not making any judgements. I am only doing simple math calculations. Can anybody disagree with my numbers? Let me know if you come up with different numbers. Am I making the process too simplistic? Am I not conservative enough in my calculations? Input please.

[Matt :) 1]

sadly thats what you get when govt runs things... post office, medicare,... GM!

[TwoCats 55]

I'm not absolutely certain of the stages of the adjudication process, but I believe what I read was that it is 15-20 minutes to approve a case once it hits an adjudicator's desk. I could see time being used at these stages, too:

- Packet received / opened.

- Packet re-arranged to suit their standards.

- Packet logged into system (attached barcodes, etc.)

- Check cashed.

- Notices sent (physical production/mail)

- Background checks (adding them to packet)

- Mailing packet (to service center and to NVC and from NVC to consulate)

Support staff:

- Call center workers

- IT workers

- Secretaries

- Managers

- Clerks

- Janitors

- Other misc office-staff

Edited March 4, 2011 by TwoCats

[jaygregory 1]

I know it doesnt seem to add up, but dont forget all the checks they do, i know i had to pay a load to get my police report done,i cant imagine the cost for a more detailed check,then the support staff...and i know postage can be a lot,not including the international courier from the us to country you are from. the $340 or whatever it is takes you right up to getting married.....3 centres and department of state that covers. it feels a lot,but they do a lot

[extremerecluse 32]

I know it doesnt seem to add up, but dont forget all the checks they do, i know i had to pay a load to get my police report done,i cant imagine the cost for a more detailed check,then the support staff...and i know postage can be a lot,not including the international courier from the us to country you are from. the $340 or whatever it is takes you right up to getting married.....3 centres and department of state that covers. it feels a lot,but they do a lot

What?

What?

Could you be a little more specific and break down the numbers in detail?

What?

Could you be a little more specific and break down the numbers in detail?

Based upon your individual cases what numbers do you come up with?

[jaygregory 1]

well work it out.....post costs,they tell you it doesnt matter what you send it in as they repack it in their format....that costs and takes time, computers,electic,support staff....all cost

it goes through a locker box,then a servic centre,then the visa centre then your embassy...lots of posting,lots of cost.

im more than sure you actually save some money with the fact they do all this stuff in bulk.

[Anh map 2,098]

[John+Lourdelie 28]

You did leave out all the overhead costs. It varies by company and job but when i worked for a large electronic manufacturing company I made about $28/hr. My cost to the company was around $90/hour when you factored in all of the overhead costs. It does add up but it seems not quite as much as they are making off of us.

John

[James And Oksana 19]

I agree with twocats, there is a lot more to calculating cost than just the adjudicators hours. I would classify most of them as overhead costs, buildings, other support staff, equipment, utilities, postage, etc, etc. I think for some people indeed it looks like they would not use their money's worth of time, and others more than their fair share.

Right now my primary issue with them math related is this apparent need to approve recent petitions, which in effect screws the numbers. I wish they would quit playing the numbers game and just start working hard to get and remain caught up. Everything else is pointless, as the money is already spent from my pocket. How they use the money I could care less, they could use it for toilet paper. Just get the petition files moving and back where they were this time last year, where K1 were taking on average 100 days without cooking the numbers.

[DanTes 21]

Don't forget the "hazardous duty" pay they get for having to endure all those paper cuts

[Deputy Purple 1,294]

Just to point out some of the basic flaws in your thinking here:

Medical Exam Fees are not set by nor paid to the US Government. They are determined by and paid to Local Contracted Medical Establishments.

Second, you have not considered the cost of document transits. You don't mail the initial packet directly to the Service Center that processes it. You also don't send it directly to NVC, USCIS does that and then NVC forwards it to the US Embassy in the country of interview.

Third, what about the cost of background checks on both the petitioner and all beneficiaries. Don't you think it costs money for that?

Fourth, as others have mentioned there is the additional overhead. Last time your car was worked on in a professional shop you paid a "Shop Fee" that covered the basic existence of the shop and the cost of things like paper towels and toilet paper for the employees to use.

Fifth, the material for printing the actual Visas and eventually greencards cost the government money.

When we pay our fees we're supporting the whole machine not just the few cogs that touch our exact case file. It has to be that way or the system couldn't be self-funded and then we wouldn't have the option to bring our loved ones here.

[SophWeb 25]

Bob 4 Anna, I completely agree. Our fees support the whole system, from paying for sewage to computers, electricity and wages.

[lee&jeniebee 23]

Everybody in this website always states that the fees they are required to pay are high. So, I decided to do some simple calculations. I have filed my I-129F for my fiance as well as her three kids. First, I paid $340 in December 2010 to USCIS. I have read posts from senior VJ members that each petition takes about 20 minutes to review and approve or deny. $340 for 20 minutes of service, after the file sits in a pile for 6 months. The case gets transferred to NVC. NVC performs one manhour of work on the file. Then the case gets transferred to the Embassy where two manhours are spent working on my file. I then pay $1,400 for the visa fees and $800 dollars for the medical. After the POE I pay $3,400 for the Adjustment of Status which takes another 2 manhours. Then I pay $400 for lifting of conditions which takes 1 manhour. Now lets add it all up! I come up with $6,320 in fees. Now lets add up the services that were provided. I come up with a whopping 14.3 manhours to provide all services. I will round up to 15 manhours required to perform all services concerning my entire case. I then come up with $421 per manhour. Keep in mind that everything that USCIS and DOS provides is done so without intent to make any profit; a zero sum balance. Lets say that on average that each US Government Employee who handled the case makes an average of $30 per hour. Now, we know that the US Government is taking in $421 for every $30 that is going out. That leaves a net positive cash flow of $391 per manhour worked. Remember that the US Government operates on a zero sum balance sheet; no profit. I am not making any judgements. I am only doing simple math calculations. Can anybody disagree with my numbers? Let me know if you come up with different numbers. Am I making the process too simplistic? Am I not conservative enough in my calculations? Input please.

Your math is correct; I read what you wrote and want to laugh or cry or something??? HOWEVER look on the bright side, look at the high quality speedy service you are getting!! The time between NOA #1 and NOA #2 is only 5 months. Wait, did you say that whole I-129f approval thing really only takes 20 minutes??? Hahahahahahaha I will stop now. Have a good weekend all! Lee PS: do you think CO's read these posts?

[Rebecca Jo 1,962]

Finally living together as Man and Wife............priceless.

[extremerecluse 32]

Finally living together as Man and Wife............priceless.

Just thinking about the process. Food for thought!!!