Visa Budget Tips OVERWHELMING EXPENSES

[Texas Bound 0]

Gosh, its that time again. Any positive thoughts would be great. I am just getting overwhelmed with carrying 2 households sometimes (& mine includes a pre schooler). This is hard. Fiancée just called with another problem with the car. & man I’m shelling out plenty for this entire Visa Journey... Phone Bills, Car Repairs, someone please tell me there is a silver lining. With an ending. I am so close maybe 2 months out, but man my budget is stretched. As my sweetie would say. “It will Soon Come”. What have you guys done to cut cost while waiting? Be Blessed & Merry Christmas

[Nessa 23]

While I was in Brazil during the process I wasn't having a social life at all, tried to spend the least money possible, I would never buy things that were not absolutely necessary, like beer, or go out to eat, you know, or clothes.. for me all that was necessary was to pay my dsl so I could talk to Charles, I would go to the cheapest gym I could find, I even quit smoking for 2 months and saved the cigs money. Does she have to go to work? If she is coming to the States, is it absolutely necessary for her to fix the car? What does she use the car for?

[Minfay 0]

I really hate to say it but.....the money situation is only gonna get worse once he gets here. I thought I was broke before Roy got here -- now -- I know what it's like to really be broke!!

You will be supporting him until he gets a job and then you have all the $$ associated with the AOS....sorry.....

[Ashleigh-Au 0]

What did your fiancee do to support herself/himself before you?

[TracyLuis 0]

Skype and ramen noodles....

No, seriously...I'm in debt up to my butt

Just holding out until my husband's EAD gets approved!!!

[Texas Bound 0]

You guys are so funny but true. I dont spend extra $$$ I cant remember when I bought myself something. No luxury stuff whatso ever. I feel that saving $ for trips to visit & phone time is more important. Yea I spend about 200 a month on phone cards!!!! I know that when he gets here I will have extra $$. Right now the car is for taking care of the visa you know running back & forth & for when I get there & visit in the future we wont need to rent a car. He worked 6 mo. ago off site but now there isnt anything since he is back home. The $$ he saved up went to this car that should be a new car as much as we have repaired the thing. Family has been supporting him since & me too. The 3-6 mo. wait for an EAD will be really tough.

[Ladylethal 12]

As I still lived with my parents I didn't have much worries money wise, although I was saving up to get furniture and stuff to our new home together. Luis also lived with is parents and was saving to our house as well. We're both recently graduated and both don't have much money so we moved out of our parents comfort, food, bed, clean clothes to struggle together. So it's now that we need tips as before we were living rather freely.

[Texas Bound 0]

#1 Budget eating out. Try not to.

#2 No frivolous shopping sprees.

#3 Watch your utility usage.

#4 Work overtime if you can.

#5 Make out a budget & stick to it.

#6 Save all of your receipts for a month so you can see how much $ is going out of the door.

[Ashleigh-Au 0]

I know this process is expensive.......multiply all charges by 3 in my case.....but what I don't understand is why the USC is supporting the foreign fiancee.

I tried to spend as little as I could before I moved to the US but I was supporting myself and paying for all costs in Australia....he paid the fees in US and we both paid for the tickets for the several visits.

AND....after the move to USA...there are still more costs...it never ends.

[girlfrmoz 1]

I try to save as much as I can, I moved back in with my parents to save money and be close to them before I go. I don't go out to dinner or drinks very often, no clothes or CD's, gave up my gym membership. I walk to work now and am selling my car cause I only use it if I have to anyway. It's hard but it's worth it.

My only treat is hot chips and tomato sauce when i feel like it and phone calls to my man!

[MrMrsKnight 0]

- I live with my parents so I don't pay for anything;

- I don't have a social life.... hehe When I go out, I go out with my parents or my sister, so my parents always pay for everything;

- David has no social life either;

- We only talk online, which is free, so we don't have phone bills;

It's easier to save money living like we do

I do feel bad for spending my parents' money though, I could've helped more. But I really don't ask for much (only movies and McDonalds money every now and then... lol) and they have never complained. But I promise I'll give them a really cool trip the next year, or the one after that! You have my word on that

[BettyAndMe 0]

Gosh, its that time again. Any positive thoughts would be great. I am just getting overwhelmed with carrying 2 households sometimes (& mine includes a pre schooler). This is hard. Fiancée just called with another problem with the car. & man I’m shelling out plenty for this entire Visa Journey... Phone Bills, Car Repairs, someone please tell me there is a silver lining. With an ending. I am so close maybe 2 months out, but man my budget is stretched. As my sweetie would say. “It will Soon Come”. What have you guys done to cut cost while waiting? Be Blessed & Merry Christmas

I try to visit Betty every month or so. Things we have done to cut costs:

1. I upgraded my cell phone plan to unlimited messaging. This saves about $50/mo in messaging costs and also reduces the number of phone calls.

2. I started using InternetCalls (like Skype but cheaper). My phone bill was running > $500/mo, now it's only about $200/mo

3. I started staying at Betty's mom's place (where Betty lives) when I'm visiting. In return, I buy a nice gift for the house. This saves > $500/trip. Of course, in order to do this, you must speak the language very well.

4. I buy my tickets for in-country flights in country and ahead of time. I just bought my February round-trip tickets between Lima and Arequipa (a 1 1/2 hour flight each way) for February for $89 instead of the $200 or so that they charge on the internet.

5. I bought a cheap, temporary ring at an estate sale for $250 for Betty and explained that it was only temporary.

6. I try to take advantage of the cost-effectiveness of Peru. I get my dental checkups/work done there, I get my hair cut there (for about $1), I buy my clothes there, etc.

7. I don't actually have that much personal stuff here in the US -- maybe 2 or 3 pickup truckloads. When I go to Peru for the interview, I'm going to plan on being there at least a month. During that time, I'm going to give up my month-to-month apartment & put my stuff in storage. That will save > $500

If I thought about it longer, I could probably come up with more things.

Oh, and like other posters, I don't have a life here in the US right now.

Altogether, I figure this is going to cost $17K - 20K (if you include all of the trips to visit her there) by the time she is here. But hell, it would be cheap at 10 times that. After all, she's worth an infinite amount to me.

Just my $0.02

[ardilla 0]

Instead of sending things via DHL or express mail, try using Postnet or Lanbox. This is available in most Latin American countries. You get a PO Box in Miami and the mail arrives to major cities in LA between 2-5 days from the date you sent it. You only pay for what you receive (they charge you by the number of grams it weighs).

There are other expenses after the visa. You can save money and time during the AOS process by making sure that your spouse/SO gets extra certified copies of the birth certificate and (if applicable) marriage certificate, etc. You can also save money by getting your AOS, etc photos before coming to the US (making sure to have the photo place follow the USCIS specifications). In Peru, these photos are much cheaper than in the U.S.

Same thing goes for educational certificates, transcripts, etc. For these to be valid in the US, you will need a certified copy in a sealed envelope with the registrar's seal across the back flap of the envelope.

To avoid that long wait for the drivers license, if your spouse/SO is already licensed in their country, they can go to the equivalent of AAA and get an international drivers permit. That is good in some states for up to one year after issuance. It is recognized worldwide.

We used prepaid phone cards. Sometimes the really cheap ones don't work on major holidays. A good backup card is sold by Costco - MCI International phone card. It has never failed us

[Lisa and Spence 0]

I didn't live extravagantly even before meeting Spence. I always try to save money. But meeting Spence hasn't really increased my expenditures. I added the international calling plan to my cell phone (I don't have a land line at home) for about $5 extra per month. This way if I call a landline over there, it is only $.06 per minute. I think my phone bill went from $80 a month to about $100 a month. We typically speak about 30 min on the phone 5 days a week, and we alternate on who makes the call. Once I am at home, we will use voice chat via Yahoo IM - this is FREE! Other than the original fee for the I-129F, that is all I really have paid.

He took care of all the fees w/the K1 over there (medical & interivew), and we will both be kicking in for the AOS fees once he is here.

So it doesn't have to cost an arm and a leg to keep in contact!

Best of luck!

Lisa