Talkin' 'bout costs, here's mine...

[Stevo]

All costs are approximate:

Addresses: $1000
Mailing Costs: $500
One Trip (Anastasia): $4000
Lawyer (immigration): $1500
Money for fiancee: $500
Visa expenses/medical exam, etc. (K1/K2): $500
Airline tickets (fiancee/daughter): $1200
Adjustment of Status: $800

TOTAL: approximately $10,000

This does not include marriage costs, etc, since these expenses would be common; AW or RW.

I think I did it pretty cheap.  The only real savings would be the lawyer (DIY) and the trip (DIY).  The rest would be pretty much hard to reduce.  At best, it would've cost me $6500.

Stevo

[BrianN]

... in response to Talkin' 'bout costs, here's mine..., posted by Stevo on Dec 20, 2001

[MarkInTx]

... in response to Talkin' 'bout costs, here's mine..., posted by Stevo on Dec 20, 2001

All of the figures and costs are simply staggering...

Sheesh... and you think the RW/UW's of the world think we're too obsessed on money? Gee... wonder why they think that?

OK... let me wade in here with a reality check:

Anyone want to guess what I spent dating AMERICAN women last year? Or, better yet, how it comnpares with what I spent on my one --unforgettable-- trip to Russia?

I think we need to keep things in perspective here.

Yeah, I spent $2000 or so on my St. Petersburg trip. But I saw Russia, and a really cool city, and have some memories that last a lifetime.

On the other hand... I also took an A/W to Vegas last year. What did I spend? Hmmm... whadaya know... about $2000.

He11, I spent almost $1000 on dates in a month when I was dating A/W full steam.

And, no trips to the Hermitage to show for it, either!

Chill out and relax gentlemen.

Enjoy the journey, and stop keeping such an eye on the bottom line.

What are you... some sort of corporation that has to report to stock-holders at the end of the year???

[thesearch]

... in response to WHOA!!! Slow-down everybody!!!, posted by MarkInTx on Dec 20, 2001

This is not about being anal retentive about funds, the way I see it. If that were the case, most would not be doing this. However, anyone new getting into this needs to know what expenses they are going to incur. To write a lady - get her hopes up and then decide that you can not afford it is not cool at all.  Guys need to know what costs they might incur plain and simple.

I am sure I have about 10,000 into it all - nothing to show for it but a few great adventures. I am not upset about it. But, someone needs to know that you can spend a lot of money and not meet your end objective plain and simple.

[MarkInTx]

... in response to yea but, posted by thesearch on Dec 20, 2001

Dating and Marriage in this day and age is expensive.

You want to save money? Celibacy is always an option. The Jesuits are always looking for a few good men...

You want a meaningful relationship and a woman in your life? It's going to cost money.

That's whether you find her in Georgia, USA, or Georgia, Russia.

You honestly think there are men who are smart enough to get on the internet and who have not yet figured that out?

Well, if it IS true that some men think that they can get a woman from Russia cheaper than they can buy a Kirby Sweeper... all I can do is repeat the adage:

A Fool and His Money ... were lucky to get together in the first place!

[thesearch]

... in response to My Point is..., posted by MarkInTx on Dec 21, 2001

I actually do think that there are guys who run accross these beautiful ladies and start writting who simply do not think about the cost until they get into it.

[micha1]

... in response to Talkin' 'bout costs, here's mine..., posted by Stevo on Dec 20, 2001

Yes sir, you are in the ball game, the midget Bill Veck put at the plate got walk.  How many home run would the
Babe hit in today's game.       One guy did it, at the very least it is domething to shoot at.  The weather here in
Montréal goes from 30c+ in summer to 30C- in winter, so the has to be an in-between somewhere.
This guy did hit a home run first time up, I do lift my hat to him.
As for the agency, the are on their own, as we are.
This is why they ask, they you get lucky last night.     Sometime yes, sometime no.
And even when I do get lucky, there is as evalution, sometime very lucky, sometime lucky but it could habe been
better.  Like lucky, but not worth it.  All is in the eyes of the beholder,  we are all on our own.

[Charles]

... in response to Talkin' 'bout costs, here's mine..., posted by Stevo on Dec 20, 2001

I think your $ 6,500 figure is probably near the bottom rung of the "average expense" - I don't think you can bring it much lower.  Even mdante admits that with his wife's contribution he spent 3x his $2,000 "myth" figure on a single trip.  Of course, if you are not fortunate or lucky enough to find someone on your first trip the costs will be higher.  However, to be completely fair about this, think about how many dinners you would spend on an AW (especially the high maintenance types) over a six month period and then you might be able to rationalize a lower cost for the pursuit of an RW.

[KenC]

... in response to Re: A Realistic Estimate., posted by Charles on Dec 20, 2001

Charles,
I agree with you completely.  I remember that most dates with AW ran close to $100 unless we were traveling or taking in a play/concert which would run even more.  I just don't understand how some guys can say they won't pay a few bucks for emails from a girl they are already interested in.  I was never that cheap, but I always knew when the woman crossed the line and started to take advantage too.  I guess I would say send them the small amount necessary to maintain communications (until you are not interested any more) but don't pay for their Babushka's gall blatter operation.  LOL  My wife never asked for a dime.  I did pay for all her expenses related to her visa and travel here.  That is only the gentlemanly thing to do as I see it.
KenC

[yoe]

... in response to Re: A Realistic Estimate., posted by Charles on Dec 20, 2001

after I did this and knocked off a quick 20k, plus all the cost of integration into american life (making her work to recoup as much as possible) my friend claimed NEVER would it cost him this much. After 2 INS screwups and delays, her having to stay in Moscow-in hotels and the such plus airline tickets from Bishek to moscow 2 times.................guess what?
It is those unknown cost that will kill ya.
And delays..........MAN what an emotional cost. You want to talk about price-wait till the INS starts to give you little delays and crap and then the wait for approval-the emotional toll alone will cost a few trips to the doctor or liquor store. So if you have a strong consitution and a few grand you don't mind parting with-hey man 'get it on'. But if you do not stay home with the monkey and get to spankin.
ps by the way-all the money you spend when she is there-double it for the first year. I had to buy furniture, dishes, towels.............then came Christmas(es), Birthdays, Aniversaries...........it adds up. I spent $100 a day for the first year and maybe 2-5k the first couple of weeks. thank god I had it.but it has cooled down now and she is working and we don't spend much at all. all food is cooked at home, no drycleaning bills and she is very frugil-when it comes to everything but her.
Good luck newbies.............would not want to be in your shoes right now!hahaha
Joe