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[This message has been edited by gator70]

What is the true cost?

1) The search and the cost of the search
2) Telephone expenses
3) The first trip to see ladies
4) The second trip to see your choice
5) File the I-129
6) The third trip to visit her
7) The trip for the K-1 interview
8) The tickets to bring her to America

And I suppose this is the minimum as more trips can be necessary if you need more time to visit more girls.

What is the cost of a FSU bride?

... in response to What is the cost of a FSU bride?, posted by gator70 on May 12, 2004

since my Filapina is about to deliver our second child I'd have to say that my ledger is in the black, BY MILES

I'd say I got her here married and life going on as per, under $2000.00

... in response to What is the cost of a FSU bride?, posted by gator70 on May 12, 2004

Chances are, your wife will want to divert some of your money towards making her family's life better back home.  This last trip, I replaced a refrigerator, stove, TV, kitchen cabinetry, and a new kitchen breakfast corner for mama and babushka.  Also, both of them take a lot of money for medical bills.

That doesn't also count trips back to Ukraine to see the inlaws, countless phone cards for calling home, or any of the other previous expenses others have talked about...

... in response to What is the cost of a FSU bride?, posted by gator70 on May 12, 2004

Obviously, you don't have enough.  Stay home!

... in response to Re: What is the cost of a FSU bride?, posted by Globetrotter on May 13, 2004

Why do many of you think I asked this question since money was my concern? I have spent this money on a FSU lady before any of you even woke up to the fact that a bride from the FSU might be interesting. I started this thread because I was interested in opinions Only!

... in response to What is the cost of a FSU bride?, posted by gator70 on May 12, 2004

1) The search and the cost of the search....$1200
2) Telephone expenses.......................$100
3) The first trip to see ladies.............$2200
4) The second trip to see your choice.......N/A
5) File the I-129...........................$1500
6) The third trip to visit her..............N/A
7) The trip for the K-1 interview...........N/A
8) The tickets to bring her to America......$1300

TOTAL = $6300

... in response to What is the cost of a FSU bride?, posted by gator70 on May 12, 2004

Throw in legal fees and three months spousal support: $9750

I have a more accurate list in the archieve though at that time I didn't know what my total legal fees would be.

... in response to What is the cost of a FSU bride?, posted by gator70 on May 12, 2004

nt

... in response to What is the cost of a FSU bride?, posted by gator70 on May 12, 2004

[This message has been edited by gator70]

The average consensus on other boards are about $ 30,000 since many do not succeed on the first attempt and you must add an another $ 2500 for each failed attempts plus the costs of setting her up with a life when she gets in the USA.

... in response to What is the cost of a FSU bride?, posted by gator70 on May 12, 2004

I know what the costs are but many guys do not. I was hoping to get a colorful discussion going her to see everyones point of view.

... in response to What is the cost of a FSU bride?, posted by gator70 on May 12, 2004

if you shop at Sears, $14.446.84 if you go the Sacks 5th Avenue route, but only $6102.92 if you get the Wallmart model (missing a few teeth.)

... in response to $ 8,324.57 ...., posted by Jeff S on May 12, 2004

..

... in response to $ 8,324.57 ...., posted by Jeff S on May 12, 2004

Hey Jeff does the Sears model come with lifetime replacement warranty? I bet the Saks model has a nice bow on her body:)~

... in response to What is the cost of a FSU bride?, posted by gator70 on May 12, 2004

You haven't even begun to calculate the true costs...

You forgot the exit Visa fees
The INS fees (substantial)
The wedding of course...

Then, don't forget that they are limited in what they can bring here. 70 Pounds per luggage piece, maximum two items... so, add in:

Cost of new clothes
In all probability, dental costs
Weekly phone calls
New wardrobe for you (no more tee shirts and jeans, pal)

Does she have a child? he'll need all of the above, plus:

school books, etc.
and all of the things the neighborhood kids have such as: bicycle, roller blades, athletic equipment for various sports.

On and on.

Anyone who is doing this to somehow save money is nuts.

The question for me wasn't: How much will this cost me if I do it?

It was: How much will this cost me if I don't?

Comparing the two, I still think I got the deal of the century. I haven't done this well since I traded my ex-wife the house, and everything in it for custody of my daughter...

... in response to Re: What is the cost of a FSU bride?, posted by MarkInTx on May 12, 2004

[This message has been edited by gator70]

Mark don't assume you will not loose another house and custody money by going this route. You are spaking to a gy who was married to a FSU lady for seven years and then divorced.

Life has no guarantees and I am now engaged again to a Ukrainian lady.

My first failure came seven years latter due to her bi-polar disorder which began in the fifth year of marriage.

... in response to Re: Re: What is the cost of a FSU bride?, posted by gator70 on May 12, 2004

Well, there are no gurantees in life...

But Texas is a community property state, so I shouldn't lose a house.

The reason I did in my first marriage is that I traded it for full custody of my daughter.

I wouldn't do that for my step-son. Not that he's not a good kid, but I wouldn't do it (and Viktoriya would never accept the offer, anyway).

So, if something goes bad, everything I had prior to the marriage I keep. Everything we got together, we split 50/50.

And none of that would be as bad as the fact that I would have lost the best thing that's every happened to me... Some things can't be measured in Dollars and Cents.

... in response to What is the cost of a FSU bride?, posted by gator70 on May 12, 2004


It does add up but you do not have to be rich to do this just as long as you know how to budget money. I am not rich but I do okay. I don't make much compared to many here but I was honest and realistic with myself as well as her but cost did add up. I'll tell you how much it has cost me so far and I started writing Sveta in Sep of 2002.

1) The search and the cost of the search

I bought 5 addresses for about $50. After a couple months of writing I realized I liked her & stopped writing others. First few times we wrote with translations added another about $100 to that. Then I sent her about $50 for about 5 months of internet cafe. She learned English very fast and she went on her own to the internet cafe so that was all our cost. Also add about $30 for postcards and snail mail to her. So approximate total of $230.

2) Telephone expenses + flowers, SMS, gifts etc...

The phone is where it has gotten expensive. I called her the first time in Nov 2002. I went to see her the first time in May 2003. From Nov 2002 - Jan 2003 we talked about once a week. From Jan 2003 to April 2003 we talked about twice a week. From April 2003 to current day we have talked everyday for 1 hour and sometimes more. Needless to say those phonecard companies love me. We also send about 20 SMS per day. $6500 total.

3) The first trip to see ladies

My first trip was to only see her. I spent 25 days with her and we spent 2 weeks in the Black Sea and the rest in Dnepropetrovsk. Total cost of this trip was $2400 for everything. I went to see her to see if she was to be my wife. I did not go there to be a tourist so we did hardly any tourist things. We cooked most of our meals and really enjoyed that together time.  We spent all the time together taking walks, talking and just being with each other so I did not spend a lot but we still had a great time and did go see tourist spots in Crimea for a couple days out of the 2 weeks we were there. $2400

4) The second trip to see your choice

I went again to see Sveta in Nov 2003 for 10 days. This time I spent $1500 on everything. We even went to the Black Sea again for a few days. Got a very nice flat for $20 a night and cooked in again. In her city of Dnepropetrovsk we only went to the market to buy food and I took her down to get some clothes but that was it. Rest of the time we spent in her house. $1500 total.

5) File the I-129

I'm trying to do this from memory but the only costs were the filing fee ($125?) and I sent it by Priority Mail so $5 maybe for a total of $130. Adding cost of translations for her and just the paperwork I would guess about $25 more for a total of $155.

6) The third trip to visit her
7) The trip for the K-1 interview
8) The tickets to bring her to America

My 3rd trip will be the fiancee interview trip coming up in 2 weeks. My estimate for this trip will be about $2600 because of both of our tickets. I purchased our tickets already for about $1600 and then I budgeted out about $1000 for everything else. $2,600 total...

I will add one more expense.

9) After getting engaged the support, drivers lessons, english lessons, etc...

After we got engaged I told her not to work and supported her. I sent her $250 a month and that was for her living expenses, drivers lessons, English lessons, SMS, sports hall and anything else she needed. I paid this for 10 months so $2,500.

I have spent approximately $15,885. This is very close to everything I have spent in 18 months. I have a detailed account at home and the above I just did off the top of my head but it is very close to the official total. This total is for EVERYTHING including plane tickets, visa, gifts brought home for family & friends, money for the taxi when I arrived in San Diego, etc.

This comes out to $756 a month since we started. All of this money spent is extended out to June 6 when she arrives if all goes well. That will be the total I have spent.

And this is just the start...

Z

... in response to Re: What is the cost of a FSU bride?, posted by Zoidberg on May 12, 2004

Great answer