What fees are associated with immigrating, from the immigrant's perspective?

Question

Expenses to society/government are not valid answers, think about the immigrant & the expenses associated with immigrating.

Answer 1

Well, I am the wife of an immigrant. His immigration process has taken 3 years. I honestly can't remember everything we have paid. The USCIS website has an entire page of fees.

To give you an idea, we had to pay for passport-type photos 3 separate times, to send to the uscis for various things: $24?

We had to pay to get the visa. We had to pay for him to come from his city in Mexico to the city issuing the visa.

We had to pay for him to get up to the border from southern Mexico, then pay for 1 week of hotel stays because although he had the visa, he was detained and interrogated for 8 hours, then wasn't allowed to cross the border. He returned twice more (once a day) until they let him cross.

He had to buy a smaller suitcase in Mexico, because they said his suitcase was so big it looked like he was planning on staying a lifetime.

We had to file for change of status from visitor to a conditional permanent resident.

We had to file a paper saying that he had tried to cross the border illegally 10 years ago, and pay a fee.

We had to file an application to remove the conditions on his residence.

We had to visit the INS in our state probably 6 times, which uses time and money.

My husband couldn't work for the first 3 months of living in the US, because he didn't have a work permit yet.

We have paid for hundreds of copies of documents, and for mailing of official documents (birth certificates, etc) to be mailed 2nd day air from Mexico.

I think I have forgotten all the specific info and prices because I have blocked them out emotionally. For a while, I thought we wouldn't have the money to continue filing papers. I would say after all is said and done, I spent $2000, but would rather not think about it!

The prices have doubled since we went through the system, too!

Answer 2

Expenses for the government, you mean the legal fees that you pay to the USCIS. Expenses to society, you do not pay to society. ??

From my point of view the expenses associated with immigration include:
pay to the US embassy ( interview, visa)
air plane ticket ( in the case I am approved)
buying a home
establish credit
getting to college or find a job ( I would have to somehow support myself while I am looking for a job)
car ( insurance, payments, technical revisions, driver's license)
house payments
bills

There are many, many expenses. If you have enough money, you can establish in the country. Of course the legal way. No amnesty for illegals.

Answer 3

Too many fees for you to pay. Just stay home.