How much personal money to bring to us on a k1 visa

[Successful Pinky 12]

Hello..doing budgetting here..

 how much personal cash should i bring in the us when on a k1 visa. Thank you..

[geowrian 22,336]

As much as you will need...? You can come with none if you wanted (and transfer it to a US bank account later if you want)...although having at least something for food or whatever at the airport would be suggested.

If you bring over $10,000, you must declare it with customs via a FinCED 105 (https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/195/kw/10000 dollars). They may ask how you obtained the funds (to ensure you got it legally and aren't smuggling or laundering money).

[Loren Y 2,743]

If your coming on a k1 would bring all your money, it is usually a one way trip. You can bring as much as you want, just make sure to declare any amount over 10000.00. Maybe transfer the bulk of it via wire, but you shouldn't need too much cash to travel. 500-1000 should be plenty. Or if your just worried about covering costs just to get to the POE you could get by with a few hundred in case you need some stuff between flights. The way you worded the question sounds like you're just coming to visit. 

[TNJ17 1,329]

All of your money? If you’re moving why would you leave any behind?!? 

[geowrian 22,336]

Just now, TNJ17 said:

All of your money? If you’re moving why would you leave any behind?!? 

My wife has funds from her non-US accounts still. She has certain obligations (family, a retirement policy, etc.) that requires having money in her native currency. Why pay an agent to convert the funds to USD then back again (well, unless you think you will earn more than the fees due to changes in exchange rates).

[janet3 1,170]

18 minutes ago, TNJ17 said:

All of your money? If you’re moving why would you leave any behind?!? 

Because if you travel with over $9999 you will be scrutinized and asked a lot of questions about why you are traveling with $10000 in cash. It’s a question on the Customs Declaration Form.

 

Why leave it behind? ...because people share bank accounts.....funds left behind to take care of aging parents......

 

My Algerian husband still has an account he can access in Algeria for when we vacation there or in case his parents (or family) needs anything.

 

[p-ana 933]

6 hours ago, janet3 said:

Because if you travel with over $9999 you will be scrutinized and asked a lot of questions about why you are traveling with $10000 in cash. It’s a question on the Customs Declaration Form.

 

Why leave it behind? ...because people share bank accounts.....funds left behind to take care of aging parents......

 

My Algerian husband still has an account he can access in Algeria for when we vacation there or in case his parents (or family) needs anything.

 

I had over 10k in cash on me when I got in with my k1 in the end of 2015. I was very concerned but it ended up being a non issue.

I just ticked the box on the blue customs slip we get on the plane and an officer helped me file the fincen form when he got my bags x rayed. He only asked how much did I have, no other questions.

Leaving that much behind in your home country is a huge issue for taxes purposes. There’s the fbar, then depending also you have to include that in your US taxes... a whole lot of unnecessary things. 

[p-ana 933]

6 hours ago, geowrian said:

My wife has funds from her non-US accounts still. She has certain obligations (family, a retirement policy, etc.) that requires having money in her native currency. Why pay an agent to convert the funds to USD then back again (well, unless you think you will earn more than the fees due to changes in exchange rates).

It’s understandable to leave SOME behind if there are commitments such as you mentioned. If not, you’re moving your life to the states, I don’t see why not move all your money with you. 

 

[Little_Vixen 1,869]

I will transfer most of my funds to a shared account when I get to the US. I will keep my Dutch account for practical things (holidays, retirement funds, birthdays, ect) but I wont leave more than a couple of hundred on the account. I agree with above posters, you're moving to start a new life. Keeping more than just a handful on your old account is not needed in most cases. I assume the CO's will understand you taking your funds with you when moving permanently to the US. 

[Roel 7,191]

9 hours ago, Successful Pinky said:

Hello..doing budgetting here..

 how much personal cash should i bring in the us when on a k1 visa. Thank you..

...as much as you want? What kind of question is it?  You're not going on vacation.  You're pernamently moving to the US, you won't be able to work for up to 6 months, so preferably plan how much savings you'll need during that time so you can contribute to the household if you want. Also don't forget over 1.200$ fee you'll be paying for AOS.  

 

 

[Successful Pinky 12]

8 minutes ago, Roel said:

...as much as you want? What kind of question is it?  You're not going on vacation.  You're pernamently moving to the US, you won't be able to work for up to 6 months, so preferably plan how much savings you'll need during that time so you can contribute to the household if you want. Also don't forget over 1.200$ fee you'll be paying for AOS.  

 

 

In as much that i want to bring more cash i cannot.. because i will be settling all my financial accountabilities in my country, leave funds for my aging parents, buy my airfare etc. So it will surely leave me with a few amount. That's why i'm asking how much personal cash should i bring, i mean to say "an amount" that could somehow suffice my 6 months of being unemployed but at the same time could share with my husbands household expenses and the wedding expenses.

[Neonred 3,460]

43 minutes ago, Successful Pinky said:

In as much that i want to bring more cash i cannot.. because i will be settling all my financial accountabilities in my country, leave funds for my aging parents, buy my airfare etc. So it will surely leave me with a few amount. That's why i'm asking how much personal cash should i bring, i mean to say "an amount" that could somehow suffice my 6 months of being unemployed but at the same time could share with my husbands household expenses and the wedding expenses.

Guess you should be asking your husband that question.  He should know more about your situation than we do.

[Tilia 75]

43 minutes ago, Successful Pinky said:

In as much that i want to bring more cash i cannot.. because i will be settling all my financial accountabilities in my country, leave funds for my aging parents, buy my airfare etc. So it will surely leave me with a few amount. That's why i'm asking how much personal cash should i bring, i mean to say "an amount" that could somehow suffice my 6 months of being unemployed but at the same time could share with my husbands household expenses and the wedding expenses.

 

Nobody knows your degree of comfort when it comes to living conditions and your cost of living. A studio in the middle of nowhere in Alabama and a 3 bfr apartment in San Francisco are two different things altogether.

[Crazy Cat 39,607]

2 hours ago, Successful Pinky said:

That's why i'm asking how much personal cash should i bring, i mean to say "an amount" that could somehow suffice my 6 months of being unemployed but at the same time could share with my husbands household expenses and the wedding expenses.

I would just set up easy access and wiring capability from your home country financial institution.  Then, you don't have to bring a specific mount of cash to cover your time unemployed here.

[Crazy Cat 39,607]

10 hours ago, geowrian said:

My wife has funds from her non-US accounts still. She has certain obligations (family, a retirement policy, etc.) that requires having money in her native currency. Why pay an agent to convert the funds to USD then back again (well, unless you think you will earn more than the fees due to changes in exchange rates).

My wife has a sizeable retirement account in her country that pays 18% interest........no reason to wire it here yet....