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One of the benefits of matrimony, aside from love and ever-lasting bliss, is the opportunity to apply for citizenship through marriage.

Marriage in itself accounts for a great deal of planning but for us future Americans and dreamers, we have to consider additional legal elements.

This year alone, the United States and Immigration Services (USCIS) has already filed over 775,000 applications for naturalization (form N-400).

So, yea, there are a lot of people tying the knot and pledging allegiance to old glory.

But out of the small percentage that gets approved, how many of them have a financial plan in place for when the fees come. Oh, and how they come!

So here’s what you can do to lighten the load and focus on starting a happy marriage.

1.) Save at least $1,000, $4,000 if possible

You’re already having to save for the wedding. Perhaps you and the Mrs. or Mr. can compromise and make some cuts.

Make some room for the number one thing that will keep you together in the short term, yes love, but also not get deported.

How can you save this much in such short time? Begin with a budget. Sign up below for a free template. Or you can use my favorite budgeting app, Personal Capital. Also free!

$4,000, is an estimate of how much the initial application and lawyer fees will cost.

If you can’t save that in less than three months, then $1,000 will ensure your initial appointments with a lawyer and secure a down payment if they can create a payment plan for you.

If you haven’t gotten married, you can’t file for naturalization yet. So if you’re looking for ways to save, plan to move together and begin combining your income.

This will not only, save you money, but you can begin to practice healthy marital habits.

2.) Combine your finances and save all documents

If you’re getting married or already said your vows, and you haven’t combined bank accounts, today’s the day.

Combining your finances creates good financial habits for marriage. It shows that you’re serious about this marriage and not trying to play the system.

It’s a great idea to begin creating a history of your marriage. Bank accounts, credit history, pictures, letters, invitations, etc. can all paint a picture of your relationship.

Credit cards, bank statements, insurance policies, and rental agreements are all great resources to start with.

Anything that shows both of your names on the document can help your case and your lawyer. It is never too late to access w-2 forms or paystubs through previous employers. With just a call, they can grant you a website address and access to that information.

3.) Place your lawyer/immigration fees at the top of your list of debts

What list? Exactly! Start a list of your debts, smallest to largest, regardless of the interest rate. At the very top of that list, you’re going to place the upcoming lawyer and immigration fees.

These have just become the most important and urgent payments you’re going to make.

If you haven’t found a lawyer, now would be a good time to do so and get an estimate of initial consultation and processing fees. To give you an idea you can check out my earlier post about the cost of becoming a future American.

You’re going to be looking at around $4,000 for the first round of paperwork. You really can’t delay this type of payment.

If your lawyer won’t work with you to set up a payment plan, then you’re better off finding one that has a heart.

If you decide to take out a loan, just keep in mind that the legal process is long, so you must be willing and able to pay it off quickly and not allow for your loan to run the course of your paperwork. Otherwise, you’re looking at two to three years of interest rate.

Instead, see if you can get a short-term, as low as you can find, interest loan. I’m honestly allergic to debt and would prefer it if you could scrape the cash by doing side hustles or jobs, but unlike any other situation, this is an emergency.

4.) Plan for travel expenses

Unless you live in a major city in your state, the probability of you visiting a USCIS office in your town are slim.

Most immigration and federal buildings are located in major metropolitan areas. When we had to go to our interview, we had two options, San Antonio, TX or Dallas, TX.

Living in Austin, TX, San Antonio was the obvious choice.

Your options might be smaller. So perhaps, you might need to budget for an airplane or bus ticket.

Think about whether you will have enough time to travel back to your home, or if you need to stay the night.

Remeber, this is a defining stage in your life, so a hotel stay might not be a bad idea in the larger scheme of things.

My wife and I decided to stay the rest of the day in San Antonio and decompress from the day’s anxious air.

Going through this process can be draining for you or your spouse, so a nice date night might not be a bad idea after waiting hours in crowded government buildings.

Which step are you on?