FINANCIAL SUMMARY
Initial Expenses
-120 RUB photos for passport
-1000 RUB passport processing in five days
-40 RUB to certify passport application at the university
-$300 1st program installment + $35 SEVIS + $15 transfer fee
-1400 RUB agency fee
-$350 2nd program installment + $20 transfer fee
-2520 RUB
-$720
~ $805 total paid to date (20.12.2009)
Upcoming Expenses
$131 - visa fee
1600 RUB - Pony Express fee
2000 RUB - tickets to Yekaterinburg + expenses in Yekaterinburg
17000 - 23000 RUB - tickets Moscow - New York - Moscow
3000 RUB - tickets (plane) Omsk - Moscow
23600 RUB (min) - not certain
29600 RUB (max) - not certain
$131
~ $918 (min)
~ $1118 (max)
Preliminary Summary and Conclusion
So, the trip will cost me a minimum of $1723 maximum - $1923.
Conclusion: I probably should have taken the program with airfare included.
Although let's calculate:
Program cost: $1490 + $35 + $131 + $15 + $20 + 1400 RUB + 1600 RUB + 1000 RUB + 120 RUB + 40 RUB + 2000 RUB + 3000 RUB = $1691 + 9160 RUB. ~ $1996
Now I can compare - the program without tickets is cheaper after all (I was already afraid I had cheated myself).
Everything depends on the tickets. I already missed out on the 20,000 RUB tickets, well, I'll look for others.
