Ramazan UludagTürkçe

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How I moved my money from Turkey to the US: $4,500 for about 500 lira in fees

· 3 min read

When you move to the US, your savings do not move with you. They sit in a bank account back home, in another currency. Sooner or later you need that money here.

For me, that moment came with my green card application. USCIS fees had to be paid from a US card, and they were not small. This is how I moved the money, and what it cost.

My timeline

  • July 3, 2026: I arrived in the US
  • August 25: I opened my first US bank account. Before this, there was nowhere to send money. How I opened it
  • Late August: I sent $4,500 from Turkey with Wise for my USCIS fees
  • September 1: I mailed my green card package. USCIS charged my card three times, $2,330 in total

Why I needed the money here

USCIS charges the fees to a card through a form called G-1450. If even one charge fails, they can send the whole package back. So the money had to be in my US account before I mailed anything. I wrote about the package here: Filing my green card application without a lawyer.

Why not a normal bank transfer

A classic international bank transfer is the first thing most people think of. The problem is that the cost is often hidden:

  • There can be a transfer fee at your bank.
  • There can be fees at middle banks along the way, and sometimes at the receiving bank.
  • The biggest one is usually the exchange rate. Many banks give you a worse rate than the real one and keep the difference. You do not see it as a fee, but you pay it.

What I used: Wise

I used Wise. It is a money transfer service. This is how it worked for me:

  1. In the Wise app, I entered how much I wanted to send and saw the fee and the rate before sending.
  2. I paid in Turkish lira from my bank account in Turkey.
  3. Wise paid out dollars to my US bank account.

I sent $4,500. The fee was about 450 to 500 lira. For that amount, it felt almost free.

Wise uses the mid-market rate, the real exchange rate you see on Google, and shows its fee separately. That is the main difference: you know exactly what you pay.

This is not a sponsored post. I just paid for it and it worked.

What to check before you send

  1. Open your US bank account first. You need somewhere to receive the money.
  2. Compare the final amount, not only the fee. A service with "zero fee" can still give you a bad rate. Look at how many dollars actually arrive.
  3. Send early. Do not wait until the day you need it. Give it a few days, especially before a USCIS payment.
  4. Use an account in your own name on both sides. It makes the transfer cleaner, and the bank asks fewer questions.
  5. Keep the confirmation. If a bank ever asks where the money came from, you have the record.
  6. Check the rules in your country. Limits and paperwork can change. Ask your bank or the service before a big transfer.

Summary

  • I needed money in the US for $2,330 in USCIS fees.
  • I sent $4,500 from Turkey with Wise and paid about 450 to 500 lira in fees.
  • Classic bank transfers often hide their cost in the exchange rate.
  • Compare how many dollars arrive, send early, and keep the confirmation.

If you are still planning your budget, read this too: What my first four months in the US really cost.

This is my own experience, not financial advice.

Going through the same thing? If you are stuck on this step and need help, send me a message. I read every one.
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I am not a lawyer or an accountant. This is my own experience, written down as it happened. Rules change and every case is different, so check with the official source or a professional.

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