Direct Costs
Application fees: $300-$1,500 depending on country. Tests, translations, travel: $500-$2,000 more.
Financial Benefits
Federal job access (high salary). No deportation risk (career security). Passport benefits (travel, residency anywhere). Intangible: peace of mind.
ROI
Long-term: positive. One federal job pays $50,000+/year more than PR equivalent roles. Within 1-2 years: pays for itself through salary premium.