The Truth Behind Mail Order Brides: Expectations vs. Risks

The mail order bride meaning has changed many times over the course of our history. Even the male order bride definition you knew when you were growing up has probably changed since then. One thing has remained the same: the polarizing views on the concept of mail order brides and mail order marriages among people who know something about this subject and those who don’t. The latter even associate the mail order bride industry with negative things like human trafficking and domestic violence.

With this article, we want to answer the integral question: “What is a mail-order bride?”, as well as talk about the legal and social meaning of this concept.

Where to Find a Mail Order Wife

In the centuries since mail order marriages became a social phenomenon (source), this concept has gone through many transformations. In the past, men interested in meeting mail order brides had to rely on print catalogs or newspaper ads.

Right now, however, there is a much better and more effective way to find a bride using international dating services.

• SofiaDate — Best site for meeting Slavic women for serious relationships.
• SakuraDate — Great option for online romance with Asian singles.
• LatiDate — Popular service for establishing connections with beautiful Latinas.
• LanaDate — Trusted online dating site for meeting Ukrainian and Slavic women.
• Naomidate — A renowned service for communicating with single Asian ladies.

How Mail Order Bride Services Work

So, how do mail order brides work and how does the process go for men who seek foreign spouses? Before we proceed, let’s define the mail bride meaning once and for all. What is a mail order bride? A mail order bride is a woman, typically foreign, who decides to change her life by finding a husband abroad, marrying him, and moving to his home country.

Contrary to popular belief, mail order brides are not for sale, meaning you cannot just buy yourself a bride. This may have sometimes been the case in the past, where men would just pick a bride from a catalog and have her delivered to their doorstep, but now, this isn’t a real possibility.

Instead, modern mail order bride services work similarly to regular dating sites. You create an account, find one or more suitable matches, initiate a conversation, and continue developing a relationship with a girl until you are both comfortable with the idea of meeting in person and taking your relationship to the next level. Nevertheless, mail order bride services have several vital advantages over traditional dating sites:

• Members on mail order bride services typically have the same goals of finding a serious relationship partner or even a marriage opportunity, whereas on regular dating sites, people are often looking for casual connections or one-night stands.
• Mail-order bride websites usually have profile verification policies, which means that you can contact women with verified profiles and be sure that you are actually talking to the woman in the photographs.
• Like dating sites, mail order bride services have the usual communication features like chat and mail. However, they often come with additional features for developing a long-term relationship online, including video chat, phone calls, and gift delivery.

Legal Frameworks and Regulations of the Mail Order Bride Industry

After we define mail order bride notion, we are moving on to other important aspects of this trend. “Are mail order spouse illegal?” is one of the most common questions asked by men interested in foreign brides, and it’s a very important one, especially given how many different stories we’ve all heard about the industry. The truth is that mail order marriages are regulated by several legal bodies and legislations:

• Each woman intending to marry an American citizen must obtain a K-1 visa, which involves background checks for both future spouses.
• There is the International Marriage Broker Regulation Act (source), which deals with the operations of each marriage agency and broker in the US.
• Finally, there is the Violence Against Women Act (source), which grants protection to foreign spouses of American citizens who become victims of domestic abuse.

Risks and Other Concerns with Mail Order Brides

As time goes by, more and more people are opening up to the idea of seeking a spouse online, even from foreign countries, which is why the concept of mail order brides is now viewed more positively. Still, people often talk about the same few risks and negative sides of these marriages. Let’s take a quick look at them:

• Mail order brides are exploited. In reality, no one is trying to traffic foreign brides into the US. These women make their own decision to enter a relationship or marry someone, so there is no exploitation taking place.
• There is a power imbalance. There are some men who take advantage of foreign mail order brides because of a difference in education, income, and social status, but those are becoming increasingly rare.
• There is an increased risk of fraud. It’s true that there are some romance scammers operating online, but as long as you use trusted dating services recommended by reputable sources, you should be fine.

Do Mail Order Marriages Usually Work?

It’s not enough to find a foreign woman you want to be with or even successfully develop a romantic relationship with her that will eventually lead to marriage. The question is whether this marriage will continue after a year or two.

There are researches (source) estimating that over 80% of mail order marriages make it past the crucial one-year mark, which, compared to the national divorce rate, serves to demonstrate that a mail order union has a better chance of working out long-term than traditional marriage. But why exactly is that the case? Here is why mail order marriages tend to be so successful:

• Effective communication before marriage. When dating online, you can talk about all the things you find important in a future marriage without rushing through the relationship stages.
• Shared cultural views. Using the functionality on a dating site like search and matches, as well as taking the time to get to know each other, means you get to find a partner with the same views and expectations.
• Alignment in gender roles. Foreign brides often come from countries with more traditional values and gender roles, where men are treated with respect and adoration. Naturally, this has a positive impact on marriage success.
• Commitment to marriage. The same traditional views in some foreign countries also mean that women from those countries view divorce as the last resort. Instead, they will try anything to make the marriage work for both parties.

How to Order a Bride with Confidence

If you’re a man in search of the perfect girl to marry, you need to approach the task of finding a significant other with as much conscience and attention as possible. Here are a few tips that will help you make the right choice and avoid the biggest risks:

1. Vet the dating platform. You can use reviews from trusted sources, your intuition, and your research skills to make sure the dating site is worth your time and money.
2. Verify the woman’s intentions. When you’re using a good dating site, the profiles are already verified, but the woman may not have the same relationship goals as you.
3. Understand each other’s culture. Cultural differences are one of the most common issues in an international relationship, but they can be avoided with honest discussions.
4. Research legal considerations. Depending on where your bride comes from, there may be different conditions for her arrival in the US, so make sure to do some reading in advance.
5. Meet in person at least once. Not only does it help cement your relationship, but it’s also mandatory for obtaining the K-1 visa for marriage.

Final Thoughts

Finding a girlfriend or wife abroad gives you a chance to be with a woman you’ve always dreamed of. And while international connections have been associated with certain risks, they have become considerably safer in recent years. The risks are further mitigated by the existence of reputable dating services, and with their help, as well as our handy tips, you can enjoy a risk-free, efficient, and deeply satisfying online dating experience.