Posted on June 04th, 2003 05:48 PM by admin

Submitted By RWG Staff

Question 1: Are the women in Eastern Europe only interested in a passport?

The cold reality is that some of the women in Eastern Europe are in fact just seeking passports. It is a simple fact that life in Eastern Europe is difficult compared to Western countries. As a result, it is true that almost all the women see marriage to a western man as a ticket to a better life. However, it is naive to think that all women in Eastern Europe are interested in western men solely for a passport, since western men offer many other advantages over their Eastern European counterparts. Alcoholism is rampant among men in Eastern Europe, spousal abuse is commonplace, and the men are faced with very poor health conditions. The expected life discrepancy between men and women in the former Soviet Union is the largest gap in the world, as most men are expected to live into their mid 50's at best. Thus, for an Eastern European woman, the Western men tend to be much better husbands in addition to a better life.

Our belief is that it is very hypocritical to blame the women for wanting a better life. Virtually every aspect of American culture is based on the idea of striving for the best. Every time you change jobs for a better salary or benefits, every time you buy a new car or home, and every time you buy a lottery ticket you are seeking a better way of life.

Question 2: Is it true that women in Eastern Europe use the dating services to dupe desperate Western men into sending money?

This is a silly misconception since gold diggers are certainly not exclusive to Eastern European countries. Eastern European countries have their share of women that have mastered the art of manipulation, but western women have ripped off men who fall prey to their tactics probably as well.

For every gold-digger in Eastern Europe, there are many more women that are honestly seeking lifetime companionship and a better life. However, poverty is just as unattractive to Eastern European women as it is to Western women. A woman from anywhere is less likely to be attracted to a man in constant financial problems.

We have included a section to our site regarding how to avoid scams for further advice and information about this subject.

Question 3: Why would a woman consider moving to a different country just for a man that she barely knows?

The answer is probably best summed up in a single word - Stability. But the stability they seek is not simply limited to the stability of western countries. It also encompasses personal financial stability, health stability, and emotional stability.

Keep in mind that the women that contact the agencies represent a very small fraction of the women living in Russia. There are perhaps 50,000 women currently listed by various agencies (and we are being generous in that estimate). Moscow alone has over 8 million people, of which about 50% are women. Therefore, few women out of the population actively undertake this process.

Question 4: Why should I go through all the trouble of finding a Russian bride?

The answer depends on your happiness with the women in your country. Most men that undertake the process are not unattractive and desperate, contrary to popular belief. Instead, they are normal men that have become disenchanted with their options in America. The feminist movement has resulted in women that are more competitive, demanding, and self-absorbed. On the other hand, women in Eastern Europe are more feminine, reserved, and giving. However, this does not mean that the women in Eastern Europe are "pushovers" and subservient to their man's every wish. Years of difficulties have "toughened" the women to be strong-willed, but they handle this toughness in a different way than their American counterparts, without the "in your face" attitude that many American women have developed.

Question 5: What is the most important factor I must consider before I proceed?

To be successful, you must be patient. Writing letters takes a great deal of patience since mail to the former Soviet Union is slow and unreliable. Dealing with the INS is frustrating at best, and takes time. Finally (and most important), if you bring a bride to America you will need to help her adjust to a new life in America. You will probably need to teach her to drive, there will be many communication difficulties, and she will likely go through a severe case of homesickness for several months.

Question 6: Are the dating services just scam operations out to steal money from lonely men?

Some are, and you should proceed with caution before selecting one. Before you buy, do your homework. Find other men in bulletin boards and chat rooms that have used various agencies and ask them. Check the better business bureau reports (we offer access to reports on our site). You can get additional tips for evaluating agencies on our site.

Question 7: Is it better to meet women through an agency or just by travel?

If you are serious about finding a wife in Eastern Europe, then it doesn't really matter which route you take. Most men that have tried both agencies and personal travel actually tend to prefer the latter as a successful means of meeting the ladies, but most men do not have the financial means to frequently travel to Russia. The role of the agencies is to save you time and money, and you typically pay a fee for their services. Many agencies introduce you to a large number of eligible and willing ladies for mail correspondence, and some offer the additional service of providing "tours" of Russia similar to a travel agency. If you don't mind paying someone else to help your search and make introductions, then an agency is a viable option.

Question 8:If I want to marry a Russian woman, what is the process like?

You can be married either in Russia or America. It is advisable that you marry in America, due to the time involved in dealing with the INS. A foreign family Visa normally takes several years to process, while a Fiancee Visa can be obtained in 6-8 weeks. Once your fiancee is approved, you can fly her to America for 90 days. At the end of the 90 days you must be married or she must return to her native country.

Question 9: Should I send gifts or money to a Russian woman?

You should use caution. How long have you known her? What are the circumstances? This is truly a judgment call you will need to make on your own. You can obtain more information in our sections: How to Avoid Scams and Writing Letters. We do not recommend paying for anything under any circumstances until after you have established a relationship, which under the letter-writing route means several letters over a period of several months. At that time, we recommend that you at least pay for the lady's postage to write you back. What may seem like pocket change for you to pay for postage represents a much more significant expense for the ladies in Eastern Europe. Many can afford the correspondence with you but it would be nice of you to pay it nonetheless. Be warned, however, that many women may be offended if you offer to pay trivial expenses. Therefore, try to work your offer into the correspondence carefully and at an appropriate time.

Question 10: Can I marry a Russian woman without traveling to Russia?

Yes, but traveling to Russia will save you a lot of time and money. The INS requires that before a woman can enter the U.S. on a Fiancee Visa, her potential husband must prove that he spent time with her in her homeland. Therefore, you probably should plan to visit Eastern Europe. Examples of alternatives are arranging for your potential wife to get a student visa, tourist visa, or meeting her in a different country such as Canada, the Bahamas, Western Europe, etc. These alternatives tend to be very difficult and expensive.

Question 11: Can I bring a Russian woman to the United States without the Fiancee Visa?

Yes, there are a number of alternatives, such as a tourist visa, a student visa, etc. However, the INS tends to be very suspicious of a young unmarried Russian woman traveling to America on a student visa. For additional information, please read our full section on visas.

Question 12: How much time should I allow to meet and marry a Russian woman?

If you plan to write letters before your trip to Russia, you should begin at least 3-6 months in advance. After your trip and you decide that she is the right girl, plan to spend 6-8 weeks obtaining her a fiancee visa. You should also allow time from work after she arrives to help her adjust to life in America.

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