A Friend in Need Is a Friend Indeed

Profile

“A friend in need is a friend indeed,” is a very popular proverb among Russians. Friendship as a value means much in the Russian culture. If you are looking for serious relationship with a Russian lady, you should be aware of the cultural difference in the perception of friendship by people living in Russia and in the USA.

American people are often surprised by depth of relationships customary in Russia. Russian people have no secrets from their close friends. They openly share with them their joys and sorrows. For a man, a male friend is like a brother, a person the man can confide in. For a Russian woman, a female friend is the person with whom she can discuss things that cannot be shared with her husband or mother. Closest friends substitute shrinks, so to say. There are even notions of women’s and men’s solidarity in the Russian culture, when men or women feel the need to help or support people belonging to the same gender when they find themselves in a predicament. In short, both genders perceive friendship as a bastion against the outer world.

The communities of Russian immigrants maintain this spirit of friendship and the habit of relying on each other. As in Russia, friends are expected to be of help while facing different life challenges, such as overcoming bureaucratic barriers, finding a job, making repairs, borrowing money, etc. Few Americans are open for such relationships, because they require a lot of patience and understanding.

That is why your Russian bride can find close friends among other Russian women who have married Americans and come to the States with their husbands. There are both positive and negative outcomes of her joining the Russian immigrants’ community. On the one hand, your bride will feel thoroughly equipped with knowledge and better adjusted to her new life in the USA. On the other hand, she might start comparing you with her new friends’ husbands and your lifestyle with theirs. As you might have guessed, it is natural for Russian women to discuss in detail such issues as their income, or personal relationships. So be prepared to accept this part of Russian culture too if you want to help your sweetheart successfully adjust to her new life in the American society.

Things to Consider Before Marrying Your Russian Bride

Profile

Russian women are romantic and affectionate brides, but before marrying your future Russian fiancée, be sure that this is the very thing that you want.

Russians, both men and women, are considered open and good-natured people. Russian brides are very popular among western men because of their natural beauty, attractiveness and personal values formed by the unique culture they are coming from. Modern Russian women strive for successful marriage with foreigners once they realize it can be a lucky investment in their future.

Energetic and intelligent, Russian brides are looking for husbands who would be suitable to them from the emotional and the practical perspectives. These ladies’ dreams will come true if they manage to develop loving relationships with men who would also give them the desired economic security. You do not have to be a millionaire to provide for your new family, by the way. For a Russian woman seeking husbands abroad, being economically secure implies having a decent job, being able to rent a good house or own an apartment, and maintaining a comfortable lifestyle.

Russian women normally have a high self-esteem. Self-respecting and aware of their personal value, they also have high expectations about marriage. When they decide to leave their families and begin a new life with a foreigner in another country, their requirements might be much higher. Nevertheless, your Russian bride’s expectations that are too high should be cleared at the beginning of your relationship. Both of you should talk about your feelings regarding the upcoming marriage and share the expectations you have from each other and your roles in the family. Any misunderstanding can be successfully dealt with if you are honest enough to be able to openly discuss good and bad sides of your personalities and meet commitments you have made.

Take that into consideration. Also keep in mind that the adaptation period in their lives of the new weds is going to be full of challenges. The international marriage is going to work out only under the condition that both partners work hard and invest into the relationship.

Pros and Cons of Using Russian Mail Order Brides Services

Profile

What makes you believe that you can find your Russian bride with the help of the Internet? Nowadays there are too many websites offering Russian dating and marriage services. Some of them can change your life forever.

“Russian mail order brides” notion has become widespread indeed. Western men discuss their stories online, sharing both successful and unsuccessful experiences with Russian women. Some stories have happy endings; others are very unpleasant results of scammers’ intrigues and machinations.

On the one hand, there are many ladies who use their sexy looks as a means to hook a western husband and go to another country. After getting a visa for a longer stay abroad, some of them start looking for another sponsor. Keep this in mind while searching for "Russian mail order brides".

On the other hand, many sincere and honest women live in Russia. Their plans are serious, and they are looking for fulfilling relationships with western men. Professional and reputable matchmakers offering dating and marriage services have learnt to filter the ladies’ profiles to eliminate the fake ones with the help of detailed questionnaires. The candidates are obliged to state their real age and provide background information. They also have to explain their motivation why they are looking for a relationship with a foreigner. When you register with a dating and marriage agency online, it will find a compatible partner for you out of the women who have passed the scam tests.

Dating and marriage services have improved over the years. Professional agencies do worry about the fact that Russian scams are ruining their businesses and reputations. They will do everything in their power to prove that their approach is professional.

During your search, avoid using the insulting Russian mail order brides labeling. Ask yourself once again what your intentions are. The thing is there are real persons with true feelings out there. Russian single women are not trophy matreshka dolls. They have to be treated with respect. If you expect to find a temporary date just for a thrill of having new impressions, make it clear from the start.

Finding Your True Love with the Help of Russian Marriage Agencies

Profile

If you have ever thought about marrying a Russian bride, using a Russian marriage agency might be a good solution for you. Professional and creative, Russian marriage agencies will see to everything regarding your personal issue, and you will appreciate their guidance and support.

Russian matchmaking services have become very popular for the last ten to fifteen years and there are reasons for this. Professional and reputable agencies will introduce you to real ladies who seek western men for dating and marriage. They do not pay the female candidates for staying online in video chats. All women registered with them are for real, and their intentions are serious.

If you get registered with a Russian matchmaking agency, you will receive an email from it offering guidance, help and technical support. The agency will also give you a choice of either delegating the responsibility of finding a compatible partner for you, or being independent in your search and exploring as many profiles as you want.

In any case, you may be surprised to receive replies to practically all your letters. In addition, instead of getting short messages from every lady, you will most probably receive detailed descriptions of their lives, interests and expectations, as well as questions to you.

If you feel overwhelmed and need assistance, your Russian matchmaking agency will advise you to be cautions of what you are going to tell these women. The agency will also ask you if you agree to fill out a detailed questionnaire, which will help them find a compatible partner for you out of the thousands of other candidates. It is worth trusting them in this situation though it feels weird answering some specific questions about your private life and preferences.

Nevertheless, it is an issue of security and common sense to let them find a person who will match you based on the psychological profile of your personality. Doing so, a reputable agency also protects you from scammers.

There are Russian marriage agencies specializing in certain regions but most of them register their female clients from all parts of Russia. It makes sense for you to contact several agencies. Doing so, you will have a wider choice before making a serious decision and committing to a relationship with a certain person.

Whatever Russian matchmaking service you choose, you have to be sure that you are looking forward to finding your Russian fiancé in reality. Marriage is serious step, so it is better to share as many details and preferences with your agency as you can to find your love in Russia.

Marrying a Russian Woman: Official Matters

Profile

American gentlemen are sometimes really scared of facing all the administrative issues and visa hassle which happen during the process of marrying a Russian bride. Relax and say good-buy to your fears! After a while you will remember your wedding arrangements and the dismay related to them with a knowing smile.

First and foremost, you should learn everything about the special non-immigrant visa, which is called "K1-fiancée visa." Once your Russian bride gets her K1-fiancée visa approved, you need to get married in the States during 90 days since then. Otherwise, she will have to return to her country. Remember also that as soon as you have registered your relationship by marriage in the USA, you will need to prove that you live together as a family.

As an inviting party and a future husband, you will have to submit a Petition for Alien Fiancé (Form I-129F) to get the initial K1-fiancée visa. The petition aims to bring your fiancée and her children to the US.

Also find out all the information concerning K-3 visa, which suites spouses of U.S. citizens who are staying abroad waiting for an immigrant visa, and K-4 visa for unmarried children under age of 21, of K-3 visa applicants.

K-3 and K-4 visa holders are permitted to get employed in the USA by obtaining an Employment Authorization Document, so your new family members will be able to adjust to their new lives in America.

It may look scary but actually the logic of the process is pretty simple. All you have to do is to carefully fill in every document. If you are too busy, apply to the agencies specializing on these issues. You can also hire a lawyer who will see to your visa processing and will update you regularly. Attorneys’ services are costly, but they will save you time and nerves.

Russian Matchmaking Services: Pros and Cons of Using

Profile

The most common way to find a Russian matchmaking agency is to search for it on the Internet. Practically all of them have multilingual sites with useful information.

You can register for free with many websites for a trial period. It is very convenient because you will have a chance to look through the registered profiles of female candidates and decide if you are going to communicate with them further on or not. Remember though that the trial period limits not only time but also some opportunities of communication. In addition, from the female prospective, men not paying for the services often seem unreliable partners not worth of their attention.

Be cautious with your payments to your Russian matchmaking agency. There are certain risks, especially when they ask you for your credit card information. There are criminal companies pretending to be matchmakers. They are known for their bank misrepresentations and use websites as a cover that helps them steal information and money from you. Before transferring any payments, check online forums for some data on this agency. Even one comment about fraud should make you keep from the payment and further contacts with it.

Surely the reputable services also exist, that is why so many Russian women have left their country over the years. It proves these matchmakers are professionals. A reliable agency will consult you on the compatibility matters during your communication with their female clients and give your some guidance on how to behave when you meet some of them in person. It will help you understand your Russian bride much better and overcome all the challenges of the cross-cultural communication.

Your Russian Bride: Engagement and Marriage Issues

Profile

In Russia, engagement usually lasts for about two weeks to one year before marriage. This is a very romantic period in the lives of the bride and the groom.

When your lady agrees to get married to you, ask her to introduce you to her family and friends if you have not seen them yet. Treat the members of the family with courtesy and respect. Do your best to be on friendly terms with them. It is better to take into account her parents’ advice and expectations about the wedding, although it is you and your future wife who should make the final decisions concerning all the arrangements and logistics. Most probably, you will also be introduced to other relatives, including the distant ones, before getting married or on the day of the wedding.

Wedding is a very important family occasion in Russia, which usually turns into a real feast at the party following the official ceremony of marriage registration. Traditionally, these parties can stretch from two to three days of unrestrained celebrations accompanied with unimaginable amount of food eaten and alcoholic beverages drunk by the guests. Be prepared that all those gathered will congratulate you and your wife: they will give you money, presents, and flowers, and hug and kiss you both. This is the way to demonstrate that you are accepted as a new family member.

Ask your fiancé about wedding traditions and rituals practiced in Russia not to be caught off guard at a certain moment. Russian wedding traditions can surprise you, but remember that the message that lies underneath is always benevolent and well-meaning for the new weds.

Why are Russian Women So Attractive?

Profile

Many husbands want their wives to remain attractive after long years of marriage. Russian women are very likely to stay like that. Why?

Russian ladies are perfectly aware of their femininity and take good care of their looks. They use make-up on a daily basis. They dress fashionably. Most of them are fit and know how to emphasize the advantages of their figure with the help of clothes.

In addition to being physically attractive, they are intelligent, well-educated and strong. The majority of them work hard to provide for their families equally with men. Nevertheless, it would never occur to them to compete with their husbands for leadership in the family. On the contrary, Russian women are very supportive of their partners, and their dedication to their loved ones is something amazing. With this priority and value in mind, they make loyal wives and wonderful mothers. Usually they are great cooks and cordial hostesses.

All this makes them the most popular brides among western men registering with online matchmaking services. So if you dream about marrying a hot, stylish and smart lady who would really care for you and the family you create together, looking for a Russian bride will be the best option for you.

Think How Your Wife Can Join a Russian Emigrants’ Community

Profile

When your Russian bride comes to the States, it might be important for her to find a community of Russian-speaking people who would share with her some information about the local specifics and things. Let her form her own circle of Russian acquaintances. It will help your future Russian wife get used to the new environment and cope with the cultural shock.

You might think that you can explain your own culture better to her, but it is not the point. The members of the Russian emigrants’ community will share with her some important information and their own understanding of the local events through the lens of the Russian culture. She will know about the lessons learnt during their stay in America and be better prepared to living here.

There are both positive and negative outcomes of her joining a Russian emigrants’ club or community. On the one hand, your wife will feel thoroughly equipped with knowledge and better adjusted to her new life in the States. On the other hand, she might start comparing you with her new friends’ husbands and your lifestyle with theirs. It is natural for Russian women to discuss in detail such issues as their income, or personal relationships, by the way.

When you marry a person belonging to another culture, you have to be very flexible and understanding to make your relationship work. It will be easier for you to accept your wife’s cultural specifics if you show your interest and learn about them beforehand. It goes without saying that the positive side of your wife’s joining a Russian-speaking community in the States outweighs the negative one. So think how she can find and meet with these people. In addition, if she finds out that she is not interested in communicating with them, the issue will automatically be out of your agenda.

How to Figure Out Russian Scam brides?

Profile

These are the potential first signs of scammers:

· The contents of the messages you get from your girlfriend are bird’s-eye;

· She avoids your questions about her personal life;

· You are asked to pay money for many things; and

· Big age difference among you.

You can protect yourself from scammers using the following methods:

1. Refuse to send money to strangers. Many scammers ask men to transfer money for their girlfriends’ visits to their country. In case you want her to visit you, buy the ticket for her instead and send it by mail.

2. Professional pictures of your girlfriend that were made in a studio may be false. Request several ordinary photos of your fiancé to have a better idea of her looks and surroundings.

3. Observe the reaction of your girlfriend when you request some personal information, such as postal address, telephone number, and so on.

If she starts asking for presents, it is a chance for you to figure out whether she is the person she claims to be. Find a delivery service that will bring her flowers or gifts on your behalf with the request to confirm her picture upon the delivery. At least, you will be able to confirm that your lady looks the same as on your pictures and that her postal address and telephone numbers are real.

4. Finally, if you are still serious about marring this girl and going to meet your beautiful bride in Russia, tell her you want to meet with her family too and see her reaction.

Most of the Russian girls registering with the online matchmaking agencies are real. They do want to find decent partners to create strong families with. Putting your efforts into the process of looking for your Russian bride can be rewarding. Once you meet in person the nicest Russian woman eager to marry you and build a happy family you, the risk-taking will pay off.

Common Mistakes to Be Avoided While Communicating With Your Russian Bride

Profile

Courting a Russian lady is a challenging process. It is impossible not to make mistakes, because both of you belong to different cultures and have your own backgrounds and experiences. But there are some common mistakes that you should avoid.

Not Being Serious. Usually your lady would give you four to six months to decide whether you are going to meet her in person or not. If you do not come to her country in a few months afterwards, your lady might decide that you are not serious and start communicating with somebody else. Usually it takes about eight to ten months for her to maintain online communication with you before giving up. Why is it necessary for you go to her country? Because she would never obtain her fiancé visa before two of you meet in person at least once and document it. In addition, it is important to ensure that two of you like and suite each other. You should be ready to invest your emotional, financial and physical resources to make this happen.

Being Inconsistent. If you do not maintain regular correspondence with her, or are prone to changing your mind about the decisions that had been made about visiting her, etc., she is likely to stop wasting her time on you. Women registering with the matchmaking services are that serious and expect something different from their potential husbands. They have to make sure you are responsible, consistent and see your relationship as equal partnership. They deserve respect and love.

Failing to Grab Her Attention in Your Introduction Letter. Be sure that your intentions are clearly stated in your introduction letter. Russian ladies are looking for potential husbands, not just pen friends. Provide your photos. If a woman you like does not respond to you, ask her again. She might change her mind. Maybe she could not understand what you had written, so it would be great to request the translation of your letters. She would be pleased to understand the whole message, and might want to write you back.

Some Interesting Facts You Should Know

Profile

Do you know that percentage of scammers in Russian matchmaking agencies is inappreciable in comparison with the huge number of honest candidates who hope to find their true love and fulfilling relationships? But how can you tell who is who?

Here is a piece of advice for you that might work out.

The pictures of your Russian bride can help you check the lady’s identity. Register with an agency that provides delivery services. Send flowers or some presents to the candidate you like with the request of her photo confirmation. Scammers prefer to be anonymous, they just abhor it. In addition, the scams actors can be men, not women. At least, you will be able to confirm that your lady looks the same as on your pictures and that her postal address and telephone numbers are real.

Putting your efforts into the process of looking for your Russian bride can be rewarding. Once you meet in person the nicest Russian woman eager to marry you and build a happy family you, the risk-taking will pay off. 

Here is some statistics provided by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) on the success rates in international marriages. According to USCIS, couples formed with the help of matchmaking agencies and Internet dating services have a lower divorce rate than other US couples. Thanks to these agencies and online communications, from 4,000 to 6,000 international couples get married annually in the USA. At least 80 percent of these marriages have lasted over the years.

Consider Using Russian Marriage Agencies While Looking For Your Russian Bride

Profile

Russian marriage agencies are becoming more popular nowadays among Western men who want to find their wives in Russia. Many of them have succeeded in meeting their true love with the help of these agencies. It is their mission to see people through finding their compatible partners, so if you want to meet a Russian lady with marriage in mind and are ready to put your time and energy into the relationship, a Russian marriage agency can be of great help to you.

It is convenient and time-saving when you apply for the agencies’ services. The most reliable matchmaking agencies in Russia receive payments for their services through bank transfers, so you can use your credit cards. They also help their customers with translation and provide linguistic and cultural training for their clients.

Reputable marriage agencies in Russia screen women applying to them to eliminate the opportunities for scammers. The majority of ladies applying to the agencies do not pursue the mere goal of emigration; they are eager to meet a compatible partner and create a happy family with him. The female candidates are usually intelligent young women, who either study or work in Russia.

Another reason why you might need to use the services of a Russian matchmaking agency is that the US Immigration Service does not issue the fiancé visa unless you meet with your Russian bride at least once. Russian marriage agencies usually arrange trips for foreign men to meet in person with their ladies. With their help, you can save your money on arranging all the logistics, and get in touch with other men going to meet with their brides in Russia.

What does marrying a Foreigner Mean to Russian Women?

Profile

The majority of Russian ladies coming to the United States as brides and wives are intelligent women with good careers left behind in Russia. When they marry an American, they have to leave all what they had known in their home country: their relatives, acquaintances and cultural roots for the sake of the newly created union of two people.

The woman’s decision to follow her future husband to his country is very serious indeed. Her fiancé is the only friend she has in that country. She thinks he is the only person she can rely on, although she might not know him very well. It is ok for Russians to be dependable on their environment, by the way, which is just another reason for women’s full trust in their future husbands as their sole providers and protectors.

The greatest fear of a Russian bride moving to another country is that the man she depends on would be gone and she would have to return to Russia and start everything from scratch. Neither would she like to stay in an unknown country without any support.

Marriage is a value to a Russian woman. It is not in her plans to get rid of you once she has got her green card. And if she is unhappy in her marriage, she would not stay with you for the reason of higher living standards in your country. Country has nothing to do with it. Intimate relationship between two of you are of the greatest priority for her. You mean the world for her.

Why You Should Write to More Than One Russian Woman

Profile

If you are dreaming about marrying a beautiful Russian bride, but have never met or communicated with any Russian lady yet, writing to several women will be the best strategy of finding your perfect match. Consider the maximum number of candidates you can write to from the perspective of time and energy you would need for it.

Your on-line communication with several ladies will significantly widen your circle of potential partners. Although these women belong to the same culture, you will see how different they are. This experience will help you make sure what kind of a woman you would consider as your future wife.

The thing is, once you start communicating with the ladies, you will soon find out who of them suit you best. After a while, you will be able to make the right choice based on your personal preferences.

Of course there are lucky men whose relationships with one lady were pretty successful from the very beginning and led to the creation of a healthy family. But your experience might be different, so just hoping that everything will work out fine with only one potential partner to communicate with is unwise. You have to ensure your efforts will not be spent in vain and end up in mutual disappointment. The more ladies you write to on the first stages of your learning about the world of Russian women, the more sophisticated choice you will be able to make in the future. Even so, it is only when you meet your Russian bride in person that you will realize whether she is the one or not.

We are not discussing the issue of unfaithfulness to someone you have met in person. We are talking about the exchange of correspondence and casual meetings in the beginning of dating someone.

What's So Humiliating about the "Russian Mail Order Bride" Notion?

Profile

With the coming of the Internet, people all over the world started to join its numerous marriage sites and explore new opportunities of finding the right persons in their lives. Unable to find decent husbands in Russia, Russian ladies looking for fulfilling personal and family relationships were really excited about the chances brought by the on-line international marriage agencies.

But happy Russian women, whose dreams have fortunately come true, face the challenge of overcoming the stigmatizing notion “Mail Order Bride” once they arrive to their new homes abroad. Since then, this humiliating expression belonging to the Western culture becomes part of their personal lives.

Luckily, it never occurred to many international couples with sensible family circle and friends to think that their “mail order bride” situation is a problem. For others, the negative connotation of the “mail order bride” labeling is so embarrassing they would never tell their families, colleagues, business partners and friends how they met.

Imagine how the woman would feel when she realizes that the circumstances of their meeting with her husband are considered disgraceful. Most probably, this unpleasant discovery will be very upsetting for her.

If you are going to marry a Russian bride, think seriously how you will be overcoming this possible challenge.