How Are Mail Order Brides Legal?
Many people still ask are mail order brides legal, and there’s a clear reason why. When you consider the perspective of seeking a foreign partner, it’s necessary to find out if it’s even possible at a lawful level. As we’re international dating experts, we know all the ins and outs of this industry, immigration regulations, and norms connected with marrying a woman from abroad. Learn if is it legal to mail order a bride in our article!
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What laws govern mail order bride services?
The US government takes international marriages with foreign mail order brides seriously, and that is proved by the existence of several regulations. Let’s take a closer look at the laws controlling matchmaking agencies and protecting overseas spouses:
- International Marriage Brokerage Act. If you want to know is mail order brides legal for sure, this document is the best evidence. IMBRA represents a government support system for alien partners of US citizens when they come to the country on a K-1 visa. There are several core points undertaken by this law. Those include the check of a marriage broker, investigation of an American fiance’s background, prevention of serial K-1 visa applications, and explanation to a foreigner of their legal rights. If a couple met online through an agency’s site, this fact must be uncovered to the Immigration Services. In case this company doesn’t comply with standards, it can cause disapproval.
- Violence Against Women Act. In short, VAWA creates an opportunity for overseas spouses to keep their immigration routes without the participation of abusive husbands. A lady can get a Green Card through self-petitioning. VAWA also controls the investigation of crimes on a marriage and dating basis, such as sexual assault, sex trafficking, stalking, etc. This federal law provides housing protection to victims as well.
IMBRA and VAWA are the main legitimate regulation instruments that protect foreign spouses and control marriage brokerage agencies.
Is mail order bride industry legal everywhere?
For those specifically wondering are mail order brides legal in the USA, there’s a positive answer. In fact, in most countries, marriage with a foreign partner is allowed. Notice that regulations may vary depending on government requirements. Here are a few examples:
- The USA. Foreign women planning to marry their US partners have to get a K-1 visa. A relationship must be officially registered within 90 days when she comes.
- Canada. If a lady goes to this country for the purpose of marriage, she may enter on a visitor visa. However, it’ll be necessary to prove that a romance isn’t fake, and a husband will have to sponsor his wife so she becomes a permanent resident.
- The UK. An overseas fiancee has to apply for a family visa and stay in the UK for 6 months. Then, she can extend it for 2 years and 6 months. She’ll be eligible to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain in 5 years.
Anyway, you should know that in the Philippines, marriage agencies connecting Filipinas with foreign men are prohibited. The government did so due to a rising number of cases of violation against local women married to overseas partners and even their deaths. However, international dating websites work there and Filipino girls actively seek potential boyfriends virtually.
By the way, you can meet Ukrainian brides online facing no problem because those services are available in Ukraine too.
How to identify legit mail order bride sites?
The best way to find legal mail order brides is to join a credible international dating platform. The problem is that the modern world opens such a great number of online love search opportunities so it can be challenging to make the right choice. Our experts checked multiple platforms and know criteria that are important for consideration. Keep our recommendations in mind to select the service that won’t fail you:
- Choose our suggestions. Profiles collected on this platform are from websites that were analyzed by online dating experts with vast experience. The quality of accounts, safety measures, and features were thoroughly explored.
- Spend time reading reviews. Discover what professional advisors think about particular services. Additionally, it would be great if you take a look at real user feedback on TrustPilot and SiteJabber. If there’s a mobile app, find testimonials and ratings on Play Market and App Store.
- Make sure that profiles are validated. For instance, if you want to meet European mail order brides, you should know whether women on a site are real. In most cases, members are asked to provide copies of their ID documents and share a video. Once a lady’s identity is approved, her account is tagged with a special mark.
- Avoid free platforms. Usually, that’s a trap for a user because such spots are packed with scammers, fake profiles, and bots. Besides, hidden commissions can occur while you’re using the website’s features.
- Find out how customer support works. Dating sites with legit mail order brides have 24/7 managers you can contact for getting some help. A member should be sure that they’ll reach assistance whenever a problem appears.
Certainly, research will take time, but you’ll know that your choice is the best possible one. Or, you may select profiles on our platform and start chatting on the top dating sites.
What financial obligations do US grooms have?
As a partner, you’ll have to handle the financial side of the matter. You can learn more about the entire mail order bride cost, but at this point, we’ll explain expenses connected with mail order spouse legal immigration process sums:
- Covering a K-1 visa cost. While a processing fee is $265, the price of a petition I-129F form is $675. Thus, you’ll pay approximately $1,000 in total.
- Paying the adjustment of the status fee. Switching to a Green Card comes with charges, such as filing one. For example, covering the cost of the I-485 form reaches $1,440.
- Showing the required sponsorship income. A US spouse must be able to provide necessary financial support to his wife once she’s applying for a Green Card. His earnings should make at least $25,550 per year.
- Passing naturalization process. The cost of filing an N-400 form is $760, and biometrics services are $85. So, in general, the sum is $845.
Normally, those charges don’t come at once because the immigration process lasts for years.
How to navigate the immigration process?
We did our best to give you accurate information, so now we hope that you totally get are mail order brides legit and don’t have worries. In this paragraph, we’ll describe everything connected with immigration so you figure out what it takes to marry a lady from overseas. Discover the major stages below:
- K-1 visa. It’s the starting point of the process, so it’s necessary to be extremely careful and attentive when passing through it. Your first step will be sending the Alien fiancee petition Form I-129F. When USCIS confirms it for further action, the National Visa Center will give your case a number and address it to the US Embassy in the country where your partner lives. She’ll have to collect the required documents and get ready for the interview. Registration of marriage is expected to take place within 90 days since your lady enters America.
- Adjustment of status. To become a permanent resident after marrying a US spouse, a woman has to apply for a Green Card. She won’t have to go back home to start this process and do everything in the USA. While Form I-485 is the major one, you also need to fill in Form I-864, which is an Affidavit of Support, and other documents. With a Green Card, your wife can stay, live, and have a job in the USA.
- Naturalization. In three years, your spouse can apply for citizenship. She’ll have to pass an interview, including tests. Those involve how well you know the history of the USA and civics, how good you are at English, etc. Also, she shouldn’t have been outside America for 6 six months or more during her Green Card period.
Although it’s an in-depth explanation, you’ll need to get more details and check current requirements when you meet your future wife.
Are there any ethical and human trafficking risks?
A few disturbing topics can appear while researching are mail order spouse illegal if you look for information on the Web. The first one is connected with the danger of picking Russian girls for marriage because they’re scammers and gold-diggers. It’s not a myth and that’s an absolutely fair statement. Most of them search for foreign sugar daddies, often much older than themselves. While a man believes in the pure feelings of his young sweetheart, she takes advantage of his money. The most immoral part of this is that a Russian woman expects her elderly husband to die soon to inherit his funds and property. Knowing many such disappointing cases, we strongly insist that you avoid seeking a potential wife from this country.
Those wondering are mail order brides real because of being concerned about the possibility of involvement in human trafficking affairs can relax. The international online dating industry doesn’t have any connection with a violation of rights. Women registered on legit platforms are verified. Moreover, they’re all at least 18 years old and aren’t forced by third parties to register and communicate with foreign men. When you hear or read about some costs or prices, nothing is referring to slavery. The financial side of the matter comprises searching for a partner through websites, visiting an overseas girlfriend, covering immigration fees, and wedding expenses. Other sums may include gifts, flowers, dates, etc.
Conclusion
As you can see, mail order brides are completely legal in the USA and most countries. Hopefully, you learned more about or improved your knowledge of related laws, immigration processes, and ethical aspects connected with marrying a woman from abroad. At least, you clearly understand now that you don’t break any regulations by getting a foreign spouse. Therefore, you may dive into an exciting romantic journey on a trusted dating website with no worries.