Do you dream about a family but can’t find the right person to settle down with? Perhaps you’re looking for a wife in the wrong place. If local girls don’t match your idea of a lifelong partner, mail order brides from Latin America, Asia, or Europe can fit the bill. International dating won’t seem as daunting and unrealistic with sure and professional guidance. We’re here to share our expertise and walk you through finding and winning over your foreign bride. All you need to do is take the first step.
| Best countries to find a bride | Ukraine, Brazil, Thailand, China, Japan |
| Best mail order bride & international dating sites | SofiaDate, LatiDate, SakuraDate |
| Cost of getting a bride | From $4,600 |
| Average age | From 22.7 to 29.2 y.o. |
| Legality | Marriages are legal under the terms of K-1 visas |
Who are the mail order brides?
Back in the 19th and 20th centuries, mail order brides were usually orphan girls and young women down on their luck, desperate to start a new life in the American colonies. They used newspapers and mail to find suitable partners overseas. But how do mail order brides work in the 21st century?
Online dating sites make international connections much easier. Niche platforms let women set up alluring dating profiles and help men find legit mail order brides from specific regions or countries.
Mail order brides are too different to fit into one box, but they share a few commonalities. For example:
- Most are between 20 and 40 years old, though there are also mature mail order brides in their 40s and 50s.
- Younger brides have never been married and don’t have children, but older ladies are often divorced and have one or two kids.
- Their English proficiency ranges from low to advanced, depending on their location, education, and job.
You’ll have to learn more about each mail order bride you’re interested in to decide if she could be a good fit for your lifestyle.
Best dating & mail order bride sites
Can’t wait to explore your dating options? Check out these tried-and-true mail order brides websites full of marriage-minded ladies with verified profiles and tons of photos.
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How to find a bride: Online & offline
The United States has the highest online dating adoption rate, but other countries aren’t far behind since the pandemic. However, many couples still meet offline through acquaintances, jobs, or leisure. Let’s see how online and offline dating applies to mail order brides.
Online
Since all you need for online dating is a smartphone and an internet connection, let’s start with how to find a mail order bride online:
1
Choose your dating platform.
Social media, mainstream dating apps, and niche mail order dating sites can all work for international dating, with varying success rates. Since all three offer free or freemium options, you should test them and decide which one aligns with your priorities. For example, if you don’t have an online dating budget but have a lot of free time, Facebook or Instagram will work best. But if you can afford to spend $100 to $200 on online dating monthly and want to find your future wife asap, a niche mail order brides site is your best bet.
2
Look for compatible partners.
You can use search filters to look for women within the right age range or from specific countries to narrow down your options. Dating apps will also offer swiping tools and other options for discovering potential matches. Their profile photos and personal details should be enough to decide if you have anything in common.
3
Reach out and start chatting.
Instead of using stock conversation starters or puns that don’t translate well, tailor your first messages to things you have in common and ask questions. It won’t take you long to decide if it’s worth continuing the conversation. But sooner or later, you’ll find one or two great women for marriage.
You’ll develop a long-distance relationship that will turn into mutual visits, ultimately leading to marriage. Unfortunately, online dating isn’t a sure thing, so you need to be patient and persistent. With so many potential mail order wives, you are sure to find the right match.
Offline
If you aren’t a fan of online dating and our tips on how to get a mail order bride online don’t fit your lifestyle, there are ways to meet foreign ladies offline:
1
Explore local ethnic communities.
Most large cities will have Asian, Latino, and Slavic quarters where you can explore the culture and meet ladies who either immigrated or are the children of immigrants and thus carry that authentic culture you’d like to get closer to.
2
Attend international professional events.
Conferences, trade shows, round tables, and other events will let you meet colleagues from other countries. Even if you don’t know how to start conversations, you can talk about your jobs. But remember that the number of single ladies at these events might not be very high.
3
Attend ethnic festivals.
If your city hosts large ethnic communities, you can join the Chinese New Year or Cinco de Mayo celebrations to meet foreign ladies in an informal setting.
4
Travel abroad.
If you don’t travel much for work, consider a vacation in your chosen dating destination. It’ll help you learn more about the local culture and meet non-Westernized single women. Curb your tourist urges since most foreigners don’t take relationships with tourists seriously.
No online or offline approach comes with a guarantee you’ll find a mail order bride. The best choice comes down to your lifestyle, preferences, budget, and free time. If you’re serious about marrying a foreigner, hedge your bets. Look for foreign girls on Instagram, set up a dating profile, and explore local ethnic groups before meeting in person, whether it’s at a local bodega or halfway across the world.
Success stories
Phil and Elena
“I didn’t set out to get a mail order wife. But I follow the news and wanted to help Ukraine when the war broke out. One thing led to another, and I met Elena online. I was happy to learn she left the country soon after the invasion, so we managed to meet in Germany after four months of dating long-distance. It took us a year to jump through the hoops and get her into the States legally. We’ve been married for over a year and are discussing starting a family soon.”
Mick and Samira
“Samira was the one to win me over. I ignored the first five messages she sent me, but somehow, she knew we’d end up together and kept reaching out. Ten minutes in, I realized how much we had in common, from our love of good food to our music taste and even sense of humor. She still tells all our friends how much I resisted getting together, so it’s become a running joke. I love how much energy and affection she pours into everything she does, and I’m grateful she didn’t give up on me.”
Top 5 countries with sought-after mail order brides
The Philippines produces more mail order brides than any other country, but that’s not the only foreign dating destination. Depending on your preferences and priorities, you can find your ideal wife in one of these five countries.
Ukraine
With millions of Ukrainian war refugees spread throughout the EU, Ukraine is still among the top Slavic countries when it comes to real mail order brides. In 2023, 131 Ukrainians received K-1 visas to marry Americans. The country and its people are known as free-spirited, generous, and welcoming to everyone aside from Russians.
Ukraine is a great dating destination if you are looking for a conservative Caucasian wife with excellent homemaking skills, a good sense of humor, and a strong will.
Thailand
The country of a thousand smiles is known for its exotic cuisine, gorgeous beaches, and lovely ladies. In 2023, at least 374 married Americans after receiving K-1 visas.
Aside from their preferences for traditional gender roles and family dynamics, Thai girls are also known for their flawless manners, calm nature, and ability to avoid conflict at all costs. They are respectful, quietly competent, and devoted to their families, even after moving halfway across the world.
Brazil
Brazil is the most popular among South American countries, second only to Colombia, judging by the number of K-1 visas issued in 2023 (657). Aside from good coffee, slack time-keeping, and never-ending parties, Brazil is also home to some of the strongest and most long-lasting families.
Local women are pretty conservative and religious; they can put up with a lot from their families, and they value their children’s happiness and safety above all. Brazilian girls are usually extremely outgoing and affectionate but equally jealous and possessive of their men.
China
Chinese girls don’t lack dating options among local men, considering the significant gender imbalance. Still, in 2023, the US issued 341 K-1 visas to Chinese ladies. American guys value their excellent manners and reserved nature, as well as their pragmatism and inventiveness when it comes to surviving on a small income.
Besides, the Chinese tend to know English well and are pretty familiar with American culture as Hollywood portrays it. Thanks to large Chinese communities throughout the US, their integration is relatively smooth.
Japan
Japanese women are becoming more popular among Americans. In 2023 alone, 237 Japanese girls received K-1 fiance visas. They attract guys who appreciate unique Asian looks and excellent manners, as well as quality education and hard-working nature.
Japanese women can flawlessly complete house chores and develop careers without missing a beat. They are pretty conservative and often religious, but you need to remember they aren’t Christian, so their beliefs can differ greatly from what you’re used to.
Why do women become mail order brides?
On a grand scale, we can split mail order brides’ reasoning into motivation “towards” and “away from”. The former answers the question, “What are mail order brides looking for?”. The responses range from love and affection to financial stability and improved education and career prospects.
And what do mail order brides want to avoid with “away from” motivation? The answer depends on their origins and location:
- Ukrainian women want to avoid the dangers of war and seek safer environments.
- Other Slavic brides wish to leave poor living conditions and dead-end careers behind.
- Girls from Latin American countries flee away from domestic violence and abuse driven by machismo.
- Asian ladies wish to get out from under their parents’ overbearing control and unachievable expectations, as well as disappointing marriages with local men.
You can always ask the mail order brides you meet what made them look for husbands abroad to learn more about their motivations.
How much are mail order brides?
You cannot buy a wife.
So, are mail order brides legal? They are, as long as you understand there’s no exchange of human beings for money. Any talk of mail order bride costs or pricing refers to dating expenses involved in finding a foreign fiance and bringing her to the States.
Since the dating expenses include more than dinner dates and movie tickets, let’s go over the major expenses:
- Dating site membership — from $200/month. Suppose you meet 10 girls and spend 30 minutes chatting with each one, exchanging a couple of photos. That will cost you 600 credits for live chat and 200 credits for photos, so 800 credits in total. On sites like SofiaDate, you can buy 1,000 credits for $200, which can last a month if you’re careful with your spending.
- Visiting your fiance — from $1,500/week. You’ll need to take at least a couple of trips to visit your foreign bride, each at least a week long. Plane tickets and hotel rates will depend on your destination and season. For example, a flight to Asia is more expensive than a short drive to Mexico.
- Legal paperwork fees — around $2,400. The fees include the petition (Form I-129F), visa application (Form DS-160), and adjustment of status fees (Form I-485). Additional charges include medical exams, vaccinations, and attorney fees.
- Wedding expenses — from $200. A courthouse ceremony with a marriage license will cost around $200, but a full-scale ceremony and reception costs around $33,000 on average.
So, how much are mail order brides? At the very least, you’ll need around $4,500, but probably more.
Final tips
There’s no magic solution to get dates or win over foreign women. But if you’re open to learning more about foreign cultures and letting go of stereotypes, your chances of finding the perfect match will soar. We’ll keep sharing insights and tips to help you go from being single and miserable to happily married to a foreign woman. Keep an eye out for our country-specific guide to learn more about how to find mail order brides, impress them, and bring them stateside to get married.
