So You Want to Find a Russian Bride?

Most divorced and separated men, usually after a period living alone, reach a stage in their life when they think about starting a new relationship, with a view to settling down again. At that point most will have tried finding a woman by the usual and more often than not 'hit and miss' social contact route, introduced through friends and colleagues, or chance meeting down the pub, or at the supermarket!

For many the opportunity to meet someone is severely limited, perhaps through busy work schedule, or there are children to look after from the previous relationship.

Lots of men will try the personal ad route in their local paper, either advertising themselves or responding to ads. Some will 'graduate' to dating agencies and spend time on internet dating sites, trying to meet someone special.

Sooner or later an advert will appear on the computer pointing toward website offering "Beautiful Russian Brides" or similar. Clicking on one of the very many websites available will immediately display a range of stunning looking ladies, often working as lawyer, doctor, dentist or similarly well-qualified professional.

At this point I need to own up that the former scenario describes my own personal situation perfectly. Through benefit of experience, both good and bad, I am going to point out some of the pitfalls and traps of embarking on finding a wife from the former Soviet Union countries.

The first thing to remember is that there are a lot of highly skilled and practised 'scammers' to be extremely wary of. Most of the dating agencies providing the service will ask for payment up-front to allow you to contact some of their clients. It is worth asking for references from other users before making any payment.

Once you have access to the site and start making contact, you still need to be aware that many are 'honey-traps' set for you to fall into. Some of the ladies will not be 'real', insofar as photos of a beautiful young lady will be displayed on the screen, behind which will lurk a scammer, usually with reasonable grasp of English, waiting to lure you into the trap.

The best way to avoid this pitfall is to stretch out the communication and wait for the moment when the subject of money will arise. When it does, the chances are you are being set up. You will probably be asked to send money by cash transfer to pay for: air fare to meet you; urgent medical treatment for your virtual date or their family, or money for a range of other reasons. My advice to you is to be careful, as you may be about to get scammed.

By trial and error, the chances are you will eventually meet someone on the net that won't ask you for money, which is a good, positive sign that they are likely to be genuine.

Finding a lady from former Soviet Union is always going to pose a risk. At some point you will feel positive about the lady you have met and you will want to meet her. This will usually require a significant investment in time and money. Obtaining a visa is an onerous task and can be time-consuming for some states. Make sure you don't book your flight until you receive your visa. If it's delayed for any reason you will probably lose the price of the air fare.

Hotels can be very expensive, especially in Moscow. It may be worth arranging to rent an apartment instead of paying for hotel.

Make sure your first trip to meet is not for too long. Book your trip for just a few days, or maximum of one week. If you don't hit it off then spending two-weeks on your own may leave you wishing you had not booked your trip for more than a few days!

The first meeting can be an extension of the honey-trap. I have spoken to people that have flown to Moscow and been fleeced by a woman that has conned them into asked going on expensive shopping trips, and for dinner at extortionately priced restaurants. If this happens to you then you need to spot the 'writing on the wall' and make your retreat as best you can.

I met my wife in Tashkent in Uzbekistan, which is a particularly repugnant, dictatorial, police state. The people are very friendly, generous and kind, but the administration is particularly difficult for westerner to tolerate and it can be quite scary! Make sure you do your homework on the country where you plan to travel before you decide to apply for the visa.

Assuming that you meet the woman of your dreams and you feel you are a good match, the natural conclusion will be that you will want her to come and live with you. This is where things really do start to get difficult. Obtaining visa is a minefield.

Many men are surprised to find out that you can't simply marry abroad and bring their new wife home, to both live happily ever-after!

The easiest and cheapest option is to apply for a tourist visa. This will require your lady to have evidence of income such as bank statements etc. As salaries are so low in Soviet countries this may prove very difficult to get, or be sufficient to satisfy the Embassy, which will jeopardize chance of getting a tourist visa.

It is possible to get a 'fiancée' visa. In the UK this will allow you to bring your lady to the UK and give you a chance to get to know each other before tying the knot. To obtain a 'fiancée' visa you will need to ensure you have kept full records of all your telephone and email contact, evidence of visits such as flight tickets, photos, room bookings. It is unlikely that you will get a 'fiancée' visa unless you have met previously.

You should not expect much assistance from Embassy staff. It is their job to make life as difficult as possible for you! Remember they can refuse your visa application for myriad of reasons, so ensure you do your research on what is required to avoid disappointment.

If you can overcome all the bureaucratic obstacles and eventually manage to get your lady back home to your country and marry, like me you will not regret the difficulties endured dealing with seemingly implacable Embassy staff and Government Agencies.

Bill Bailey is freelance writer and journalist. Bill is very happily married to Irina his beautiful Russian Bride! Bill's website is http://www.schnafflehound.com

Common Mistakes While Looking for a Russian Wife

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If you are a single Western or American man looking for your future wife on different dating websites, you might have been surprised at the abundance of online resources introducing you to the beautiful Russian and Slavic women. We will not discuss the issue of their popularity in this article though, and will concentrate on the most common mistakes made by single men looking for Russian wives.

· Not Sure about your Intentions

Online communications with Russian ladies can be real fun, but it is not playing around that they expect from you. When a Russian woman registers with a reliable international marriage agency, she is seriously determined to find a committed partner and husband, not just a pen friend. She is looking for loving and fulfilling family relationships. Are you sure your intentions are that serious? Ask yourself this question before you go for it, because it is a challenge. Remember that the decision to marry her implies going to Russia, learning about the new culture and language, meeting different people, both good and bad, spending your money, being prepared to non-trivial situations, etc. If you doubt that all of it is worth it, you'd better stay where you are.

· Wrong Choice of Dating Websites

Be very careful with the sites you register at. When your intentions are serious and you are looking for a lady with marriage in mind, avoid fishy dating sites that can be flooded with scammers. Also, think twice before placing a picture of yours in a men's catalogue where you where nothing but bathing trunks. A smart Russian lady looking for a serious relationship will not swallow the bait. Choose reliable agencies which services can be trusted.

· Believing that Your Life won't Change after Getting Married

When you finally take your wife home with you, the adaptation period is going to take a lot of time and effort from both of you. It is going to be harder for her though, because it is she who will have to adapt to the new environment, not you. Be with her during this period and help her learn more about your country, family, friends, job opportunities, etc. Be understanding and loving, and it will work out for you.

A Few Glimpses of Russian Women’s Popularity

It is a disputable issue that still evokes lots of questions, the primary one: "Why are Russian brides so popular among bachelors from various countries?" Honestly, what are the secrets of Russian women’s popularity?

Take a look at these commonplace facts of a Russian lady's life:

· She is usually highly educated, smart, and adaptable;

· Well-educated, she nevertheless values her family relationship more than her career;

· Demonstrating unceasing dedication to her family, she easily copes with all the chores about the house;

· She views her spouse as a partner, not a person to compete with; and

· She has a natural charm – a striking blend of femininity, health, passion, sensuality and gratitude that make her seek fulfilment and love in ,.

Do you think it is just an ideal of a woman? Well, this is a customary and honest picture of the finest Russian ladies looking for American and Western single men and marriage.

The key to success though is concentrating on the real girl or woman you get in contact with. Having in mind all the qualities described above, learn about the real person she is. Be sincere and open while communicating with her. Let her know who you are and that your intentions are serious.

Also pay attention to the fact that when we say “Russian woman”, we mean women from Ukraine and Belarus as well, for they have a lot in common with finest Russian ladies looking for marriage abroad. But be cautious while choosing, because every rule has its exceptions.