Sooner or later, every single one of us gets a desire to settle down. No matter in which country and city you live - this day will come: that’s the way things are. However, plenty of people worldwide face difficulties finding the right spouse: especially those who live in small towns where the number of potential candidates is extremely limited. What to do, then? Accept the fact you might never get married and live with it? Absolutely no! In the Internet age we live in, true love has no boundaries.
In this article, therefore, we are going to tell you everything about mail-order brides from different parts of the world and try to explain their phenomenal popularity. Can those services be provided free of charge? If no, how much does it cost? Okey-dokey, there are too many questions we need to answer - let us lay everything we know out in order.
Can you buy a mail order bride?
“What does a mail-order bride cost?“ - sounds strange and cynical, isn’t it? You probably think that it’s about the certain amount of money you need to pay to order a life partner, like a T-shirt or DVD with your favorite movie. Well, not really.
Nowadays, almost everything might be done through the Internet, searching for love is not the exception. With the help of marriage agencies that operate internationally, you can push back the limits and find your special one on the other side of the world. However, first and foremost, we need to dispel the main stereotype in this regard. You can’t buy a Russian bride or any other one - at a minimum, it’s against the law. The morality of such a question we won’t even discuss. So, what does the whole process work, and why do men pay money for it?
Modern international marriage brokers carry out their activities through websites and apps where singles from different countries can get to know each other. Men and women post photos and information on their profiles, exchange letters, and chat. Among the mentioned above: video/phone calls, gift delivery, and other similar services are also available for the users. What do males need to pay for, then? For their safety, first of all. Since ladies who have accounts on these sites, in most cases, come from countries with a low standard of living, there are a lot of recorded cases of fraud on free matchmaking platforms. This is completely impossible on websites with paid membership because all female users’ identities are verified there.
On the other hand, men pay for the services they use. There is no obligation to talk with someone you don’t want, though. The same goes for ladies. As you can see, the process is totally legal. Marriage agencies only help Western gentlemen with the potential wife search but don’t send a girl per post with the money-back guarantee.
Mail order brides cost: is it cheaper to date online?
Now you know that a reputable international matchmaking platform is not a storehouse full of beautiful women where customers can order brides according to their taste. Instead, such websites and apps give an opportunity to meet true love. In our day, unfortunately, it’s often not easy to find the right partner for life. This is especially the case when you have reached an advanced age since many women you might be interested in already are married. Choosing a dating agency would be a great solution to this problem. Still, many men have a misconception about the pricing in this regard. They think it is more expensive than traditional offline rendezvous. Is that correct? Let’s find out together, using simple math.
What do statistics tell us about it? According to recent research, on average, couples who found each other with the help of marriage brokers get married in 18.5 months. At the same time, offline pairs walk down the aisle only in 42 months. By them, it usually takes two years longer to make such an important decision.
The major advantage of traditional dating, a chance to see your partner in real life, becomes its biggest disadvantage when it comes to expenses. Let us suppose you arrange a date two days a week. The first one in a nice restaurant would cost you around $100 for meals and drinks. The second one, in a cinema, where you buy tickets and popcorn - something like $40. Together it makes $140 weekly. Okay, what does it amount to? 182.5 weeks * $140 = $25,550, as a rule, spends a man during the traditional offline rendezvous stage. For someone who likes to go dutch, the amount looks a bit better - just $12,775 for the same period of time.
How much does online dating cost, then? Statistic says, generally, every male user spends about $100 for its services - in 18.5 months, it makes $1,850. The difference is apparent, isn’t it? Alright, one day you will have to travel to meet your beloved one in person. How much does it cost in Russian ruble or Thai baht doesn’t really matter since it will definitely be cheaper than $23,700 ($25,550 - $1,850).
Pricing Of Relationships With Mail Order Bride
The pricing of online matchmaking still looks unclear, we guess. So how much does a mail-order bride cost in the context of website services? What kind of assistance the site administration provides to its users? Do they have something free of charge too? We are going to clarify this subject together in the following part of this article.
Fundamental website services
Generally, such platforms offer two types of membership: basic and premium. The basic membership is absolutely free and lets you look around without obligation. After creating your user profile, uploading pictures and some information, you can start receiving messages from female members right away. Use an advanced search system to view matches with similar hobbies and interests at no cost too.
Paid premium membership, in contrast, allows users to use all site functions without any restrictions, which actually increases your chances to find love.
Many marriage brokers also offer close personal consultations via phone or video call. In this case, a website manager makes a detailed conversation with you, gets acquainted with your story, gives advice regarding successful self-presentation through your user profile, and chats with foreign ladies.
Communication services
There are, as a rule, four ways of how you can communicate with female members on an international dating portal: mailing, chat, over the phone, and video call. It’s actually the significant part of Chinese, Ukrainian, or Russian mail order bride cost since the only thing you have in a long-distance relationship - your talks. Therefore, let’s look at each of these services in turn.
Mailing
This way of communication is most appropriate for everyone who likes to take it slow and, in the beginning, make the get-to-know process at his own pace. Almost always, so-called introduce-yourself (very first) letters are free to open for users with both: premium and basic membership. In other words, it gives you a chance to form an opinion about the girl you like without any financial risks.
If the woman you want to know better has poor English skills - international dating experts recommend giving preference to this service instead of, for example, chat. The reason is simple: this communication way gives enough time to formulate the thoughts without haste and avoid possible misunderstanding caused by the language barrier. In many cases, ladies get assistance with the translation of the letters by local representatives of marriage brokers (that also affects a mail order wife cost, after all).
Chat
This service is usually available only for those users who have paid membership. What is it about? Chat is something like a virtual room, where two people can have a dialogue in real-time. The whole idea of it is giving a man and woman a feeling that they are sitting next to each other, notwithstanding the fact they currently are in different countries. Generally, choosing this communication way, you will be charged for each minute of an active chat session. For this reason, it would be wise to use it only with the ladies who have good English skills because they can write the messages faster and don’t need online translators.
Phone and video calls
Services such as phone and video calls on international matchmaking platforms often serve as officially allowed ways of exchanging contact information between its members. Of course, due to this reason, it couldn’t be provided for free.
On the other hand, you can order a call only because you want to see some of the site beauties on video or just hear their voices. As usual, such a conversation lasts around 30 minutes. The translation during the whole time, if necessary, is carried out by the agency managers.
Gift delivery
You probably know how it feels when you want to do something nice for your beloved one, but she is too far away, and you really have no idea what needs to be done. In addition, you don’t speak her language and therefore can’t use the local deliverymen. Or you just don’t have your woman’s home address yet - that’s possible too. For this purpose, international marriage brokers have created their own delivery services that operate only with their members.
Moreover, as a foreign man, you can’t be aware of all traditions related to presents of the country your girlfriend comes from. For example, ordering shoes for a Chinese girl is a horrible idea since this word sounds like ‘evil’ in her language. Just like for Colombian females - lilies, marigolds, and all yellow flowers are associated with funerals. Still, you shan’t fall into despair: managers of matchmaking platforms will be glad to help.
Another typical advantage of using such a service would be a free photo confirmation of delivery. However, the gift price might be a little bit higher than a normal one.
Offline meetings
After a certain time of online communication, everyone reaches a point when the next essential step in relationships should be made. Here we mean offline meetings, of course. Don’t limit yourself to seeing only one girl in real life. A marriage agency you are registered to can provide assistance in this matter too. What exactly could they do for you, then?
- Trip preparation (solving visa issues, flight tickets reservation, booking a suitable hotel or apartment);
- During the trip package (transfer from and back to the airport, driver/interpreter/English-speaking guide services, restaurant reservations, tickets for cultural events, detailed information about the city, and etc.)
They also arrange meetings with the ladies you like. If necessary, the local site representative might be present on all dates you will have, or only during the first one.
Travel expenses may vary depending on your preference about accommodation, flight tickets category, and so on.
Bringing a bride to your country
Once you have met your special one online, sooner or later, after a few offline meetings arise the question: how can you two live together and never say goodbye?
If your feelings are mutual and your intentions are serious, getting married would be the best possible way to live happily ever after. The ceremony could take place in your homeland, in her country, or in a third-place such as Denmark or Hong Kong. Of course, it affects the final Chinese/Colombian/Russian mail order wife price. Since we don’t know where exactly you live, below will be provided general rules of getting married to a foreign woman in a Western country.
Go to the registry office
In your local registry office, ask for the list of documents that are required for the marriage with a lady from another country. If your bride-to-be is currently abroad, you might need a power of attorney to act on her behalf. The cost of it varies greatly.
Do a paperwork
At this point, you need to collect all required by the registry office documents. Which papers you actually must give depend on numerous factors. Do any of you already have kids from previous relationships? Have you or your beloved one already been divorced? Was your girl born in the country which nationality she now holds? And this is hardly a complete list of questions lawyers will ask you.
However, there are some papers you two will need for sure: your and your lady’s passports, birth certificates, certificates of marital status for both of you. All documents should be translated into English, with apostille legalization made by a state-approved translator. That also costs a pretty penny.
As soon as all documents have been submitted and reviewed, the registry office will let you know that your future wife can apply for a fiance visa.
Get the visa
From your side, you need to go to the local immigration office. Once again, they will give you a list of papers that need to be given by you and approved by them. The most important one is the declaration that provides information about your total annual income (enough for you and your future wife).
Visa application at the embassy or consulate of your country also requires time and money. Among other documents, your woman might need a recognized international English-language certificate. Still, for more information, it would be wise to contact the diplomatic mission directly.
Civil marriage
Sure, we understand your desire to perform the ceremony in a church - but for a legally binding marriage, the formalities in the registration office are crucial. Without this part, your wife, unfortunately, can’t apply for permanent resident status. Together with it, she can finally get all the same rights as a citizen of your country, except the right to vote.
How much does a foreign bride cost?
Okay, it was just a piece of general information. How about more concrete facts about mail order wives from the most popular among Western men lands?
How much does a Thai bride cost?
Experience has shown that Thai dating platforms usually operate on a service packages basis. Foreign men usually pay some specific amount of money to purchase a monthly subscription. A Basic-package, for example, might cost around $100 per month. While for the Diamond one, with unlimited communication time, your credit card will be charged $250 every four weeks.
Further services of such agencies normally include:
Dating trips to ThailandOn average, the price for a flight, middle-class hotel for 5 nights, driver services for 5 days would be around $1300 (depending on the hotel category, travel time, and so on).
Visa servicesComplete support in obtaining all required documents for a fiance visa, together with the guidance on the embassy interview, costs about $800.
Sin Sod clarifyingSin Sod - dowry, simply said; a sum of money or valuable things a groom needs to pay to his new parents-in-law on the wedding day. The actual amount has to be called by your future wife’s parents. No panic: it is always a purely symbolic ritual - you won’t have to sell a car to pay for your bride.
So, what does it make altogether?
18 month of communication * $100 + $1300 for the trip + $800 for visa services + $20 for Sin Sod = $3920 (price of the Thai mail order bride).
How much does a Russian wife cost?
Russian matchmaking platforms, in most cases, operate through their own currencies, also known as credits/coins/badges/etc. These virtual units can be bought for real money. But here, in contrast to Thai agencies, men purchase services, not monthly subscriptions. In other words, how often and how many credits you buy is totally up to you since the full cost control is in your hands. Still, the more quantity you buy, the better prices you get. For example, a mini-package of 10 coins might cost $20 while a premium package of 200 coins - only $100. As you can see, the price advantage is significant.
The basic membership of such websites allows its users to try certain services that are free of charge.
Of course, there are services with the additional cost such as:
- Contact information exchange (through gift delivery, phone translation, or video conference services). On average, the price of each one is about $150.
- Trip to Russia (includes visa assistance, flight tickets, accommodation, and all associated costs for 7 days) - around $2000.
- Bringing to your country (obtaining a fiance visa and simple civil marriage ceremony) - $1000.
So, what does it make altogether?
18 month of communication * $100 + $150 contacts exchange + $2000 trip to Russia + $1000 for paper-work and marriage = $4950 (Russian mail order bride cost).
How much does a Ukrainian bride cost?
Ukrainians are similar to Russians not only by cultural traditions but also in the way how international dating agencies work. That is to say, the Russian mail order wife cost is almost the same as Ukrainian one.
There are only a few of the differences between them. Western men don’t need to apply for a visa to travel to Ukraine. This nuance generally saves at least $100 of visa fee. On the other hand, many low-cost air operators carry their services through Kyiv. It means the flight tickets might also be far cheaper.
So, what does it make altogether?
$4950 Russian bride price - $100 visa fee - $100 flight tickets = $4750 (Ukrainian mail order bride price).
How much does a Chinese bride cost?
All trustworthy Chinese marriage brokers require buying a paid premium membership in order to enjoy the full range of their services. The prices differ depending on the length of the subscription you choose. For example, a weekly membership fee might cost you about $100, although the three months - something like $200.
Travel expenses in regard to China would be around $1200.
However, the wedding ceremony with such a lady would cost you an arm and a leg. No matter which one (traditional or modern) you choose - the great number of guests, a fancy restaurant, a designer dress cannot be cheap. Due to this fact, it’s hard to say what it makes altogether. Still, the minimum amount won’t be less than $5000.
How much does a Colombian mail order bride cost?
If you really want to find yourself a future wife in Colombia, the only option you have would be buying a paid membership on a dating platform. Since Colombian ladies are very talkative, experts advise purchasing a tariff with the biggest volume of chat minutes. The final pricing, though, will not be too expensive.
Generally, such a subscription costs about $150 a month. At the same time, a 3-month membership often gives a 30% discount, just like the whole year of using these services becomes the cheapest option. Still, it all depends on the site administration.
Travel cost, compared to Asian or Slavic brides, is also a bit lower here - only around $900. The wedding ceremony won’t be high-priced because Colombians don’t need parties of special magnificence to celebrate their love.
So, what does it make altogether?
18 month of communication * $150 + $900 = $3600 (Colombian mail order wife cost).
How much does a mail-order bride from Brazil cost?
In spite of the fact that the standard of living in Brazil is much higher than in Colombia, the prices for mail order brides from these Latin American countries are almost identical.
As usual, a Western man spends about $3500-$4500 to bring a Brazilian wife to the country he lives in.
Mail dating FAQ
How successful are marriages between Western men and foreign mail-order brides?
According to statistics, more than 80% of couples who found love through international dating agencies have carried their feelings over the years. In contrast, the average divorce rate among US couples is more than 50%.
Should I give my bride only expensive gifts?
No, it’s just a myth. No matter where your woman comes from, a small gift such as a nice bouquet of flowers or a chocolate box will surely make her smile. A bottle of sparkling wine would be more than enough to let your beloved one know - she is always on your mind. Of course, if you are ready to spend some more money, a wellness day in SPA as a gift will make an unforgettable impression. Still, it’s not necessary if you can’t afford such presents.
Are mail-order brides legal?
Yes, absolutely. As you already know, mail-order brides can’t actually be ordered through the Internet, like a new laptop. International marriage brokers don’t sell ladies - they just give singles from different parts of the world an opportunity to get acquainted, fall in love, and get married. There is nothing illegal in the whole process.
Is online dating more expensive than real-life one?
No, quite the opposite, in fact. Experts have proven that the final mail-order bride price is significantly cheaper than the real-life one. Since the full costing comparison was already provided in this article, we don’t see the point of going through all these numbers once again. However, it’s essential to notice that the price difference is more than threefold (in favor of online matchmaking, of course).
Is spending thousands of dollars on mail-order brides worth it?
Well, that’s a very tricky question. You need to sort yourself out first and decide: are you ready to settle down and create your own family? If the answer is yes - then every cent you spend on mail-order brides worth it. If, on the contrary, you just want to have some online fun with foreign ladies - better use other, free dating platforms or even social networks. In this case, buying a marriage agency membership would simply be throwing money away.