Today, the trend of “ordering” mail order brides is becoming increasingly popular. Thousands of marriages of foreigners and mail order brides are registered every year. But those who have never heard of this before want to know are mail order spouse illegal in US at all? So, in this article, we want to dispel all the myths and comprehensively answer the question of are mail order spouse legal in US.
Are mail order brides legal?
If you wonder are mail order spouses legal in USA, rest assured, they are completely legal. Women from Eastern Europe, South America, and Asia become mail order brides for different reasons. These girls register on specialized online dating sites, which are also legal. In most countries, there are no laws prohibiting becoming a mail order bride or having international marriages.
In this article, we will tell you all the aspects of this matter and prove that there is nothing illegal.
Are mail order brides sites legal?
To find out whether mail order brides are legal, we ensured that the services of specialized international dating platforms are offered in accordance with the laws of the majority of countries. Everyone above the age of 18 can join mail order bride websites and start interacting with individuals in order to make connections.
We have browsed several websites, examining their registration information, data protection policy, and official documents, and we have found sites where you can meet a potential mail order bride within the legal boundaries. This time, we have examined Sofiadate, Sakuradate, and Latidate platforms.
The platforms require verification for new members, run regular scam checks, and use encryption to protect users’ personal data. These websites have clear Terms and Conditions, Privacy Policy, and Refund Policy. You can learn where the company is registered, how the website operates and how it secures its members.
Who are mail order brides?
In the 20th, the term was applied to women from poor countries who listed themselves in catalogs and sought men in more developed countries to improve their lives.
Today, a mail order bride registers on an international dating site with the specific goal of finding a good man, not material possessions. These girls are of all ages, but mostly from 20 to 35+ years old. According to Boundless, in 2022, more than 21,000 K-1 visas have been issued. Mail order brides from Ukraine, Mexico, the Philippines, and Thailand are the most active in finding husbands from abroad.
What is a mail order spouse?
Mail order spouse and mail order bride are inherently interchangeable terms, with the only difference being that “spouse” refers to an individual regardless of gender.
While mail order spouses are most commonly women, the concept does not exclude men.
Mail Order Brides Laws & Regulations
Many men want to know are mail order brides legal in the US and are there rules and laws regarding it? Well, laws concerning mail order brides industry vary significantly in all countries. People often confuse this with human trafficking without understanding how it works. But we live in a civilized modern world, and many attitudes from the past are no longer relevant. Therefore, we want to discuss the key aspects and laws related to mail order bride legality.
What is IMBRA & Key Aspects
The question of is mail order bride legal is, of course, important, but what about men? Are they checked somehow? Yes, they are! IMBRA, or the International Marriage Mediation Regulation Act, was issued in 2005 to protect mail order brides and prevent domestic violence. The American Consulate’s website warns of the need to comply with IMBRA. The IMBRA form needs to be filled out not only by Americans who want to marry mail order brides, but also by the girls themselves (I-129F form).
If the couple gets into a serious relationship, the IMBRA form will be useful for applying for a K-1 visa. There, US citizens report their criminal history. International marriage agencies check this data against the registry of offenders. If the applicant has a criminal record of violence or sexual offenses, he will be removed from the agency’s database and denied a K-1 visa.
Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)
The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) protects victims of domestic violence. Even undocumented women (illegal citizens) can file an I-360 petition. That is, if the bride’s status has already expired and the husband doesn’t want her to apply for a green card, takes away her passport, manipulates, and threatens with deportation — she can still get a residence permit in the United States. The main thing is that the spouses have an officially concluded marriage and the husband has US citizenship or a green card.
Immigration and Nationality Act (INA)
The Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) is the main US law governing people’s entry from other countries. It was created in 1952 under U.S. Code, Title 8, (U.S.C.) to regulate who and how can come to America for a short period or permanent residence. The INA consolidated all immigration rules that previously existed. Now it is one of the main documents that define the laws and regulations for mail order brides legal immigration to the United States.
The Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act (IIRIRA)
IIRIRA gives federal authorities more power to control immigration. Are mail order spouse illegal in this case? No, the law just criminalizes falsifying immigration-related documents, improving border control. It also strengthens internal controls among agencies that monitor visas and creates procedures for deporting undocumented aliens at the US borders. The law requires those seeking asylum to apply within a year of entering the country.
The Marriage Fraud Amendments
IMFA is an anti-foreign marriage fraud law to prevent fictitious marriages for getting green cards. Is it legal to marry a mail order a bride this way? No! But many mail order brides seeking legalization choose this risky path. A simple scheme involves paying money to “husbands” promising integrity, but it is often unreliable. The legalization procedure in the United States is complex, and American husbands often extort money by threatening to disrupt an interview or file a complaint.
Family Violence Protection and Services Act
FVPSA was created in 1984 and is administered by the US Department of Health and Human Services. It helps mail order brides experiencing domestic violence. This legislation provides emergency shelters where women can find protection, crisis hotlines, counseling, and programs for the underserved in various areas of the United States.
K-1 Visa Requirements
Now you know the answer to the are mail order brides legal question. It is positive. So, the next step is to get a K-1 visa.
Requirements:
- Consent of a US citizen to marry under the mail-order bride law of his state
- Personal meetings with a woman over the past two years
- Financial support from a US citizen for a foreign spouse
- Absence of criminal convictions or immigration violations from the part of a mail order bride
Read more: VISA FOR MAIL ORDER BRIDE: ALL THE NUANCES OF OBTAINING IT
Are mail order spouses human trafficking?
Before talking about modern mail order brides moving to the United States or other Western countries, we must first understand whether it is legal. This industry may look like human trafficking to those unfamiliar with its specifics. In human trafficking, a person is exploited for the purpose of profit. In this case, force, deception, and coercion are used.
The modern mail order bride industry is entirely different. A man still pays for “ordering” a bride, but this matter is quite nuanced. This is not a purchase of a person, but a payment for online communication and dates. Moreover, women are not under any influence, and all decisions they make, from registering on a site to meeting someone in real life, are made independently and voluntarily. You can read this Medium article to understand what the so-called “mail order price” is. Mail order brides are legal today. In addition, the safety of foreign brides is regulated by several important laws such as IMBRA and VAWA.
How to Get a Mail Order Bride in a Legal way
One of the common ways to find a wife is via mail order bride legal sites. Once you’ve decided which platforms you want to try, the process of searching for a partner will be standard. Consider the following tips before committing to any platform.
- Find a legal mail order bride website: it should have the correct domain name, be a registered company with clear terms and conditions and privacy policy. Additionally, we recommend checking the website’s traffic on Similarweb or another similar platform.
- Become a member and check its security: a legal website will take extra measures to validate user identity, enable 2-factor authentication, encrypt data processing, and protect information from third parties.
- Never pay money to anyone who promises to get you a wife: legal mail order bride sites provide official services. They don’t charge money for women or personalized matchmaking. These platforms offer solutions that can help people find potential matches more efficiently.
- Ensure that you speak with a real woman: you can encounter scammers even on the most reputable mail order bride platform. Be cautious when starting a communication with any member of the site. Do not rush the relationship, avoid sharing any personal information or transferring money. Additionally, run reverse image search and browse social media.
Finding a partner online in a legal way is possible. One of the common questions like ‘are mail order spouses legal?’ may still arise, but just like with regular online dating, such activities are not prohibited in most countries. As long as you are using legitimate, officially registered services, you can rest assured that you’re not involved in anything illegal.
Final thoughts
From the above, I can conclude that mail order brides are legal and protected by laws. To bring a bride to your country and get married, you need to prepare the necessary documents and provide evidence that your relationship is real. I also advise you to choose only reliable online dating agencies. This way, you will protect yourself and meet real mail order brides.
