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Working class American men have a long history of looking to so-called mail order brides to provide wives for rural areas, mining camps, soldiers, and factory labor. Times have changed.
Russian mail order wives are now a step up or marrying up for many of the best educated and wealthiest of Americans. The Internet has simplified the process of finding a woman who is younger, taller, prettier, smarter, sexier, and better-educated than you can attract at home.
The Internet lets anyone search through hundreds of thousands of potential mates in seconds - no matter where she is in the world.
While I believe this is the golden age of email order brides - and not a way for nerdy or cruel men to exploit impoverished or submissive women - I believe the window will be closing within 5 to 10 years.
Here's why:
1. Oil
Governments hide the ball when it comes to oil reserves, peak oil, and future prices for gasoline, we don't know how high costs will go.
Electricity can be generated for your home or electric car from solar, wind, or geothermal sources, but jets need aviation fuel. Lots of it.
If oil prices triple or more, which is a distinct possibility, international travel will become prohibitively expensive for the average man.
Travel now.
2. IMBRA
The International Marriage Broker Regulation Act of 2005 (IMBRA) requires background checks on American men looking to file immigrant or fiancee visa petitions for foreign women if they met through a marriage agency.
An International Marriage Broker (IMB) is an entity - U.S. or foreign based - that provides matchmaking or social referrals between U.S. citizens/permanent residents and foreign nationals for a fee.
Passed in the wake of the Anastasia King murder allegedly to protect foreign brides, all it really does is take away privacy, free speech, and freedom from American men.
IMBs must:
- search U.S. sex offender public registries for information on the U.S. clients
- collect criminal and marital background information on American client
- provide this information to the foreign woman in her native language
- provide foreign clients with a government produced pamphlet detailing her legal rights in the U.S.
- obtain the foreign client's signed consent to release her personal information to the U.S. client
- limit of 2 fiance(e) visa petitions with at least 2 years between filings
All of these restrictions apply to IMB arranged matches, so there are many ways around the law. Just don't think this will be the last piece of insane legislation to restrict freedom of American citizens.
Anastasia King is not the only bride to fall victim to an abusive and sinister husband. If this is so important for foreign brides, why not make a law that applies to all women?
Simple. Americans would not stand for it at home.
It's easy to pick on groups with no power. And there is that pesky Constitution (what's left of it).
Good intentions make bad law. IMBRA is a poster child for unnecessary and flawed regulations.
If gay marriage becomes law and opens same-sex spouses to immigration benefits, you can expect Congress to make it exceptionally difficult for anyone to bring a spouse home.
Find your Russian, Chinese, Filipina, or Brazilian mail order wife before it becomes an impossible ordeal.
3. American Men Still a Catch
For many foreign women, American husbands are still considered a good catch and a favorable match. Go figure.
I'm not sure if I am flattered or frightened.
Many foreign women view American men as better husband material, and not just on a financial level. Hollywood movies showing women's equality in marriage and relationships have no doubt contributed to the perceptions.
After a couple of divorces, I have become more jaded regarding marriage. Instead of falling into a relationship, why not search for exactly what you want without local fix-ups or sorting through women in bars.
My recommendations:
For younger men, women from Russia, the Ukraine, and the former Soviet Republics, Russian women are the sexiest and most stunning females on the planet.
Go for it. Don't apologize or settle. You will discover so many who are the right age, well-educated, and whose looks blow you away.
Caveat - watch the age spreads. For Russian women, 10 to 15 years younger will work fine. A larger age difference could be risky.
For older or more traditional men, nothing beats the Philippines. Filipinas are the most religious, family oriented women I have ever lived among.
Age differences are less of an issue. A Filipina will stay married as long as she can. While a Vice-Consul in Manila, I have approved visas for brides 50 years younger than their American husbands.
For men who get pensions or Social Security, I would consider living out my retirement in the Philippines with a young wife. Immigration goes both directions. And a "fixed income" in the P.I. is a beautiful thing.
Golden Age:
For American men, you are nearing the end of the golden age for marriage and family.
You will never have a higher position in the minds of many brides to be.
You will never be able to attract a more desirable wife or mother for your children.
You have never been more able to find and communicate with the right woman for you without all of the social and cultural boundaries of the past.
Before governments and busybodies once again interfere in the process of love, marriage, and family, grab your perfect mail order wife.
Dating, romance, and marriage have changed forever.
You can start your search for the perfect bride at Russian Mail Order Wife [http://joinfreeanastasia.info].
For a huge resource of U.S. and international dating sites, visit DatingDirectoryOnline - [http://datingdirectoryonline.com]
Charles Lamm is a former Vice-Consul in Seoul and Manila, retired immigration attorney, and writer now living in Florida.
