Do Mail Order Marriages Still Exist? Trends & Insights

Mail-order brides are still a thing. The US issued nearly 20K fiance visas to foreign women in 2023. And it’s very likely most of those girls met their husbands online, making them mail-order brides, even if the term is dated and doesn’t fit the realities of modern international dating.

To set things straight, let’s explore the mail-order bride concept, starting with the basic questions. Do mail-order marriages still exist, and who are these women?

What is a mail-order bride?

A mail-order bride is a woman who uses mail to find a husband abroad. In other words, a woman advertises her eligible bride status by mail. In the early days of American colonies, mail-order brides used newspapers and mail to find husbands.

In the 21st century, singles interested in international dating rely on social media, dating apps, and niche platforms designed for serious relationships and marriage. The outdated term is often confusing. Some people believe they can order a bride by mail, like a new coffeemaker. Others consider mail-order brides scammers, gold diggers, or sex workers. None of the above is true for modern-day mail-order brides.

Do mail-order marriages still exist?

Mail-order marriages still exist, just as they did throughout American history.

You don’t have to take our word for it. Let’s look at hard facts to make sure:

Intermarriage is at an all-time high in the US. In 2015, marriages with partners from different ethnic backgrounds accounted for 17% of newlywed couples and 10% of all married couples. Hispanics and Asians lead the charge on intermarriage, but black and white Americans are also getting more comfortable with interracial unions. Of course, these numbers don’t equal the number of mail-order marriages, but the trend is too obvious to ignore.

Mixed marriages are also rising in Europe. Around 500,000 Europeans marry foreigners yearly, and the numbers are growing steadily. Some of these trends are due to the freedom of movement between European countries, but an influx of immigrants can also account for the rise in mixed marriages.
Thousands of foreign women come to the US to marry Americans. In 2023, the US issued 19,825 K-1 fiance visas to women all over the world. Under the terms of the fiance visas, they had to marry their partners within 90 days of coming to the

States. Many of these ladies are likely mail-order brides who met their new husbands online.

So, do mail-order marriages still exist? They do, and they aren’t going away anytime soon. In fact, if these trends persist, we may see a significant increase in the number of mail-order brides.

Popular mail-order bride websites

Are you excited to meet foreign girls and make one of them fall in love with you? If so, mail-order bride websites are great for beginning your search. Check out these tried-and-true platforms:

SofiaDate
SakuraDate
LatiDate

Is it legal to buy a mail-order bride?

You cannot buy a mail-order bride. There are no online shops with bride catalogs and next-day delivery. But there are international dating sites, and you can legally marry a foreign bride you meet online.

Foreign women can marry Americans in the States or their home countries. In either case, you need to follow local marriage laws. For example, you can only get married in China if your Chinese bride is over 20, and in Afghanistan, you need to be Muslim to marry a local woman.

To marry your bride on American soil, you’ll need to go through the K-1 visa application process. It starts with a petition for an alien fiance, complete with evidence of your relationship. Next comes the actual visa application and the wedding. After that, your wife can apply for an adjustment of status and secure her employment permit.

What motivates women to become mail-order brides?

First, let’s agree that individual motivations have nothing to do with the mail-order bride’s ethnicity. At the same time, typical factors driving women to seek international relationships online often reflect the local economic and political landscape.

Here are a few common examples:

Ukrainian women are still fleeing from the Russian aggression and seeking safe harbor in the US or the EU. For many, it’s also a chance to gain financial security, which is the driving factor for most Slavic women.
Colombian, Brazilian, and Mexican women, along with other Latinas, also look for safety. For them, machismo and domestic abuse often come hand-in-hand, and American men seem like better (and safer) partners.
Japanese brides come from a successful country, so they mostly look for better husbands and fathers. Local men tend to work too much and spend too little time with their families.
Chinese brides are also often disappointed with local men, who are awkward and inexperienced when it comes to relationships. So, ambitious Chinese girls look for successful Western partners to further their opportunities.
German, British, and Scandinavian mail-order brides are uncommon. Most girls from successful Western countries typically come to the US to study or work. If they decide to date and marry Americans, they don’t need to rely on fiance visas.

Love, care, and affection are deciding factors for most mail-order brides. While men worry about getting scammed by gold diggers, women put their lives and happiness on the line. Common interests and mutual respect are critical for successful relationships, and they often outweigh any other motivations for becoming mail-order brides.

Most popular mail-order bride countries

According to the number of K-1 visas issued in 2023, the most popular mail-order brides come from:

The Philippines

Mexico

Colombia

Dominican Republic

Brazil

The Philippines. Filipinas have always been among the most sought-after Asian brides. They are gorgeous, conservative, and devoted. Marriage is a forever kind of thing for Filipinas since divorce is illegal in the Philippines.
Mexico. Despite the border tensions, Mexican women are the most popular among Latin mail-order brides. Like most Latinas, they are proud, passionate, and affectionate. Mexico’s location right across the border is another point in their favor, as it makes relationships easier (and more affordable).
Colombia. Despite stereotypes, Colombia isn’t just about coffee and drugs. Local women are known for their beauty, loyalty, and caring nature. They love big families and don’t shy away from hard work and tough going.
Dominican Republic. It’s not just a popular vacation destination but also a place of passionate women who make excellent wives for American guys. Dominicans appreciate the broadened opportunities that a move to the US awards them.
Brazil. Brazilian women have the reputation of the most gorgeous among Latin brides, and not just because of the Rio Carnival. Besides, they stand out among Latinas as the only ones speaking Portuguese, not Spanish.

Although none of the European countries reached the top 5 in terms of the number of fiance visas issued, Slavic women remain popular among Americans, Ukrainian and Russian girls in particular.

Summing up

So, do mail-order brides still exist? They very much exist and remain pretty popular among American guys. International marriages are legal in most countries, including the Philippines, Mexico, and Colombia, responsible for the largest number of mail-order brides in the US. If you’re curious to learn more about the women who become mail-order brides, set up a dating profile and get chatting.