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| Hi! Welcome to the Foreign Bride 101 blog! Here, I will share a few ideas, expand on a few questions I've been asked recently around the foreign bride search, and offer the most candid, relevant advice and information I have for nice guys like you! Enjoy your read - and check back weekly for more! |
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| Read Previous 2009 - 10 Bog Entries Below! Here are a few blog postings from last year you may enjoy! I'll keep archiving 2010 articles here as well! |
January 18th, 2010
Can A Foreign Girl Ever Come Here To Visit Me?
First entry of 2010…hopefully, the first of many. 2009’s blogs are gone for now, some of
which will end up in the 2010 version of my book. These pages will focus on new themes for
2010. So, just like last year, I will post a new blog of substance each week and archive each
previous week’s entry at the bottom of this page for you to read anytime. IF YOU HAVE
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS YOU WOULD LIKE TO OFFER FOR THIS PAGE, PLEASE FEEL
FREE TO SEND THEM TO ME AT bud@foreignbride101.com. Barring something really
unsettling, I’ll be happy to post them!
In my never ending attempt to prevent you, dear reader, from getting scammed in your
search for a foreign life-mate – I will focus on a question in my inbox from a recent purchaser
of my book:
“Bud, this is Mike from Colorado. I read your book recently and enjoyed it very much! My
question is this. I read you chapter on scams and I understand that most ladies in Russia or
Ukraine who try to get a tourist visa are denied. But what if a girl already has a work visa? Is
it still possible she would come to America to visit me, thus saving me from having to go
there? The reason I ask is this: I have met a lady from Volgograd who has worked as an
international translator before and says she already has a work visa that would allow her to
come to America anytime she wants to find work. If this is true, is there any reason I
couldn’t arrange to meet her on an upcoming trip?”
Thanks, Mike, for an excellent question! Let’s dig a little deeper to uncover any possible red
flags!
So, Mike is asking about the legitimate intentions of a Russian lady whom he has been
corresponding with, in this case for about a few weeks. As is always the case, steady
correspondence leads to intentions to meet and she has suggested SHE come to HIM, rather
than the other way around. This happens from time to time, catching most guys off guard
who had previously figured the burden for arranging travel in order to meet was on them.
Can a foreign lady actual travel to America first – and if so – under what circumstances? The
focus question here maybe isn’t CAN she – but WOULD she?
The scenario described above – where a foreign girl claims to have access to a tourist or
work visa to the states and therefore wants to be the first to travel for a meeting – can be
legit. But it more likely is a set-up for a money scam. One thing is for sure – scammers are on
their game and sucking some guys into one is getting easier every year. Let’s look at both
possibilities.
What if this is not a scam? To understand this situation’s scam potential one has to have a
working knowledge of how visas are issued – and who gets them. First, my friend is right
that few single ladies who apply for tourist visas in Russia or Ukraine get them. Some do.
Many do not. The reasons are simple. If a young, attractive, single lady comes to America –
what reason does she have to return to her native country? What are the odds she doesn’t
overstay her visa and ultimately wind up living the life of an alien without status? The
burden of proof that she has every reason to return to Ukraine/Russia is on her and many
simply fail to convince the Consulate official conducting the visa interview. Foreign ladies,
however, with relatives living legally in America are more likely to be granted a tourist visa.
So someone whose sister, daughter, mother are already here would probably have a
legitimate visa and already developed plans to come for a visit. In this case you should try to
verify as much of her story as possible before committing to any expense involved in
arranging a meeting.
Work visas are a different story. No one applies for – and receives – a generic work visa that
would allow someone entry to America sight unseen without a previously arranged job in
the works. Someone who claims to have such a visa is definitely scamming you. Work visas
are sponsored by specific employers who petition the USCIS for one to fill a specific job
vacancy that cannot otherwise be met by the available labor pool. For example, ABC
Company may apply for a work visa for Olga the computer programmer, if no programmers
specializing in a given language are available locally. No one gets a work visa without a
company sponsor and a prearranged position waiting for them when they get here. Any girl
claiming to the contrary is to be avoided. But if a girl has a legitimate work visa and wants to
meet you in the states during the 2 year visa period that could be a perfectly real request.
Keep in mind that only the US Embassy in her country can issue a visa. Any girl’s claim to
have access to a visa through an acquaintance or travel agency is completely false. So,
again, if the girl has relatives in the states or if she can verify pending employment then her
claims to having a visa could be valid. In this case you might be successful in arranging some
kind of a stateside rendezvous.
What if this is a scam? The other side of the coin is simply this. If she asks you for money to
arrange any part of the visit – even by showing you a copy of her visa – do not follow
through. This is a scam. If you can arrange a stateside meeting without having to give her
money then do it. If not, take a pass. One could argue that no girl in her right mind would
travel half way around the world to meet a perfect stranger without some level of support
here in the states – family, friends, employer, etc to help her in case of emergency. In 9
years of the foreign bride biz I have never seen a girl do this. Promises to come and meet
you will likely be followed up with a request for travel money. In other words, she can get
the visa but does not have the money for airfare. If you buy the airfare, she promises, she’ll
buy the ticket and be on her way to your bedroom by Friday. Once you send the money she’
ll completely disappear. This happens to guys all the time. Be very skeptical of any foreign
lady promising to carry out this kind of scenario. “But Bud,” you’ll say, “She scanned her
visa and sent it to my email so I would know she was serious. What about that?” Well, keep
in mind that in Russia and Ukraine forgery is alive and well thanks to a black market demand
for such services. Someone can pay a print shop clerk under the counter to Photo Shop a
visa document, producing a pretty convincing facsimile. Ask yourself this logical question:
Why would any foreign girl spend the money to apply for a visa if she couldn’t afford the
subsequent travel expenses? And the answer would be – well, she wouldn’t! Previous
travel as an international assistant or translator would have had to have been employer
sponsored as well – so be sure to verify a current sponsor before trusting her request to
meet in the states.
Your best practice would be to resolve from the beginning that you are going to have to get
on that plane and go meet someone. Don’t fret about it too much – you’ll love Russia,
Ukraine, Colombia, Davao City – wherever you go! Romance tours and solo romance travel
can be life-defining! Besides, you’ll never truly understand your fiancée’s reasons for being
in the search unless you experience her world for yourself. You’ll have a blast and make a
lifetime of memories together. Hope this will clarify things for you, Mike! Thanks again for
volunteering your question for the blog!
Guys - the next blog will be on a topic very near to my heart! What tragedy has affected more
than a half million young women from Ukraine this past decade? Stay tuned...
Can A Foreign Girl Ever Come Here To Visit Me?
First entry of 2010…hopefully, the first of many. 2009’s blogs are gone for now, some of
which will end up in the 2010 version of my book. These pages will focus on new themes for
2010. So, just like last year, I will post a new blog of substance each week and archive each
previous week’s entry at the bottom of this page for you to read anytime. IF YOU HAVE
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS YOU WOULD LIKE TO OFFER FOR THIS PAGE, PLEASE FEEL
FREE TO SEND THEM TO ME AT bud@foreignbride101.com. Barring something really
unsettling, I’ll be happy to post them!
In my never ending attempt to prevent you, dear reader, from getting scammed in your
search for a foreign life-mate – I will focus on a question in my inbox from a recent purchaser
of my book:
“Bud, this is Mike from Colorado. I read your book recently and enjoyed it very much! My
question is this. I read you chapter on scams and I understand that most ladies in Russia or
Ukraine who try to get a tourist visa are denied. But what if a girl already has a work visa? Is
it still possible she would come to America to visit me, thus saving me from having to go
there? The reason I ask is this: I have met a lady from Volgograd who has worked as an
international translator before and says she already has a work visa that would allow her to
come to America anytime she wants to find work. If this is true, is there any reason I
couldn’t arrange to meet her on an upcoming trip?”
Thanks, Mike, for an excellent question! Let’s dig a little deeper to uncover any possible red
flags!
So, Mike is asking about the legitimate intentions of a Russian lady whom he has been
corresponding with, in this case for about a few weeks. As is always the case, steady
correspondence leads to intentions to meet and she has suggested SHE come to HIM, rather
than the other way around. This happens from time to time, catching most guys off guard
who had previously figured the burden for arranging travel in order to meet was on them.
Can a foreign lady actual travel to America first – and if so – under what circumstances? The
focus question here maybe isn’t CAN she – but WOULD she?
The scenario described above – where a foreign girl claims to have access to a tourist or
work visa to the states and therefore wants to be the first to travel for a meeting – can be
legit. But it more likely is a set-up for a money scam. One thing is for sure – scammers are on
their game and sucking some guys into one is getting easier every year. Let’s look at both
possibilities.
What if this is not a scam? To understand this situation’s scam potential one has to have a
working knowledge of how visas are issued – and who gets them. First, my friend is right
that few single ladies who apply for tourist visas in Russia or Ukraine get them. Some do.
Many do not. The reasons are simple. If a young, attractive, single lady comes to America –
what reason does she have to return to her native country? What are the odds she doesn’t
overstay her visa and ultimately wind up living the life of an alien without status? The
burden of proof that she has every reason to return to Ukraine/Russia is on her and many
simply fail to convince the Consulate official conducting the visa interview. Foreign ladies,
however, with relatives living legally in America are more likely to be granted a tourist visa.
So someone whose sister, daughter, mother are already here would probably have a
legitimate visa and already developed plans to come for a visit. In this case you should try to
verify as much of her story as possible before committing to any expense involved in
arranging a meeting.
Work visas are a different story. No one applies for – and receives – a generic work visa that
would allow someone entry to America sight unseen without a previously arranged job in
the works. Someone who claims to have such a visa is definitely scamming you. Work visas
are sponsored by specific employers who petition the USCIS for one to fill a specific job
vacancy that cannot otherwise be met by the available labor pool. For example, ABC
Company may apply for a work visa for Olga the computer programmer, if no programmers
specializing in a given language are available locally. No one gets a work visa without a
company sponsor and a prearranged position waiting for them when they get here. Any girl
claiming to the contrary is to be avoided. But if a girl has a legitimate work visa and wants to
meet you in the states during the 2 year visa period that could be a perfectly real request.
Keep in mind that only the US Embassy in her country can issue a visa. Any girl’s claim to
have access to a visa through an acquaintance or travel agency is completely false. So,
again, if the girl has relatives in the states or if she can verify pending employment then her
claims to having a visa could be valid. In this case you might be successful in arranging some
kind of a stateside rendezvous.
What if this is a scam? The other side of the coin is simply this. If she asks you for money to
arrange any part of the visit – even by showing you a copy of her visa – do not follow
through. This is a scam. If you can arrange a stateside meeting without having to give her
money then do it. If not, take a pass. One could argue that no girl in her right mind would
travel half way around the world to meet a perfect stranger without some level of support
here in the states – family, friends, employer, etc to help her in case of emergency. In 9
years of the foreign bride biz I have never seen a girl do this. Promises to come and meet
you will likely be followed up with a request for travel money. In other words, she can get
the visa but does not have the money for airfare. If you buy the airfare, she promises, she’ll
buy the ticket and be on her way to your bedroom by Friday. Once you send the money she’
ll completely disappear. This happens to guys all the time. Be very skeptical of any foreign
lady promising to carry out this kind of scenario. “But Bud,” you’ll say, “She scanned her
visa and sent it to my email so I would know she was serious. What about that?” Well, keep
in mind that in Russia and Ukraine forgery is alive and well thanks to a black market demand
for such services. Someone can pay a print shop clerk under the counter to Photo Shop a
visa document, producing a pretty convincing facsimile. Ask yourself this logical question:
Why would any foreign girl spend the money to apply for a visa if she couldn’t afford the
subsequent travel expenses? And the answer would be – well, she wouldn’t! Previous
travel as an international assistant or translator would have had to have been employer
sponsored as well – so be sure to verify a current sponsor before trusting her request to
meet in the states.
Your best practice would be to resolve from the beginning that you are going to have to get
on that plane and go meet someone. Don’t fret about it too much – you’ll love Russia,
Ukraine, Colombia, Davao City – wherever you go! Romance tours and solo romance travel
can be life-defining! Besides, you’ll never truly understand your fiancée’s reasons for being
in the search unless you experience her world for yourself. You’ll have a blast and make a
lifetime of memories together. Hope this will clarify things for you, Mike! Thanks again for
volunteering your question for the blog!
Guys - the next blog will be on a topic very near to my heart! What tragedy has affected more
than a half million young women from Ukraine this past decade? Stay tuned...