For years, International Marriage Services had to live with the stigma of being referred to as Mail Order Bride services. However, many consider the term "mail-order bride" derogatory and feel it demeans foreign women by comparing them to commodities for sale and falsely implying that (unlike local women), they exercise no judgment over the men they meet and would marry anyone from a relatively wealthy country. Even with the foreign women being labeled as mail order brides these companies have grown in popularity for the past two decades, largely due to the internet. The industry grew at such a fast pace it caught the attention of the US senator Maria Cantwell of Washington State, who in 2006 she pushed a bill through congress known as IMBRA or International Marriage Brokers Regulation Act. Although the intent of Senator Cantwell was clearly meant to put Foreign Bride Companies out of business by severely restricting how men communicate with foreign women. In the end, the companies flourished under the new regulations as these business quickly modified their business models.
Kenneth Agee, marketing Director for A Foreign Affair one of the largest so called Mail Order Bride Companies says, "We have always had to overcome this label. Since Trump announced his candidacy for president of the United States, the industry saw a significant increase in upscale business men looking for foreign brides. Once he became president, Trump made it the new status symbol of success to be married to an eastern European women. With First Lady Melanie Trump in the White House, opinions about foreign women have dramatically changed. Once men were scorned upon to be married to a women from Russian or the Ukraine, now is seen as prestigious. And we are seeing huge increase of men seeking foreign brides, our client base is up by more than 200% since Trump has taken office. This month alone we will be taking over 100 American men to the Ukraine, mostly very successful executives." Beside online matchmaking, the company arranges group tours for men that will travel to countries throughout the world. During these tours the men will meet hundreds of pre-screened women during what A Foreign Affair calls "Social Events" or what Kenneth calls speed dating on steroids.
Critics say these women are just used as arm trophies for business men in America. That men take advantage of the women's circumstances, both economical and geographical. Kenneth argues, "I would hardly say Melanie Trump has been taken advantage of or refer her to as a Mail Order Bride. Women choose just like the men choose, we are all adults and are responsible for our own choices. It is just that men in America have a good reputation for the way we treat women and how we take care of our families. This opens the door to the men to meet some of the most beautiful women in the world."
Trump is not the only high profile person to marry a foreign women, Jeb Bush met his wife in Mexico. Rupert Murdoch former CEO of Fox News married Wendi Deng from China, and the list goes on.
If Trump accomplishes nothing else during his presidency he has clearly helped one Industry.
AFA and A-web will advertise hundreds of prescreened women, but the men will be lucky to meet two or three dozen,,,, many that are NOT screened,,,, or at least, not thoroughly . I saw several of the girls WORKING nearby hotels,,, and these girls were not shy about their intentions for that night.
A more honest reason for any increased participation in foreign dating, is the fact that these countries are experiencing economic hard times, and western men are cashing in on the weak rubble and Hryvnia, and women wanting to move away from an all out war zone should Putin decide to take more of Ukraine.
1st, you can't compare Milena Trump to any of those AFA or foreign dating sites, she was already living/modeling in the USA.
2nd, regulations such as IMBRA could be bypassed. (Don't ask me how, top secret)))
3rd, married, dating or talking to a beautiful hot woman is like having a TROPHY and the envy of rest disproportionate people.
4th, you don't need to be a member of such questionable websites, no punt intended. Just booked a flight and a week one long vacation. If you had already stablished a connection that will be a plus.
5th, Most or all European nations have open borders or easy access for Europeans and North American travels, except Russia. Putin is restricting or stopping his people for moving out of his country, cause as you all know people are your #1 resource.
Last but not least, "what goes around comes around". If you're exploiting the situation don't come crying and saying that she was in for your money.
I think kaiserdag is on point on everything he said. By the way, atruelove13, who is "Melanie" Trump?? Also, to say that Trump has "clearly helped" International Marriage Services has no basis in fact. Finally, AFA is one of the biggest scam outfits on the internet. I daily receive 15-20 "letters" on AFA purportedly written just to me by women who are half or even just one third my age. I mean, who is kidding who? I am a "member" there just for the entertainment value. They don't make any money off me.
“I am a "member" there just for the entertainment value.’
I’ve done a few things,,,, just for the entertainment value too,,, but picked up the check for one or two of them. One time, it was supper at a nicer place in Sumy,, the girl, her brother and his date. When you get hugged by the brother,,, and not even a handshake from your date,,, it’s not a good sign. He thought it was so wonderful that I was to become his brother inlaw after only the second date.
His girlfriend was a skanky flea bitten thing, she kept hugging me too, and that made my skin crawl. The spectacle they put on was worth it,,, I still consider it the highlight of that trip.
Scorpio,,, how have you been?? Haven’t heard from you in a while.
Oh, lonelyranger1701, your story about Sumy is charming. Reminds me of the time I went to Kherson to meet a woman I met on this site. She represented on this site that her English level was "9". It turns out that it was "0." But all was not lost. It seems she had a girlfriend whose level was "9". So, the girlfriend moved into the flat with us. So there was a translator included. We all slept in separate rooms. But each morning for the next three days, the woman I had come to meet woke me up early out of a deep sleep...then came the translation: money was needed for the dentist, for "electricity" of all things, etc. I of course declined payment, and simply walked out, and hailed a taxi to Odessa where I had a very nice time. From there I flew to Italy for a two week pre-planned vacation. That was in 2013. I learned from it, though. I never go to Ukraine unless I am also going to Europe as well. Or, more accurately, I go to Europe and plan a side-trip to Ukraine.
Hi Scorpio,,, I’ve been better,,, by far. I spent 4 months 5 days in the hospital this year. One doctor said I wasn’t expected to live, and it all started with a bulged disc. I was actually planning to go to Ukraine this last Jan-Feb,,,, but now it might just go on the bucket list.
If surgery this winter goes well, I might be back up to speed in a few weeks, but if not, I won’t be able to chase any of those fast Ukrainian girls.
The one nice thing about Sumy is the price,,,, it’s almost free compared to other places in the world.
Sorry to read about your illness. I was stranded in Scotland July 2015 for over 5 weeks recovering from detached retina surgery. I haven't been to Sumy. One thing we know about Ukraine...the entire country is almost free compared to other places in the world. The dollar really goes a long way in Ukraine.
Thanks Batman. The surgery was supposed to be this last Jan,,, but I developed an epidural abscess on and in the spine. It actual ate away the bulged disc, part of the spine and surrounding vertebrae. Radiating nerve pain from L4 and L5 goes down the left leg and causes a few other problems,,,,,, I needed to adjust my concept of pain many times. For the first two weeks I was on a pain pump,,,, it provided a constant flow of pain killer and I could also give myself extra every 7 or 8 minutes. It had to be in one arm only, cause it could stop the heart or breathing,,, three antibiotics and fluids went into the other arm. At times I had a nurse on both arms trying to find a vein,,, they apologized about hurting me,,, I replied with,,, this isn’t even 1 %. I must have had 20 to 30 IV’s before they installed a Picc line for the antibiotics and the taking of blood samples. They installed it in my room with a constant on X ray machine during the last Packer Playoff game,,,, so I missed a few minutes of the game. Lol
They had me on a 100muph Fentanyl patch, 22.5mg of OxyCodone every 3 hours, 700mg of Gabapentin 4x per day, and various pain relieving creams applied liberally by the nurses,,,, hehehe. Since returning home, I’ve taken myself off of the F-ing Fentanyl, and only take the Oxy when needed,,, mostly to sleep, as I can’t sleep on a flat mattress. I finally hooked up my new VCR/DVD and set the TV for one hour and sleep in the chair.
I had 6 MRIs about the same amount of CT’s and I’m not sure how many X rays.
This was the first time since birth that I have been in a hospital,,,, I guess I don’t do things in a small way?
Thanks K-dag! The surgery won't be until Dec or Jan,,,, and right now my insurance is giving me static,,, received a cancelation letter two weeks ago. 25 days in the first hospital was 101,000. not including the MRIs en sh!t.
It's been taken care of. I went into the office today, and it turns out that I didn't sign some form that they sent me,,, but never received or even told about. I think it's their first try at getting rid of claims.
Hope that the surgery goes well. I had to deal with a relative who sustained a C4-C5 spinal injury and became totally bedridden. Imagine all of a sudden that you cannot eat solid food, take a bath, or even stand erect for the rest of your life. You are paralyzed from the chest down and need a respirator to help you breathe. Being bedridden brings electrolyte imbalance, bed sores, multiple body infections, ICU visits, constant medical tests and supervision/monitoring. And you cannot communicate to others when something is going wrong in your body (such as a blocked catheter). Seen many hospital visits and nursing homes. For some, they check in, but they do not check out.
Sorry to hear about your relative, I have a good idea of what they are going through. The spot of the damage is the critical thing in how life is going to be afterwards. I didn’t walk without help or the use of some device for over 2.5 months. I had the nerve pain so bad,,,, couldn’t lay on my left side, couldn’t sit, and for a while I couldn’t sleep in a bed without my legs bent, as soon as I could sit I slept in a chair. I’m still sleeping in a chair for most of the night,,, but I need to do my stretches before starting the day.
I seen two of my doctors yesterday, both said that I’m making remarkable progress, and that surgery might not be needed? They are both wrong. I don’t have anywhere near full control of my legs yet, and if I over do it,,, just to move is a problem. I went shopping after the appointments and barely made it out of the store. Today I went up a flight of stairs 5 times while grabbing the rails,,, legs were like rubber afterwards.
I’m hoping that surgery will fix this,,, but there are no promises. I might have a hard time to find a surgeon willing to do it,, because I’m considered high risk.