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[[About_Us|About Us]] | [[Services]] | [[Help]] | [[FAQ]] | [[Testimonials]] | [[Tours]] | [[Terms_of_use|Terms of Use]] | [[Privacy_statement|Privacy Policy]] | [[Contact_us|Contact Us]]
  
  
= MEMBERSHIP =
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''If you don't find an answer to your question on this page or on the Help page, do not hesitated to [[Contact_us|contact us]]''
Questions on how our website operates
 
== Do I have to pay for any of your services? ==
 
  
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__TOC__
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=== Are all those girls real? ===
  
You do have to pay for reading other members’ messages, for which you need to purchase credits (see below). If you place a phone call through us, you will be charged for that, as well. The rest of our services, however, are completely free (this includes registering a profile, searching our database and viewing other members’ profiles, sending messages and smiles).
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Most female profiles are submitted by our partner agencies in Russia and Ukraine who meet them in person and check their passport.  We also monitor for any suspicious activity, such as mass mailing to other members, asking for money, etc. If we have doubts about a girl’s identity or the information in her profile, we may contact her in person for additional proof. Due to the large number or profiles, we cannot vouch for every single one of our members, but you can always contact us if you see something suspicious about a member’s profile or behaviour, and we will investigate. Also each female profile is assigned a [[FAQ#What_is_trust_level.3F|Trust Level]], which shows the degree to which it has been verified by us.  A Trust Level of 100% means the lady is 100% real.  We also have a handy [[avoid_scammers|guide]] for spotting scammers. After getting a lady's contact details, you can order a [[Checkyourlady|background check]].
  
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=== Do you have any success stories that I can read? ===
  
== How do I buy credits? ==
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Yes, you can find some on our [[Testimonials]] page.
  
  
The easiest way is to purchase them online with a credit card (we accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discovery). Just log in to your profile, go to "Buy Credits" and buy the needed amount. If you don’t have a credit card, or don’t want to use it online, there are [[Paymentoptions|other options available]].
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=== How much do your services cost? ===
  
== What does one credit cost? ==
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Unlike some other dating sites, we do not charge a flat monthly fee. Instead, you can place your profile on our site for free, and you get full access to the site and the database of women for free.  You can use our search option to look through ladies' profiles according to your criteria and send free messages to them.  Only if someone responds and you decide to continue correspondence, then you pay for translation of the messages between you and the lady.  Please note that the translation must be done by us.  We do not allow use of translator software (such as Google Translate), as well as third party translation services.
  
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=== Are you compliant with IMBRA law? ===
  
This depends on the amount you buy:
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[[IMBRA]] is a US law, regulating international marriage brokers.  Yes, we are fully compliant.  If you are a US citizen, you will need to follow certain formalities to obtain direct contact information of the ladies.  We will guide you when the time comes. Upon request you will get IMBRA release that you might need for applying for her fiancee visa later.
  
100 credits or more: $1 for each credit
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=== I liked a particular person on your site.  How do I contact them? ===
  
55-99 credits: $1.09 for each credit
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'''Join for free''', fill out your profile (be sure to upload your pictures), then send a message to that member or just a "smile", indicating you are interested.  It's free. They can then view your profile and respond if they choose to.   In such case, if you decide to continue correspondence, then you pay for translation of the messages between you and the lady.
  
20-54 credits: $2 for each credit
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=== I don't want to send my credit card details over the Internet.  Can I pay by other means? ===
  
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Yes.  Once you become a member, you can purchase credits by credit card as well as other [[Payment_Options|payment options]].
  
== How will the charge from your company show on my credit card statement? ==
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=== Why am I getting so many letters? ===
  
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Site members can send out introductory mailings to advertise themselves. If you don’t want to receive those, you can change the status of your profile to Invisible, allowing only the people you have contacted yourself to write to you.
  
It will show as "1st International" or similar, possibly with a phone number and/or some abbreviations. Examples are: "1st Int'l NTW" or "1ST INTERNATIONAL 800-974-6453".
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=== I cannot send a message, why? ===
  
== What determines the cost of opening a message from a woman? ==
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Either your profile is inactive (please check profile status in the control panel), or you have more than one unopened message from the member you are trying to write to. In the latter case, you’ll need to open those messages first. If you have deleted them, please [[contact_us|contact us]].
  
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=== Where and how do I buy credits? ===
  
A number of factors. Firstly, it depends on the number of men she is corresponding with; the more men she is writing to, the more expensive her letters will be to open (if she stops writing to one or more men, the price will go down). Secondly, it depends on her English skills (if she can’t read and write in English and has to use a translator, the price will be accordingly higher). Thirdly, if the lady has no Internet access at home and has to use a computer at her local dating agency, this will raise the cost, as well.
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To pay online with a credit card (we accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover), log in to your profile and go to "Buy Credits" (your profile must be active for you to be able to pay). Alternatively, you can pay using our secure form (in this case, the payment may take up to 24 hours to go through). Other payment options are listed [[paymentoptions|here]].
  
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=== When can I contact a lady privately? ===
  
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If you want to get a lady’s direct contact details, and if you are a US citizen, then you will first need to fill out the [[IMBRA|IMBRA form]], if you haven’t done that already (IMBRA check costs $40 and it concerns US citizens only). After that (or if you are not a US citizen), you have to open at least 15 messages from the lady* .  At this point you have the right to request her contact details.  To do this, go to her profile and click "Request contact details" on the Custom Menu.  Please note that sending personal contact information through our messaging system is not allowed, even after you have opened 15 or more messages from a lady.  If you want to exchange personal contact information with a lady, please contact us.
  
== When can I contact a lady directly? ==
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We do not allow contact between members outside our website before they have officially exchanged contact information. Outside contact includes our competitor websites, social network websites, skype, etc. Outside contact violates our Terms and Conditions and may violate the IMBRA law, which may in turn jeopardize a lady's chance to get a US visa in the future and men's chance to sponsor a K-1 visa. It also opens possibilities for fraud. We do not allow our ladies to contact men outside the website, or to respond to men's attempts to circumvent our rules. If you are contacted outside our website by someone claiming to be a lady from the website, please be cautious as this could be a scam attempt. All of the above applies only until you have officially exchanged contact information. After the contact exchange you are free to communicate without our involvement.
  
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=== Can I speak to a lady on the phone with an interpreter? ===
  
If you want to get a lady’s direct contact details, you will first need to fill out the [[IMBRA]] form, if you haven’t done that before (this concerns US citizens only); [http://natashaclub.com/html/IMBRA.zip click here] to download the form and requisite instructions. After that, there are two options. The first one (recommended) is to open 15 (fifteen) paid messages from the lady (the messages that you open before writing to a lady for the first time are free and don't count); at this point you have the right to request her contact details (or your money back, if for some unlikely reason they cannot be provided). To do this, go to her profile and click the button that says "Send contact info request". The other way is to pay a $50 fee, whereupon we will contact the lady and ask her permission to send you her contact details, but note that this money will not be refunded even if the lady refuses to disclose her contact info. Therefore you should make sure you have her consent before you proceed; if you haven't opened at least one paid message from the woman, you cannot apply for this option. Please note that exchanging personal contact information through our messaging system is not allowed, even if you do have 15 opened messages from a lady; if you want to exchange such information with a lady, [[contact us]]. Please do not try to send the lady your email address and other contact information in “encoded” form (i.e. written backwards): it won’t work and will only be a waste of your time.
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Yes, this service costs 1.8 credits per minute. You’ll need to [[contact_us|contact us]] at least 24 hours in advance (unless you already have the lady’s phone number) and tell us which lady you want to talk to, and at what time. Our interpreter will do the rest.
  
== What does the Requested Contacts page contain? ==
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=== Can I videochat with my lady? ===
  
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Yes, you can order an interpreted videocall. You can make your request by [[contact_us|contacting us]]. The price for videochatting with the lady is 2.5 credits per minute. The minimum call duration is 10 minutes, which means that the system will charge your account for the first 10 minutes automatically when you start talking to the lady. Please make sure you have enough credits on your profile account before starting the videochat. We need time to contact the lady’s local agency, or the lady herself, and make sure she will be available at the desired time therefore the videocall should be ordered in advance. Please note that exchanging personal contact information during your videocall will not be allowed.
  
The Requested Contacts Page (which can be accessed from the menu on the left side of your control panel) contains the contact details that you have requested. Note that it is updated no sooner than your contact info request has been processed.
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=== Do you offer any discounts? ===
  
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After opening 15 messages from a lady*, if the price for translation is more than 5 credits, then you can request to have it lowered to 5 credits.
  
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=== What is a friend list? ===
  
== Do you offer any discounts? ==
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First of all, it's NOT the list of people this particular member is corresponding with.  To be on the friend list you have to send her or him a specific invitation and he or she has to accept it.  Once accepted, you and the other member appear in both of your friend lists. You cannot appear on somebody’s friend list if they are not on yours, and vice versa.  People on your friends list have access to your private photos (those that are protected by password from everyone else).  To add someone to your friend list, go to their profile and select “Friend Member” on the menu. If they accept your offer, you will appear on each other’s friend lists. You can delete people from your friend list from the Communicator section.
  
After opening 15 paid messages from a lady, you can request to have
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Remember that the list of your friends is viewable by any member or even a visitor to the site.  Having a lot of friends on your list or having just a few, or even none, is a personal choice.  Friends listed on members' profiles mean different things to different people. For some, having a lot of friends demonstrates that they are popular. Some prefer not to list any friends to keep their relationships private. Yet for others listing just one person as a friend means they are serious about them.  Use your own judgement in interpreting the meaning of a lady’s friends list or lack of it.  
the price of her letters lowered to 5 credits. You are also entitled
 
to this reduction if you have requested the lady's contact information
 
using the expedite service. In case the lady's contact information
 
does not include an email address, the price can be further reduced to
 
1 credit per letter; however, translation is not provided at this
 
price. If you want to keep using our translation services, the price
 
will have to stay at 5 credits per letter.
 
  
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=== What is trust level? ===
  
== What is "trust level" on a female profile? ==
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The trust level is a credibility rating given to a female profile by our staff. A staff member can rate a profile on one or more of multiple scales: passport scans, live meeting, phone conversation, video, correspondence. Some are rated according to the staff member's own judgement (such as passport scans or phone calls), and others (like correspondence or meetings) according to the feedback we receive from our male members. Combined, these ratings make up the trust level. Each category carries different weight (e.g., feedback on a meeting is more important than the passport scan); the exact formula is complex and classified, so it cannot be used to artificially raise the trust level. A trust level of 100% means that we have received definitive proof that the woman behind the profile is a real person, and all her communications originate from herself. This doesn't mean, of course, that anyone with less than 100% is automatically fake or dishonest, although you should be wary of profiles with a trust level of 40% or less. Note that the absence of a trust level is not the same as a low trust level. A female profile doesn't have a trust level by default and may never get one, unless it gives us a reason to rate it.
  
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=== How do I make my pictures private or view other people’s private pictures? ===
  
The trust level is a credibility rating given to a female profile by our staff. A staff member can rate a profile on one or more of four scales: passport, meeting, phone call, and correspondence. Passport scans, whenever provided, are rated on their quality and completeness; meetings, phone calls and correspondence are rated according to the feedback we receive on them from our customers. Combined, these ratings make up the trust level. Each category carries different weight (e.g., feedback on a meeting is more important than the passport scan); the exact formula is complex and classified, so it cannot be used to artificially raise the trust level. A trust level of 100% means that we have received definitive proof that the woman behind the profile is a real person, and all her communications originate from herself. This doesn't mean that anyone with less than 100% is automatically fake or dishonest; it only means that you can be reasonably sure of the woman's identity instead of completely sure.
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To make a picture private, check the box labelled “private photo” after uploading it and save the changes. To view someone else’s private pictures, you need to request access from them by clicking the “Submit request” button in the picture browser in their profile. You can keep track of the people who have granted you access to their private photos in the Communicator; access to your own private photos is likewise granted from there.
  
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=== Why is your phone number not working? ===
  
== What is a friends list? ==
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If you are trying to call our US toll-free number (starting with "800" or "866") when you are outside the continental US, it won't work (this may or may not include Canada, Puerto Rico and Hawaii).  If that's the case, please use our regular (toll) numbers or contact us via live chat 24 hours a day.  Other than that our phone support is open 24 hours 7 days a week, so if you can't get through for whatever reason, be sure to email or online chat us about it.
  
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=== Why haven’t I received a response to my email? ===
  
It is not a list of people a member is corresponding with.  To be on a member’s friends list, you have to send them an invitation which they can choose to accept. It can also be the other way around: a member sends you an invitation, and you accept it.  Being a "friend" is a mutual thing.  That means that if a member is on your friends list, you are automatically on theirs.  You can delete any "friend" from your list by logging into your profile, going to "Communicator", then "Friend members", checking those you wish to delete and clicking "Delete from Friend List".
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If you have sent an email to our support staff, please note that we try to answer all emails within 24 hours. If you aren’t getting a response for more than 24 hours, please check your spam (or "junk mail") folder to make sure our reply wasn’t caught by your spam filter. If you cannot find it, please [[contact_us|contact us]] by phone or in the chat to make sure we got your letter.
  
People on your friends list have access to your private photos, which are protected by your private password from everyone else.
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If you are waiting for a response from a lady, it might take anywhere from 1 to 3 days, or sometimes more.  If you are not receiving a notification about a response in your email, please log into your profile on our site and check your Inbox.  Her response may be waiting for you there.  Our system automatically notifies you by email when you have mail in your Inbox on our site, but sometimes these automatic notifications may be blocked by your provider's spam filters.
  
Remember that the list of your "friends" is viewable by any member or even a visitor to the site.  Having a lot of friends on your list or having just a few, or even none, is a personal choice.  Friends listed on members' profiles mean different things to different people.  For some, having a lot of friends demonstrates that they are popular.  Some prefer not to list any friends to keep their relationships private. Yet for others listing just one person as a friend means they are serious about them.  Use your own judgement in interpreting the meaning of a lady’s friends list or lack of it.  Factor in the ratings of her pictures (how many votes and the average rating), and her popularity (more credits per letter means more people are writing to her).
 
  
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=== Is Russia a safe country?  What about Ukraine? ===
  
== How can I view a lady’s private pictures? ==
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Russia and Ukraine nowdays are generally safe.  A cab driver might overcharge you a bit, a restaurant might try to inflate the bill, but violent crime is relatively low.  Operating since 1995, we have not had any cases of kidnapping, murder, robbery, or anything of that sort.  There are some conflict zones in Ukraine you must avoid though.  Avoid all travel to the NGCA (Non-Government Controlled Areas) and the area within 20 km from the contact line inside the Government Controlled Areas (GCA) of the Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts, due to armed operations and occasional bombings in the area. There are numerous checkpoints controlled by separatist forces within the NGCA. Separatist groups have sometimes threatened, detained or kidnapped individuals at NGCA checkpoints.
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While outside these problem areas both countries are generally safe (and safer than the media usually portraits them), please keep in mind that being a tourist you are always an easier target in any country.  So stick to basic security rules.  Do not flash your cash and do not walk alone in the middle of the night in sketchy neighborhoods.  It would be ideal to have a reliable local guide at your side who would show you around (for instance, the woman you are meeting could be your guide).
  
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'''Where to stay?'''
  
Private pictures are password protected, so you will have to write to the lady and request the password. It is better to do this after you have already established communication with that lady.
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In Kiev we recommend you stay in the center, somewhere near Khreschatyk. You will be close to all the attractions and with very good public transport connections just about everywhere!
  
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In Odessa, it depends what you’re interested in. If you’re after relaxing at the beach then part of the town called Arkadia would be the best for you but if you’re into sightseeing then the center – area between the train station and the harbor – is where you should stay!
  
== Can I talk to a lady on the phone? ==
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In Lviv, there is no better place to stay than Hotel George. It’s the oldest hotel in Lviv, still having the charm of old days when most important people in the world stayed there.
  
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You can book any hotel before your coming by internet, preferably center of the city.  Or we can book an apartment, with the help of our local agencies.
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Yes, you can order an interpreted phone call, which costs 1.8 credits per minute (1 credit if you don’t require translation). This should be done in advance because we need time to contact the lady’s local agency, or the lady herself, and make sure she will be available at the desired time. Please note that exchanging personal contact information during such phone calls is not allowed. [[Firstcall|Here is some advice on setting up your first phone call]].
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'''Money'''
  
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In Ukraine, the currency is  Ukrainian Hryvnia (UAH) and in Russia it's Ruble (RUB).  You can look up current exchange rates on Google.
  
== Can I videochat with my lady? ==
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Credit cards are accepted in most major cities and ATMs are widely available. Foreign currency can be exchanged at most banks, hotels and licensed exchange booths. Worn out banknotes may not be accepted.
  
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'''Be cautious when using debit or credit cards:'''
  
Yes, you can order an interpreted videocall. You can make your request by email support@woman-from-russia.com or by phone (USA toll-free: 1-866-Y-SINGLE (1-866-974-6453), UK: +44 (0) 2071935504). The price for videochatting with the lady is 2.5 credits per minute. The minimum call duration is 10 minutes, which means that the system will charge your account for the first 10 minutes automatically when you start talking to the lady. Please make sure you have enough credits on your profile account before starting the videochat. We need time to contact the lady’s local agency, or the lady herself, and make sure she will be available at the desired time therefore the videocall should be ordered in advance. Please note that exchanging personal contact information during your videocall will not be allowed.
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:- it's best to use debit cards only at the ATMs located inside a bank
 
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:- avoid using card readers with an irregular or unusual feature
== How do I know those women aren’t scammers? ==
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:- cover the keypad with one hand when entering your PIN
 
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:- check for any unauthorized transactions on your account statements
 
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Most of the women on our website are represented by local dating agencies, where they contact our representatives in person. Besides, we watch out for suspicious activity: if a member mass mails other members, uses certain words, etc, it triggers a red flag, and we run a thorough check on the member in question. Unfortunately, due to the large number of profiles, it is impossible to filter out all scammers. Therefore we urge our members to be on their guard and notify us of anything suspicious.
 
 
 
 
 
== Are these women just trying to get out of their country by marrying a foreigner? Is she going to stay with me after she has moved to the United States? ==
 
 
 
 
 
We have to say up front that we cannot know the real intentions of our members.  However, after you have corresponded with a lady for a while and, preferably, met her in person, you should have a pretty good idea of what she is about. Besides, in order to get unconditional permanent residency in the US she has to stay married to a US citizen for 2 years. Add processing time and you get about 3 years before she can leave. That's a lot of time for you to make a good impression on her :) Now, could a person be so calculating as to do this for a green card? It is possible, but in our experience most of the women coming here are honest and truly want to create a family. If her husband treats her with respect, she will stay. However, some guys can be jerks and get what they deserve. Then they cry all over the Internet about how she took advantage of them. According to the official figures, the divorce rate between international couples in US is several times lower than in regular American couples. 
 
 
 
  
== Isn’t it odd that some women here are looking for a man much older than themselves? ==
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=== Can I bring my laptop with me? ===
 
 
  
It is not uncommon for Russian women to marry older men, which may clash with American stereotypesIf you are going to marry a Russian woman, you might want to learn how to look beyond thoseOf course, there are limits.  If you are 40 and are looking for an 18-year-old bride, this might be a bit of a stretch, but 22-25 years old is ok. Remember that every person has their own standards. Some women don’t mind a significant age difference, while others do. They usually indicate their age preference in their profiles.
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No restrictions from customs or local law.  Also, every laptop we've seen can operate on both 220 volts (Europe, Russia, and Ukraine) and 110 volts (USA).   But if you are coming from the USA, I suggest you check that just in case (it's is usually printed on the laptop’s charger).  Also, our US clients will need to purchase a simple adaptor, because the Russian electrical outlet has 2 round sockets, while the American plug has 2 flat prongs.  Those can be bought for about $1 at Walmart in the travel section, or in most airports (of course more expensive).  For electronics other than a laptop you might need a step-down transformer.  Those are more expensive ($20-$50) and heavierTo find out, check the device's charger or where the power cord plugs into the device.  It usually tells the operating voltage there.  If it says "110-240 v", then no step-down transformer is needed. Most cell phone chargers operate on 110-240 volts, so they do not require a step-down transformer.
  
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=== Will my cell phone work in Russia / Ukraine? ===
  
== Are you compliant with the IMBRA law? ==
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Yes, if it uses the GSM standard.  That's what they use in Russia and Ukraine.  So it will work just fine for all our travellers from Europe.  If you are coming from the US, it will also work fine, unless you are on Verizon.  Verizon uses CDMA standard, so the phone will not work in Russia nor Ukraine with your US SIM card.  However, if you buy a local Russian or Ukrainian SIM card, your Verizon phone can still work if it's one of the premium phones.  Contemporary premium phones usually have both CDMA and GSM capabilities, so once you put in a local GSM SIM card your phone will automatically switch to GSM.  If in doubt please check your phone's specs.  For other countries it's best to check with your mobile provider. Most cell phone chargers operate on 110-240 volts, so they do not require a step-down transformer.
  
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If you plan to use your existing SIM card, expect high roaming charges.  You will also incur international long distance charges when, for example, calling a Russian number in Russia from your cell phone.  It's best to call your mobile provider before your trip and ask if they offer some international roaming plan that covers Russia / Ukraine.  Most providers offer such  plans where you can expect to pay around 15 cents per minute, or around $10 per day and have unlimited minutes.  Some roaming data is usually included as well.
  
Yes, we are fully compliantUpon request you will get [[IMBRA]] release that you might need for applying for her fiancee visa laterWe are not happy about this law as it puts a lot of unnecessary burden on us and our clients, and we urge you to sign petitions to repeal itHowever, as it stands today, the law is the law, so we are complying with it.
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A good idea is to buy a local prepaid SIM card in Russia / Ukraine and put it in your phone.  In Russia they should be under $10-$15, and in Ukraine you can get a SIM card with 4GB of data for only $3This way you will get cheap local calls and usually a lot of data.  Note that some mobile providers in your home country lock their phones to prevent their customers from doing just that.  So if you got your phone from your provider, as opposed to buying online, you may have to have it unlocked first (to do that call your provider BEFORE your trip)For local SIM cards in Russia we recommend the provider called "MTS" and in Ukraine - "Kyivstar".
  
== Have any of your clients actually found a wife through your website? ==
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=== How do I get an Internet connection? ===
  
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Pretty much all hotels nowdays have Wi-Fi and it's mostly free with your stay.  Did you know that every McDonalds has free Wi Fi?  And now there is plenty of them in Russia and in major Uikraine cities.  And if you've got a local SIM card with lots of data, you can use your mobile phone as a Wi-Fi Hot Spot. 
  
Yes, quite a few. You can read their [[testimonials]].
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=== How do I call Russia and Ukraine from my home country? ===
  
== The toll-free number listed on your site is not working. ==
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The best quality vs. price combination is Skype.  You will need to add money to your skype account.  Depending on which city you call and whether you call a landline or mobile phone, the call could be anywhere from 2 cents to 20 cents per minute, but it will be always cheaper than any calling plan offered by your local provider.  The quality of the calls is usually pretty good.  We would not call it excellent, but from our experience it's better than the competitors'.
  
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If you are old fashioned, then from a land phone you normally need to dial 011, then the country code, then the area code and phone number.
  
If you are outside the continental US, you cannot use the US toll-free numbers.  This includes our toll-free main and fax numbers.  Outside of the continental US may or may not include Canada, Puerto Rico and Hawaii.  For example some of our customers in Canada are able to call us on our toll free number, but others can't. If that's the case, please use our regular (toll) numbers or contact us via [https://support4.russianbridesnetwork.com/phplive.php live chat] free 24 hours a day.
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On a cell phone you dial "+", then the country code, then the area code and phone number.
  
== What is your mailing address? ==
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The country code is 7 for Russia, 380 for Ukraine, 375 for Belarus . If you dial directly from your phone without  signing up for a special international calling plan with your provider, the rate may be pretty high ($2 per minute or even higher).
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Remember, if you get stuck, you can always call our bilingual operator toll-free +1 (312) 252-0005 and have her dial the number for you. She will stay online and interpret your conversation if necessary.
  
  
[[Contact_us|Here is our mailing address and other complete and updated contact information]].You can forward all correspondence to this address, including payments, orders, and inquiries.
 
  
 
== I haven't received a response to my email inquiry. ==
 
 
 
Most likely, your email provider has blocked the delivery of our email to you, because of its anti-spam policies. Sadly, many email providers, especially those like hotmail, yahoo, and AOL are blocking a lot of legitimate email messages because they suspect them to be SPAM. With today's enormous volume of SPAM on the Internet, email providers have to take steps to protect their users from huge amounts of unsolicited emails. They use automatic filters or rules by which they sort out messages into 3 categories: ones that should be delivered, ones that get deleted, and a category "in between" for those messages that end up in your "Bulk mail", "Junk mail" or similar folder. We never send unsolicited messages to anyone, yet some of our emails to our customers get blocked. If it does not help or you believe that's not the problem, contact us by phone or online chat and and we will be happy to help you. If you haven't received a response to your question via email, fist thing to do would be to check your "Bulk mail", "Junk mail" or similar folder. If it's there, please click "It's not spam" or similar button in your email program. If you don't see our message in your "Bulk mail", "Junk mail" or similar folder and you are using Hotmail or AOL please follow these instructions to unblock us.
 
 
 
== I’ve sent several emails to your ladies and haven't received any responses. ==
 
 
 
First of all, login to your account and check your messages. Note that the ladies will not be replying directly to your email, but instead their messages are stored in your account.  However, you should receive notifications from us about every message/response received.  If you are not receiving them, please read the answer above to make sure you are receiving emails from us. If there are still no messages in your Inbox, make sure that you have a picture in your profile, and it is correctly displayed. Profiles without pictures get almost no replies.  If you still get no response to more than 3 messages, let us know, and we will try to find out what's going on.
 
 
 
== I can not send a message.  The system says I have unopened mail from this member. ==
 
 
   
 
   
  
To protect the privacy of our members and to prevent spam, our system does not allow users to send a message to a member from whom you have 2 or more unopened messages.  If you want to send him or her a message, you need to go back to your Communicator and open mail from her or him first.  If you have accidentally deleted those unopened messages, please contact the administrator.
+
* '''Which messages count?''' Please note that in these instances we count only the letters that you paid to be translated. So her introductory letter that we translate free of charge does not count.  Note that while you pay only when you open her messages to you but not vice versa, the fee that you pay actually covers the translation of both your messages to her and her messages to you.
 
 
 
 
== Why was my profile rejected? ==
 
 
 
 
 
If your profile was rejected, it must have violated some of our rules or seemed suspicious to our moderators. There are several things you can do to ensure your profile is not rejected next time:
 
 
 
- Post a picture. It must be a picture of yourself, with your face clearly visible. No nudity or private contact information on photos is allowed.
 
 
 
- Write a longer description. A profile with no description (or a meaningless or obscene one) will be rejected.
 
 
 
- Enter your private contact information (such as email, phone number) only in the fields specifically provided for it.
 
 
 
- Choose the country in which you are located at the time. If you normally live somewhere else, you can indicate that in your description.
 
 
 
- Provide your phone number.
 
 
 
 
 
== I would like to know a little more about your company. ==
 
 
 
Please visit [[Ouroffices|this page]].
 
 
 
= Next step. Travelling to Russia =
 
Questions on travelling to Russia and other CIS countries
 
 
 
== How long does it take to get a visa to Russia or Ukraine? ==
 
 
 
 
 
If you have a passport that does not expire for least six months after the dates of your travel, we will fax you the visa support documents within 1-2 business days.  Then you need to apply to the consulate for the visa. Visa processing to Russia takes about 2 weeks, but you can pay extra money to have it ready even the same business day.  Add the time for mailing the documents to the Consulate and back.  They accept express delivery, including FedEx next day, and can send you the documents back the same way if you provide a prepaid waybill. You can go in person to a Russian Consulate in New York, San Francisco or Seattle and get the visa the same day. It will cost around $300. Processing time is similar for a Ukrainian visa.
 
 
 
 
 
== How safe is it in Russia? ==
 
 
 
 
 
It is quite safe in Russia and other CIS countries if you know where to go and what to do.  It might be somewhat dangerous if you are lost and on your own.  If you stay away from unsafe neighborhoods, don't flash your cash and follow the basic safety rules, you are going to be ok. It's a good idea to have the woman you are visiting pick you up at the airport and show you around.
 
 
 
 
 
== Can I bring my laptop to Russia? Do I need an adaptor? ==
 
 
 
 
 
Yes, you can, but you may need a simple adaptor. As far as the customs office is concerned, there are no restrictions on bringing your personal laptop across the Russian border. Standard voltage in Russia and all other European countries is 220 volts (it is 110 in USA). This means you will need a step down transformer (an adaptor that changes voltage) for electric devices other than a laptop. Those could be bought at Sears or Radioshack at $20-$30. Laptops are the lucky exceptions in that they do not need a transformer, because their chargers normally take in any voltage from 110 volts to 250 volts. There may be laptop chargers out there that would not take 220 volts, but we have not seen one. Please check your charger first, before you fry your laptop! The acceptable voltage ("AC in") should be printed directly on the charger. However, even if your laptop can take 220 volts, you still need a simple adaptor. The reason is that the Russian electrical outlet has 2 round holes, while the American plug has 2 flat prongs. There is no way to fit one into the other. So you need to buy a cheap ($1-$3) adapter that has 2 holes for flat American prongs, and 2 round prongs on the other end, to plug into the Russian outlet. You can buy such adapters at many places, RadioShack, Sears, or even your local WalMart. Network and phone connectors are the same as in US. All of this applies to all other countries of the CIS.
 
 
 
 
 
== How can I connect to the Internet in Russia? ==
 
 
 
 
 
If you are staying in an expensive hotel in a major city, they may have Wi Fi connection. Please check with your hotel first. Needless to say that Wi Fi standard is the same throughout the world so you won't have any problems. If this does not apply to you and you have to use good old dial-up, read on. 1. If you don’t mind using a public computer, there are a lot of Internet cafes in almost every city of the former Soviet republics. Just ask the hotel personnel or a taxi driver. The is usually about $1 per hour. 2. If you want to go online from your own laptop, it may be more difficult. Unfortunately, neither Russia nor any other CIS country has a nation-wide dial-up Internet provider, like AOL in the USA. So you have to find a local provider in the city where you are staying. Again, the hotel personnell could help you locate one. You can also find one on the Internet before your trip. You should be prepared to prepay your Internet access in cash, because local providers normally do not accept credit cards. The rates are usually $.50-$1.00 per hour. Another option is to take your laptop to the nearest Internet cafe and ask the staff to connect it to the Internet. They are always willing to do so at a regular hourly rate.
 
 
 
 
 
== Will my radio/CD player/boombox/other electronics work in Russia? ==
 
 
 
 
 
Yes, but you need an AC adapter. Standard voltage in Russia and all other European countries is 220 volts (it is 110 in USA). This means you will need a step down transformer (an adaptor that changes voltage) for electric devices other than a laptop. Those could be bought at Sears or Radioshack at $20-$30. We have decent ones for sale for $15 plus shipping. [[Contact_us|Contact us]] to order one.
 
 
 
== Will my cell phone work in Russia? ==
 
 
 
 
 
It depends on your provider. All European providers use the GSM standard, so if you are from a European country, your phone will work fine in Russia. You are likely to be charged premium roaming charges, so please check with your provider. They may have a calling plan that covers Russia so you won't incurr roaming charges.
 
 
 
In USA: Verizon, AT&T, and Sprint use the older proprietary CDMA standard. Those phones WILL NOT work in Russia at all. On the other hand, T-Mobile and Cingular use the more widely accepted GSM standard and will work in Russia. Usually you do not need a quad-band "world phone". In Russia the most widely used frequency is GSM 1800. Most GSM phones offered on the US market can operate on this frequency. On rare occasions in Russia you may encounter coverage by the older GSM 900 standard. To get a signal in these locations, you have to have a phone that can work on this frequency. Consult your cell phone manual or call your wireless service provider to find out what frequences your phone can operate on.
 
 
 
Normally, with USA providers like T-Mobile and Cingular, your roaming charges in Russia will be about $1.50 per minute, which is a lot. If you need to call a number in Russia from your US cell phone while in Russia, you will also incur international long distance charges (alternatively you can use our calling card to at least save on the latter). But there is a better way if you have a GSM phone. It is a bit complicated but you will not only get decent rates for calling Russia and USA, but you will also get a Russian cell phone number without spending a lot. The easiest way would be to buy a cell phone in Russia, but prepare to spend about $150 even on a basic one. What you can do instead is buy a SIM card in Russia and insert it into your US phone. The SIM card comes with a brand new Russian cell phone number, and if you purchase it in your destination city, you will get local calling rates. SIM cards are sold at every wireless store and cost about $5. There is one last trick, though. To prevent their customers from switching to a competitor, T-Mobile and Cingular are now "locking" their customer's phones so that a SIM card from a different provider cannot be used. To use a Russian SIM card you have to "unlock" the phone. You can find such a service locally (usually in cell phone repair shops) or just type "unlock phone" on eBay.
 
 
 
Russian cell phone providers offer prepaid service only. They do not offer monthly calling plans. Airtime is somewhat expensive, compared to US. Local calls are 5 to 15 cents a minute, long distance calls are 15-80 cents a minute. International calls can be as high as $3 per minute. Calls made from 9 PM to 6 AM are about twice cheaper than daytime calls. You can prepay any amount at any wireless store or any bank. There are also special machines in most supermarkets which accept payments for cellular service. They have an English interface as well.
 
 
 
There are a few cellular service providers on the Russian market, and we are reluctant to recommend a specific one, but if we absolutely must recommend one to a foreign traveller, we’d go with "MTS". It's not the cheapest one, but it seems to be the largest, has the best coverage and has wireless stores everywhere. Plus, it also operates in Ukraine and other CIS countries.
 
 
 
 
 
== How do I call Russia and other countries of the former USSR? What does it cost? ==
 
 
 
 
 
In most cases, you need to dial 011 if you are in the US; next the country code, then the area code and phone number. The country code for Russia is 7, for Ukraine it is 380, for Belarus it is 375. If you dial directly from your home or work phone without using a calling card, or signing up for a special international call discount program with your long distance provider, the cost may be very high ($2 per minute or even higher).
 
 
 
Remember, if you get stuck, you can always call our bilingual operator/interpreter toll-free 1-866-974-6453 and have her dial the number for you. She will stay online and will interpret your conversation real time.
 
 
 
 
 
== What is the weather like in Russia? ==
 
 
 
 
 
Russia is a vast country and it's impossible to describe its climate in a few sentences. In fact we have written a whole [[Weather|article about it]]. But generally speaking, the climate of the central parts of Russia where the majority of our clients travel is not as bad as portrayed in movies, and somewhat resembles the American Midwest, only a bit colder but less windy. For other parts of CIS [[Weather|read on]].
 
 
 
= Visas and Immigration =
 
 
 
 
 
== Do I need a visa to go to Russia, and can you help me get one? ==
 
 
 
Normally, you do need a visa in order to enter the Russian Federation.  If you are a US citizen, you definitely need one. You will need separate visas for other CIS countries, such as Ukraine or Belarus. We can send you the official invitation that you need in order to be issued a visa to Russia.  We do not currently provide invitations to other countires. You will then send this invitation, along with your passport, consulate fee, and 2 passport-sized photos to the Russian Consulate in your country which has jurisdiction over your region.   
 
 
 
 
 
== Can you help me with bringing my bride-to-be to my home country? ==
 
 
 
If you are in the US and are our customer, we can help you with some general advice on visas, procedures, forms, etc. Feel free to contact us and we will point you in the right direction. Note that we don't have an attorney on staff, and your particular situation may require one.  If you need an attorney, we will refer you to a good one who specializes in Immigration Law and has been working with us for a long time.
 
 
 
 
 
== What is the process and how much will it cost to bring a woman here? ==
 
 
 
Note. The price estimates and visa kits are for the US only. The immigration laws are similar in other Western countries, so if you live outside the US, you can use this information as a guideline.
 
 
 
IMPORTANT: Never send money to people you have never met in person, and even if you have met them, exercise common sense before you trust them with significant funds. Internet scams are common these days, including various visa and ticket scenarios. A lady may claim that she can get her visa and / or plane ticket and be on her way to you if you only send her or some intermediary (like her agency, or a travel company) a certain amount (usually 2-4 thousand dollars). 99.9% of such claims are fake. Read more here. If you are asked for money under any excuse, please contact us for advice before you send it.
 
 
 
Generally you won't be able to bring a woman here until you have met her in person. Her chances of getting a "tourist" or "guest" visa to the US are very slim. The best way to proceed is to apply for her "K" (fiancée) visa.  Note that in order to apply for this type of visa, the immigration law requires that you have met your lady in person. You have to have proof of that (pcitures of the two of you together, tickets, etc). The best place to meet her in person would be her home country. Some of our clients choose to meet in a third country, like Cyprus, or the Dominican Republic, where Russian citizens do not need a visa. It is acceptable from the Immigration law standpoint, but it makes you vulnerable to possible scams, as you will most likely be expected to pay for her ticket (or send her money) in advance.
 
 
 
After you have met her in person, you need to file a petition with the USCIS, known as form I-129F. The petition can be filled out by yourself. You need to file the petition with the USCIS office having jurisdiction over your state. Processing times vary from state to state, but on average it takes about 6 months for the USCIS to approve it. The fee as of this writing is $455. After you get it approved, you send it to your lady and she takes it to the US Consulate in her home country and applies for the visa. Add the USCIS fee, postage, visa processing fee and you get about $650 for that step. Contrary to tourist visas to the US, which are notoriously difficult to get, "K" visas are usually granted without a problem, provided that the documents are filed properly, she does not have a police record, and neither one of you has violated any Immigration law provisions in the past (i.e. overstayed a prior "K" visa). If one of you has applied for a "K" visa in the past, it may also be a reason for a denial of the current application.
 
 
 
'''Most likely she will not have the funds needed to buy her plane ticket to the US, so you will need to pay for that. You do not have to travel to her country again to accompany her, but it would be a nice gesture if you can afford it. A one way ticket will cost around $600-$900. If you decide to accompany her, your two-way airfare could be anywhere between $1000 and $1800, depending on the season and how early in advance you buy your ticket.'''
 
 
 
'''Once she arrives, she can stay in the US for 90 days in the "fiancée" status. By the end of that time you either get legally married, or she has to go back to her home country. Neither you nor her are obligated to get married, but you may be financially responsible for her return ticket if things don't work out.'''
 
 
 
'''When you do get married, you will need to apply for a permanent resident status for her.  There is a special form for that, and an application fee. When you get to that point, you can give us a call. This is going to set you back about $1000 in fees and required medical tests, if you fill out the forms by yourself.'''
 
 
 
You should not have any problems with most of the immigration forms, but in certain matters you may require the assistance of an immigration attorney.
 
 
 
== How long does it take for a Russian woman to be issued a US visa? ==
 
 
 
The actual process should take place within 2 weeks from the time she applies at the US Consulate in her home country, if there are no complications. That does not include filing your petition.
 
 
 
 
 
== Can money speed things up? ==
 
 
 
It can if you are a US citizen applying for a Russian visa.  However, US Consulates do not offer expedited service, and the waiting times are the same for everybody.
 
 
 
 
 
== Do you have to marry the women in their home country or can you bring them here to the US? ==
 
 
 
It is recommended to bring your bride to the US on a K (fiancée) visa and then marry her here. This way, while she is waiting for her permanent residency papers, she is in the US with you. If you get officially married in Russia, she will have to wait for those papers in her home country. The process is lengthy, might take as long as 6 or more months, so you really need to take this into consideration.
 

Revision as of 23:07, 31 August 2020

About Us | Services | Help | FAQ | Testimonials | Tours | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Contact Us


If you don't find an answer to your question on this page or on the Help page, do not hesitated to contact us

Are all those girls real?

Most female profiles are submitted by our partner agencies in Russia and Ukraine who meet them in person and check their passport. We also monitor for any suspicious activity, such as mass mailing to other members, asking for money, etc. If we have doubts about a girl’s identity or the information in her profile, we may contact her in person for additional proof. Due to the large number or profiles, we cannot vouch for every single one of our members, but you can always contact us if you see something suspicious about a member’s profile or behaviour, and we will investigate. Also each female profile is assigned a Trust Level, which shows the degree to which it has been verified by us. A Trust Level of 100% means the lady is 100% real. We also have a handy guide for spotting scammers. After getting a lady's contact details, you can order a background check.

Do you have any success stories that I can read?

Yes, you can find some on our Testimonials page.


How much do your services cost?

Unlike some other dating sites, we do not charge a flat monthly fee. Instead, you can place your profile on our site for free, and you get full access to the site and the database of women for free. You can use our search option to look through ladies' profiles according to your criteria and send free messages to them. Only if someone responds and you decide to continue correspondence, then you pay for translation of the messages between you and the lady. Please note that the translation must be done by us. We do not allow use of translator software (such as Google Translate), as well as third party translation services.

Are you compliant with IMBRA law?

IMBRA is a US law, regulating international marriage brokers. Yes, we are fully compliant. If you are a US citizen, you will need to follow certain formalities to obtain direct contact information of the ladies. We will guide you when the time comes. Upon request you will get IMBRA release that you might need for applying for her fiancee visa later.

I liked a particular person on your site. How do I contact them?

Join for free, fill out your profile (be sure to upload your pictures), then send a message to that member or just a "smile", indicating you are interested. It's free. They can then view your profile and respond if they choose to. In such case, if you decide to continue correspondence, then you pay for translation of the messages between you and the lady.

I don't want to send my credit card details over the Internet. Can I pay by other means?

Yes. Once you become a member, you can purchase credits by credit card as well as other payment options.

Why am I getting so many letters?

Site members can send out introductory mailings to advertise themselves. If you don’t want to receive those, you can change the status of your profile to Invisible, allowing only the people you have contacted yourself to write to you.

I cannot send a message, why?

Either your profile is inactive (please check profile status in the control panel), or you have more than one unopened message from the member you are trying to write to. In the latter case, you’ll need to open those messages first. If you have deleted them, please contact us.

Where and how do I buy credits?

To pay online with a credit card (we accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover), log in to your profile and go to "Buy Credits" (your profile must be active for you to be able to pay). Alternatively, you can pay using our secure form (in this case, the payment may take up to 24 hours to go through). Other payment options are listed here.

When can I contact a lady privately?

If you want to get a lady’s direct contact details, and if you are a US citizen, then you will first need to fill out the IMBRA form, if you haven’t done that already (IMBRA check costs $40 and it concerns US citizens only). After that (or if you are not a US citizen), you have to open at least 15 messages from the lady* . At this point you have the right to request her contact details. To do this, go to her profile and click "Request contact details" on the Custom Menu. Please note that sending personal contact information through our messaging system is not allowed, even after you have opened 15 or more messages from a lady. If you want to exchange personal contact information with a lady, please contact us.

We do not allow contact between members outside our website before they have officially exchanged contact information. Outside contact includes our competitor websites, social network websites, skype, etc. Outside contact violates our Terms and Conditions and may violate the IMBRA law, which may in turn jeopardize a lady's chance to get a US visa in the future and men's chance to sponsor a K-1 visa. It also opens possibilities for fraud. We do not allow our ladies to contact men outside the website, or to respond to men's attempts to circumvent our rules. If you are contacted outside our website by someone claiming to be a lady from the website, please be cautious as this could be a scam attempt. All of the above applies only until you have officially exchanged contact information. After the contact exchange you are free to communicate without our involvement.

Can I speak to a lady on the phone with an interpreter?

Yes, this service costs 1.8 credits per minute. You’ll need to contact us at least 24 hours in advance (unless you already have the lady’s phone number) and tell us which lady you want to talk to, and at what time. Our interpreter will do the rest.

Can I videochat with my lady?

Yes, you can order an interpreted videocall. You can make your request by contacting us. The price for videochatting with the lady is 2.5 credits per minute. The minimum call duration is 10 minutes, which means that the system will charge your account for the first 10 minutes automatically when you start talking to the lady. Please make sure you have enough credits on your profile account before starting the videochat. We need time to contact the lady’s local agency, or the lady herself, and make sure she will be available at the desired time therefore the videocall should be ordered in advance. Please note that exchanging personal contact information during your videocall will not be allowed.

Do you offer any discounts?

After opening 15 messages from a lady*, if the price for translation is more than 5 credits, then you can request to have it lowered to 5 credits.

What is a friend list?

First of all, it's NOT the list of people this particular member is corresponding with. To be on the friend list you have to send her or him a specific invitation and he or she has to accept it. Once accepted, you and the other member appear in both of your friend lists. You cannot appear on somebody’s friend list if they are not on yours, and vice versa. People on your friends list have access to your private photos (those that are protected by password from everyone else). To add someone to your friend list, go to their profile and select “Friend Member” on the menu. If they accept your offer, you will appear on each other’s friend lists. You can delete people from your friend list from the Communicator section.

Remember that the list of your friends is viewable by any member or even a visitor to the site. Having a lot of friends on your list or having just a few, or even none, is a personal choice. Friends listed on members' profiles mean different things to different people. For some, having a lot of friends demonstrates that they are popular. Some prefer not to list any friends to keep their relationships private. Yet for others listing just one person as a friend means they are serious about them. Use your own judgement in interpreting the meaning of a lady’s friends list or lack of it.

What is trust level?

The trust level is a credibility rating given to a female profile by our staff. A staff member can rate a profile on one or more of multiple scales: passport scans, live meeting, phone conversation, video, correspondence. Some are rated according to the staff member's own judgement (such as passport scans or phone calls), and others (like correspondence or meetings) according to the feedback we receive from our male members. Combined, these ratings make up the trust level. Each category carries different weight (e.g., feedback on a meeting is more important than the passport scan); the exact formula is complex and classified, so it cannot be used to artificially raise the trust level. A trust level of 100% means that we have received definitive proof that the woman behind the profile is a real person, and all her communications originate from herself. This doesn't mean, of course, that anyone with less than 100% is automatically fake or dishonest, although you should be wary of profiles with a trust level of 40% or less. Note that the absence of a trust level is not the same as a low trust level. A female profile doesn't have a trust level by default and may never get one, unless it gives us a reason to rate it.

How do I make my pictures private or view other people’s private pictures?

To make a picture private, check the box labelled “private photo” after uploading it and save the changes. To view someone else’s private pictures, you need to request access from them by clicking the “Submit request” button in the picture browser in their profile. You can keep track of the people who have granted you access to their private photos in the Communicator; access to your own private photos is likewise granted from there.

Why is your phone number not working?

If you are trying to call our US toll-free number (starting with "800" or "866") when you are outside the continental US, it won't work (this may or may not include Canada, Puerto Rico and Hawaii). If that's the case, please use our regular (toll) numbers or contact us via live chat 24 hours a day. Other than that our phone support is open 24 hours 7 days a week, so if you can't get through for whatever reason, be sure to email or online chat us about it.

Why haven’t I received a response to my email?

If you have sent an email to our support staff, please note that we try to answer all emails within 24 hours. If you aren’t getting a response for more than 24 hours, please check your spam (or "junk mail") folder to make sure our reply wasn’t caught by your spam filter. If you cannot find it, please contact us by phone or in the chat to make sure we got your letter.

If you are waiting for a response from a lady, it might take anywhere from 1 to 3 days, or sometimes more. If you are not receiving a notification about a response in your email, please log into your profile on our site and check your Inbox. Her response may be waiting for you there. Our system automatically notifies you by email when you have mail in your Inbox on our site, but sometimes these automatic notifications may be blocked by your provider's spam filters.


Is Russia a safe country? What about Ukraine?

Russia and Ukraine nowdays are generally safe. A cab driver might overcharge you a bit, a restaurant might try to inflate the bill, but violent crime is relatively low. Operating since 1995, we have not had any cases of kidnapping, murder, robbery, or anything of that sort. There are some conflict zones in Ukraine you must avoid though. Avoid all travel to the NGCA (Non-Government Controlled Areas) and the area within 20 km from the contact line inside the Government Controlled Areas (GCA) of the Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts, due to armed operations and occasional bombings in the area. There are numerous checkpoints controlled by separatist forces within the NGCA. Separatist groups have sometimes threatened, detained or kidnapped individuals at NGCA checkpoints. While outside these problem areas both countries are generally safe (and safer than the media usually portraits them), please keep in mind that being a tourist you are always an easier target in any country. So stick to basic security rules. Do not flash your cash and do not walk alone in the middle of the night in sketchy neighborhoods. It would be ideal to have a reliable local guide at your side who would show you around (for instance, the woman you are meeting could be your guide).

Where to stay?

In Kiev we recommend you stay in the center, somewhere near Khreschatyk. You will be close to all the attractions and with very good public transport connections just about everywhere!

In Odessa, it depends what you’re interested in. If you’re after relaxing at the beach then part of the town called Arkadia would be the best for you but if you’re into sightseeing then the center – area between the train station and the harbor – is where you should stay!

In Lviv, there is no better place to stay than Hotel George. It’s the oldest hotel in Lviv, still having the charm of old days when most important people in the world stayed there.

You can book any hotel before your coming by internet, preferably center of the city. Or we can book an apartment, with the help of our local agencies.


Money

In Ukraine, the currency is Ukrainian Hryvnia (UAH) and in Russia it's Ruble (RUB). You can look up current exchange rates on Google.

Credit cards are accepted in most major cities and ATMs are widely available. Foreign currency can be exchanged at most banks, hotels and licensed exchange booths. Worn out banknotes may not be accepted.

Be cautious when using debit or credit cards:

- it's best to use debit cards only at the ATMs located inside a bank
- avoid using card readers with an irregular or unusual feature
- cover the keypad with one hand when entering your PIN
- check for any unauthorized transactions on your account statements


Can I bring my laptop with me?

No restrictions from customs or local law. Also, every laptop we've seen can operate on both 220 volts (Europe, Russia, and Ukraine) and 110 volts (USA). But if you are coming from the USA, I suggest you check that just in case (it's is usually printed on the laptop’s charger). Also, our US clients will need to purchase a simple adaptor, because the Russian electrical outlet has 2 round sockets, while the American plug has 2 flat prongs. Those can be bought for about $1 at Walmart in the travel section, or in most airports (of course more expensive). For electronics other than a laptop you might need a step-down transformer. Those are more expensive ($20-$50) and heavier. To find out, check the device's charger or where the power cord plugs into the device. It usually tells the operating voltage there. If it says "110-240 v", then no step-down transformer is needed. Most cell phone chargers operate on 110-240 volts, so they do not require a step-down transformer.

Will my cell phone work in Russia / Ukraine?

Yes, if it uses the GSM standard. That's what they use in Russia and Ukraine. So it will work just fine for all our travellers from Europe. If you are coming from the US, it will also work fine, unless you are on Verizon. Verizon uses CDMA standard, so the phone will not work in Russia nor Ukraine with your US SIM card. However, if you buy a local Russian or Ukrainian SIM card, your Verizon phone can still work if it's one of the premium phones. Contemporary premium phones usually have both CDMA and GSM capabilities, so once you put in a local GSM SIM card your phone will automatically switch to GSM. If in doubt please check your phone's specs. For other countries it's best to check with your mobile provider. Most cell phone chargers operate on 110-240 volts, so they do not require a step-down transformer.

If you plan to use your existing SIM card, expect high roaming charges. You will also incur international long distance charges when, for example, calling a Russian number in Russia from your cell phone. It's best to call your mobile provider before your trip and ask if they offer some international roaming plan that covers Russia / Ukraine. Most providers offer such plans where you can expect to pay around 15 cents per minute, or around $10 per day and have unlimited minutes. Some roaming data is usually included as well.

A good idea is to buy a local prepaid SIM card in Russia / Ukraine and put it in your phone. In Russia they should be under $10-$15, and in Ukraine you can get a SIM card with 4GB of data for only $3. This way you will get cheap local calls and usually a lot of data. Note that some mobile providers in your home country lock their phones to prevent their customers from doing just that. So if you got your phone from your provider, as opposed to buying online, you may have to have it unlocked first (to do that call your provider BEFORE your trip). For local SIM cards in Russia we recommend the provider called "MTS" and in Ukraine - "Kyivstar".

How do I get an Internet connection?

Pretty much all hotels nowdays have Wi-Fi and it's mostly free with your stay. Did you know that every McDonalds has free Wi Fi? And now there is plenty of them in Russia and in major Uikraine cities. And if you've got a local SIM card with lots of data, you can use your mobile phone as a Wi-Fi Hot Spot.

How do I call Russia and Ukraine from my home country?

The best quality vs. price combination is Skype. You will need to add money to your skype account. Depending on which city you call and whether you call a landline or mobile phone, the call could be anywhere from 2 cents to 20 cents per minute, but it will be always cheaper than any calling plan offered by your local provider. The quality of the calls is usually pretty good. We would not call it excellent, but from our experience it's better than the competitors'.

If you are old fashioned, then from a land phone you normally need to dial 011, then the country code, then the area code and phone number.

On a cell phone you dial "+", then the country code, then the area code and phone number.

The country code is 7 for Russia, 380 for Ukraine, 375 for Belarus . If you dial directly from your phone without signing up for a special international calling plan with your provider, the rate may be pretty high ($2 per minute or even higher). Remember, if you get stuck, you can always call our bilingual operator toll-free +1 (312) 252-0005 and have her dial the number for you. She will stay online and interpret your conversation if necessary.



  • Which messages count? Please note that in these instances we count only the letters that you paid to be translated. So her introductory letter that we translate free of charge does not count. Note that while you pay only when you open her messages to you but not vice versa, the fee that you pay actually covers the translation of both your messages to her and her messages to you.