Ukrainian Brides: Mentality, Prices, Visas, and Everything You Need to Know
Ukraine isn’t just a land of freedom fighters, but also home to some of the most gorgeous and enterprising women in the world. Despite hardships, they aren’t afraid to take on household responsibilities, contribute to the family income, and bring up children under the shelling. If you’re looking for a gorgeous wife, strong enough to support you through thick and thin, Ukraine is the place to find her.
Today, we’ll introduce you to Ukrainian brides’ mentality. You’ll learn what drives them, where and how to meet them, and how to budget for a long-distance relationship.
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Why do Ukrainian women become mail order brides?
In the 90s, Ukrainian women flocked to the US, hoping to get out of poverty and into the American Dream. Things have changed, and these days, their motivation is much different:
- They seek a safe haven away from the war. Since the start of the full-scale Russian invasion, millions of women have left Ukraine, and more keep relocating daily in search of a safe life away from the missile and drone strikes.
- There’s a shortage of Ukrainian men. Unfortunately, Ukraine has already lost thousands to the Russian invasion. While the war continues, most cities suffer a huge shortage of men, making Ukrainian girls look for potential partners abroad.
- Ambitious girls look for better opportunities. Ukrainian society remains pretty conservative, dominated by men. Intelligent, highly educated, and hardworking women explore relocation opportunities to advance their studies and careers, while seeking partners to settle down with.
Other common motivations include disappointment in local men, unpleasant past experiences, including divorce, substance abuse issues, and domestic violence. If you’re that curious, you can always ask Ukrainian brides what attracts them to foreigners.
What are the main characteristics of Ukrainian brides?
It’s impossible to generalize Ukrainian girls for marriage in a few short sentences, so we’ll focus on a few mentality traits you’ll find in most Ukrainians to a certain degree:
- They care about their looks and reputation. Hot Ukrainian women take care to look their best even when running errands, always trying to make the best impression. The same is true for their homes, gardens, children, and families.
- Ukrainians are notoriously adaptable and persevering. Ukrainian women can make a three-course meal on a dime. Besides, they aren’t quitters, so they keep families strong through struggles and troubles.
- Ukrainian women are outspoken and independent. They like to have strong men by their side, but they aren’t afraid to voice their concerns to get heard. Ukrainian girls are also taught to be self-sufficient from an early age, so they know how to survive against all odds.
Although Ukrainian wives share many similarities with other Slavic ladies, do not make the mistake of mixing them up. It’s one of the greatest offenses you can give, especially if you confuse them with Russians or Belarusians.
How to find a Ukrainian bride online
Unless there’s a robust Ukrainian community in your city, your only viable way to meet Ukrainian singles is online. Luckily, it’s also the easiest, fastest, and most convenient way to try international dating.
Here’s a quick breakdown of how to find a Ukrainian wife online:
When your relationship transitions from online-only to IRL, you can pull out all your best moves. Sooner or later, your girlfriend will be ready to settle down. Remember that it’ll take you at least a few months, but likely over a year, to jump through all the hoops to bring her to the States legally. So, you’ll need a plan to deal with the long distance in the meantime. Of course, it’ll all be worth it in the end.
Are Ukrainian mail order brides legal?
Yes, you can marry a Ukrainian woman. But no, you cannot buy a Ukrainian wife.
If you’re both unattached consenting adults, you can get married in Ukraine, the US, or other countries and have your marriage recognized by both states. Regardless of the wedding location, if you want to bring your Ukrainian wife or bride to the US, you’ll need to file a petition for an alien fiancé and have her apply for a K-type visa once your petition is approved.
How much does it cost to marry a Ukrainian mail order bride?
It’s worth repeating that you cannot buy a Ukrainian bride. So what’s with their cost? When you think about it, dating is pretty expensive, even when it’s local. But dating Ukrainian women comes with a unique set of expenses. Here, we’ll go over the major spending categories and help you estimate the dating budget.
TL;DR: So, how much are Ukrainian brides? You’ll need a minimum of $6,000 to go from the first chat to getting married, but it’ll likely be more. The good thing is it’s not a one-time payment, but spread over a year or more.
Dating site membership – from $100/month
International dating sites with Ukrainian ladies for marriage use one of two payment options:
- Monthly subscription plans. They usually come in tiers with different toolsets. Pricing ranges from $50 to $300 per month. You get unlimited messaging, which is a plus, but once you commit to a long-term plan, there’s no way to take a break without losing money. And short-term plans tend to be overpriced.
- Pay-as-you-go membership. On these sites, you have to pay for every message, which might get annoying. On the other hand, you get complete control over your spending and can hit pause whenever you want. Credits cost $0.20 to $0.40, and you’d need 500 to 1,000 credits. Expect to spend over $200 in the first month, but once you find a Ukrainian bride of your dreams, your monthly expenses can go down.
You can expect your online courting to last 6 to 12 months, so the overall online dating budget can range from $600 to $2,400, depending on the site you choose and your activity level.
Gifts & communication – from $100/month
This spending category is entirely optional. You can avoid gifts throughout your online-only relationship and bring small tokens along when you visit your future wife in Ukraine. Alternatively, you can spend hundreds of dollars on flowers and jewelry, if your budget allows.
Our best tip is to do your homework before committing to expensive purchases. For example, an iPhone can be more affordable in the US than in Ukraine, but local jewelry is likely cheaper, and you can visit the store together to pick something your bride likes. You should also research taxes and tariffs if you want to mail your gift. Your bride may end up paying 20% or more of the cost to get your present.
Travel expenses – from $1,300/week
The Department of State recommends you do not travel to Ukraine due to the ongoing war.
You can always arrange a meeting with Ukrainian women for marriage in Poland, Slovakia, or Romania. However, if you decide to brave a visit to Ukraine, you’ll have to do so by train or bus, as it’s currently a no-fly zone.
A weeklong trip will cost around $1,300. This includes a round-trip flight to Poland (around $1,000), train tickets to and from Ukraine ($100), and $200 for accommodation, food, and transportation. The cost of living in Ukraine is generally low (except in Kyiv and Lviv), making it more cost-effective to stay for 2 weeks or more. But you’ll be under constant threat of Russian attacks, like the whole country.
Pro tip: Remember to research the location of the closest bomb shelters and download an air raid app on your phone to stay safe while in Ukraine.
Visa application & fees – around $3,000
At the first stage, you’ll need only to cover the filing fees for the Petition for an alien fiancé (Form I-129F), which is $675, and the Nonimmigrant visa application (Form DS-160) for around $300. Medical exams and vaccinations can add up to $300 to the cost. Once you’re married and settled in, your Ukrainian wife can apply for the adjustment of status and permanent residency (Form I-485 for $1,440) and get the employment authorization (Form I-765 for $520).
Note: All of these costs do not cover immigration attorney fees, which can double or triple your visa filing fee budget.
Wedding costs – from $300 to $30,000+
You’ll need to check the cost of the wedding license in your state, but it’s typically around $100. For around $300, you can have a courthouse ceremony with witnesses. That’s enough to formalize your relationship and satisfy the K-1 visa conditions.
For a full-scale wedding reception and ceremony, expect to pay $30,000+. Venue and catering tend to be the biggest spending categories, followed by photography and videography services.
Quick tips
There’s no universal formula for dating Ukrainian women. You’ll have to adjust your dating moves according to the response they receive. But these tricks can give you a leg up:
- Do not bring up the war. Let your Ukrainian girlfriend vent when she needs to, or let her ignore it when she prefers.
- Be generous with compliments. Ukrainian women are often reserved, but they don’t get enough credit, so your kind words will be appreciated.
- Learn a few phrases in Ukrainian. A few basics, like pryvit (hello), papa (goodbye), diakuiu (thanks), tak (yes), and ni (no), will go a long way in showing you’re serious about your relationship.
- Dial your chivalry to 11. Ukrainian women like to be independent, but they still appreciate a man picking up the bill, offering his arm (or jacket when it’s chilly).
- Show genuine interest. Steer the conversation to learn more about your girlfriend, instead of talking her ear off; she’ll appreciate your honest questions and willingness to listen to her rant.
Ukrainian women don’t ask for much. They are pretty self-sufficient and strong, but they sure appreciate strong men when they decide to settle down. If you like what you’ve learned about these beauties, you know what your first step to a Ukrainian wife should be.
