INSIDERS SAY MAIL ORDER BRIDES BILL WILL BACKFIRE: Pending American Legislation On International Marriage Brokers May Cause More Violence Against Mail Order Brides

According to the industry insiders, pending American legislation on international marriage brokers may result in forcing legitimate USA operators out of business and more violence against mail order brides, due to poor logistics of the suggested procedure. The Bill was sponsored by Senator Maria Cantwell and Rep. Rick Larsen, both from Washington State, where 20-year-old Anastasia King, a mail order bride from Kyrgyzstan, was brutally murdered in September 2000. The proposed Bill is aimed to protect women seeking American husbands from bride-hunters with the history of crime or abuse, but industry insiders say the Bill may backfire.

18 August 2003, Robina, Gold Coast, Australia - According to the industry insiders, pending American legislation on international marriage brokers may result in forcing legitimate USA international matchmaking companies out of business and more violence against mail order brides, due to poor logistics of the suggested procedure.

The legislation was sponsored by Senator Maria Cantwell and Rep. Rick Larsen, both Democrats from Washington State, where 20-year-old Anastasia King, a mail order bride from Kyrgyzstan, was brutally murdered by her husband Indle King Jr. and an accomplice, in September 2000. Indle King Jr. was convicted of first-degree murder last year. His accomplice, Daniel Kristopher Larson, formerly convicted of second-degree murder, may face more charges after he recently broke his agreement with prosecutors. The proposed Bill is aimed to protect women seeking American husbands from bride-hunters with the history of crime or abuse.

"The majority of international matchmaking organizations welcome the proposed legislation, where women will be enabled to learn criminal background of men that are courting them," says Elena Petrova, the owner of Russian Brides Cyber Guide http://www.womenrussia.com, an informational website for men seeking a Russian wife. Located in the Gold Coast, Australia, she is nevertheless concerned about the proposed USA legislation. Petrova states about 80% of men seeking brides in Russia are Americans. "This is an important and much needed measure. But the proposed logistics of the process do not seem to fit the purpose."

According to the Bill, a matchmaking company should obtain a background check on every man desiring to use its services, translate it to the native language of the woman, and then present it to her for approval before allowing any contact between the man and the woman. Such a process can take a few days, or even weeks. "Why would anyone wait for a few weeks if he can use a non-American website and receive instant contacts?" asks Petrova. She predicts men will use offshore websites where they do not need to provide background checks, thus opening room for more abuse of mail order brides.

The figures of habitually quoted INS study dated 1999 indicating the number of the marriage brokers operating in the USA as 200 seem to be outdated. According to Petrova, there are about 1000 international matchmaking organizations in the USA, but the Former Soviet Union alone has 10,000 to 20,000 marriage agencies. "The competition in the international matchmaking industry is tough", points out Petrova. General dating sites also have many thousands profiles of foreign women, and no one can prevent a violent man from using a large Internet personals website to initiate contacts with foreign women.

Marina Smiley, the owner of the website for Russian immigrants "Immigration 911" (http://www.immigrateto.com), says, "The proposed procedure of background checks is overcomplicated. It will push USA operators out of business. I condemn marriage agencies with their hype but shutting down USA agencies will not solve the problem of violence against mail order brides. There are always will be overseas operators. It is better to have the situation under control than overdo the things and cause more problems."

If the proposed Bill is accepted in its current edition, the USA matchmaking organizations, which are considered in the industry as more open and honest than their FSU-based counterparts, may be effectively forced out of business, and there will be nobody to enforce the proposed legislation upon.

"It would be terrible if the crucial regulation like this is ruined by poor logistics," says the owner of Russian Brides Cyber Guide, a 35-year-old mother of two. Petrova has written to both Dem. Sen. Maria Cantwell and Dem. Rep. Rick Larsen, expressing her concerns. "The end of legitimate international matchmaking organizations in the USA can only result in more abuse against mail order brides. I hope the Congress of the USA will make the correct decision regarding the procedure of background checks on men seeking foreign partners."

Russian Brides Cyber Guide (http://www.womenrussia.com) was founded in 1999 as informational resource for men seeking a Russian wife, and was the first website about Russian women designed by a Russian woman. The site offers a range of articles, reviews and true-life stories for anyone interested in the subject of international marriages.

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If you'd like more information about this topic, or to schedule an interview with Elena Petrova, please call Elena at +617.55787977 (9:00-16:00, GMT+10, Australian Eastern Time) or e-mail Elena at http://www.womenrussia.com/contact.htm.

Marina Smiley can be contacted through her website http://www.immigrateto.com.

Additional information can be also accessed online at http://www.womenrussia.com/press