Search for a mate
Frequently asked questions
We endeavour to answer all your questions. If we have left anything out that is pertinent to your online experience with us please don’t hesitate to email us or contact us through the “ask a question” form, and we will add your questions to our knowledge base.
- Are we different from a dating agency?
- Yes we are. We differ from a dating agency in that we are a marriage agency that helps single Ukrainian women meet Western men who are serious about forming long term relationships with a view towards marriage. We manage the entire end to end process of introductions, correspondence, meeting face to face in the Ukraine, translations, personal interviews and vetting of both ladies and agencies. We also comply with IMBRA, a USA legal requirement to protect foreign nationals.
If you are want to meet “hot babes” and date casually this is not the site for you. - What is IMBRA?
- IMBRA is the "International Marriage Broker Regulation Act of 2005 (IMBRA)".
It was signed into USA law in January 2006 and is aimed at protecting foreign nationals who enter into marriages with U.S. citizens through international marriage brokers. The purpose of this law is to protect spouses in any abusive relationship, not only women. - Who does it affect?
- Citizens of USA only and prospective spouses (fiancee’s) from foreign countries
- I am not a citizen of USA, does the law affect me?
- No
Requirements under the new law
Prospective foreign spouses will be provided with information pertaining to any criminal background of the prospective U.S. spouse. The foreign spouse will also receive information regarding legal rights with regard to domestic violence.
Marriage brokers are required to conduct background searches on their clients.
Click here for more on IMBRA. - Why do Ukrainian women seek husbands abroad?
- The main reason is that Ukrainian women simply do not have much choice, due to a shortage of unmarried men in the Ukraine. It is very difficult to find a decent partner there. If a woman is divorced, with a child or children (Ukrainian women are usually devoted mothers), or lives in a small city, her chances are often close to zero.
Research has shown that 2 main factors influence this situation, biology and the economy. Ukrainian men live 10-20 years less than men in developed European countries and work in more difficult conditions. A third of men in the Ukraine do not live past the age of 60, mainly due to smoking and alcohol consumption, and are often in poor health by the age of 40, which is the age most western men are wanting to start having a family.
In certain age groups the ratio of men to women can be as low as 1:4. Ukraine men are in no hurry to get married, to have a family, or take on responsibilities, especially now during the economic crisis.
In certain age groups the ratio of men to women can be as low as 1:4. Ukraine men are in no hurry to get married, to have a family, or take on responsibilities, especially now during the economic crisis. - Do you have beautiful Ukrainian women listed with your agency?
- Our site is for genuine single Ukrainian women seeking relationships and marriage with genuine men from Western countries. They also happen to be beautiful! The women are encouraged to submit natural photos which reflect who they really are, and we discourage any submissions that try and show a “hot babes” image.
We encourage any man only looking for “hot Ukrainian women” to go elsewhere. Our women are beautiful, warm, natural, friendly and smart, looking for genuine relationships that could lead to marriage. - Do I have to pay to be a member of your agency?
- Registration is free, as well as uploading your profile and photos. Once you have searched our database and find a lady you like you have the choice of corresponding with her, or others through a simple monthly subscription package.
- What services do I pay for?
- You pay for a monthly subscription on a month by month basis, on-line chats, the Romance tours, any related travel expenses, accommodation and gifts. Our prices are detailed on the packages and pricing page.
- What services do I get for FREE?
- FREE search and find
FREE registration and profile upload (incl. photos)
FREE nudges to ladies or men
FREE translation of letters
FREE delivery of letters
Unlimited viewing of profiles
Unlimited free letters from ladies
Unlimited nudges
Unlimited site support
Guaranteed personal service - How do your prices compare to other dating agencies?
- We are NOT a dating agency, we are a relationship agency that provides end to end introductory, correspondence and face to face chaperoned meetings to ensure all parties are safe, secure and well looked after during the process. Our pricing is higher than a normal dating agency that just provides online names and contact details, but we are comparable to other agencies who offer a full end to end service. Our aim is to provide a service that is both affordable and successful.
- What payment options do I have?
- You can pay through Paypal, Western Union, wire transfer, money order or credit card.
- Why do you use Paypal as your payment gateway and how safe is it?
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100% protection against unauthorized payments sent from your account. As a PayPal user, you’re protected from any payment that you did not authorize.
- As a fraud-prevention measure, we will send an email confirmation for every online payment that you make with PayPal
- If you receive email confirmation of a transaction that you did not approve, contact us and we will work with you to quickly resolve the issue. You will not be responsible for the charges.
- Are all these women real and can I trust your service?
- Yes, all women listed in our website are real and have been personally interviewed by our consultants. The agencies through which the women are listed are also vetted, and go through a very strict due diligence in order to represent our brand and company.
Yes. You can trust our services. We are IMBRA compliant for the USA, and take great care to ensure both the women participants and the male applicants are able to contact us through various means should they have any issues. - Where is your company located?
- Our physical head office is based in New Zealand, which is internationally known for it’s strict privacy laws and is listed as one of the top 5 “non corrupt” countries in the world. We have local agency representation in many cities across the Ukraine and each agency must meet strict criteria before we will agree to partner with them.
- How safe are your agency’s and can I trust them?
- All agencies must meet strict criteria to partner with us. They also sign a contract with us outlining expectations, rules and penalties.
- How can I test your agencies?
- Report personally to the site owner any suspicious activity and I will investigate and report back to you.
You can book an on-line chat with your lady. When she is there for you “live” and she talks about your letters you have 100% assurance. No scammer can provide this service. - Do women pay for any service in your agency?
- No, women do not pay for any services, it is free of charge for women.
- Can any lady upload their profile on the database?
- No, all women have to apply through an agency, who will interview them, conduct background and passport checks, take their photos and record video clips. The agency is responsible for ensuring that all parties throughout the process have a hassle free, safe and enjoyable experience.
- Can you guarantee that I will find my soul mate on your site?
- No, we can’t guarantee that your soul mate is here yet and we can’t guarantee that every marriage will bring everlasting happiness. What we can guarantee is that every woman is personally known, that individual care and support will be provided to all users of the site and that we will do everything possible to help you meet the person that is right for you.
- Can I travel to the Ukraine to meet a lady that I am interested in?
- Yes, we offer Romance tours to various cities in the Ukraine.
- Do Ukrainian women speak good English?
- Most Ukrainian women speak some English but find it much easier to speak than to write. To enable your emails to be understood and answered will usually require some translation. We offer this service free of charge should you purchase 1 of our subscription packages.
Not all Ukrainian women have personal computers and may require some emails to be read to them via cell phone, or the ladies are telephoned and asked to call into our agency office to read your email and to respond. - Do all the ladies have video clips?
- most of the ladies do have video clips which you can access by purchasing through the add-ons page.
- Are all Ukrainian women well educated?
- The women we have on our listings are well educated. Ukrainian women in general are known for having adaptive, smart minds and an ability to study and apply themselves well in both a personal capacity, as well as in business.
- Is a Ukrainian woman’s character different from that of an American woman?
- Women in the Ukraine are more traditional in their approach to dating and relationships than Western or American women. They are romantic in the true sense of the word, and are well known for their traditional values, family focus and prefer to play a secondary role in the relationship process. In general, Ukrainian women are milder, not so sharp in behavior, and I would say, more feminine and gentle. It has been our experience that Ukrainian women are not so “consumer” in their attitude towards men, are more romantic and tender. This of course is a generalization and it depends on the individual character of every person.
- Would a Ukrainian wife prefer to work or to stay at home?
- This question should be discussed on an individual basis. One woman would prefer to stay at home and take care of the family and children, while another one does not imagine her life without going to work and having some social life. I would caution though, that even the most “business focused” Ukrainian woman would put her family first, before a career. It is mainly for this reason that many men from Western countries would prefer to have a less career minded, less brash partner who is willing to put family first.
- Are Ukrainian women interested in relocating to a Muslim country?
- No the religion in Ukraine is typically Orthodox or Christian and Ukrainian women are unlikely to relocate to a Muslim country.
- How long should I correspond before meeting the women I am interested in?
- The ideal scenario would be to correspond for one –three months and then arrange a meeting. Women do realise that an overseas trip may be expensive, and that it takes time to arrange time off from work. It is not a good idea to wait as long as 12 months as the women are very popular will often prefer to meet someone much earlier in the process.
- Do the women expect a marriage proposal at once?
- No, of course not! The women would prefer to learn about the man whom they like in order to make a serious commitment to a relationship or marriage. We find that often they may meet 2-3 times before they apply for a fiancée visa.
- I am planning to visit a lady I am corresponding with, can I ask to stay in her apartment?
- Please imagine yourself in her place. You are getting letters from some stranger, whose way of writing you like, you like his voice on the phone, he seems nice, but this is not proven yet. We protect all our ladies by requesting that ANY male visitor from overseas should stay in hotel or apartment on their first visit, and later, when you know how you feel, decide on staying at her place.
- How to send a package or a gift to Ukraine?
- Contact us through the site and we will give you the address of the lady’s agency. Your lady will collect the package or gift directly from the agency. We will send you a photo of her receiving your surprise.
- What tips would you give for conducting an online relationship?
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There are many do’s and dont’s for finding, corresponding and meeting women online. It pays to do your homework, not rush into things and of course, work with an agency that is transparent and trustworthy with your interest at heart. You need to think about:
- Can they meet compliance standards?
- Are the ladies on their database real?
- Can they advise you on etiquette, culture differences, communication and travel?
- Do they have local representation in the Ukraine?
- How do I know you’re not a scammer?
- We are listed on Agency Scams white list which is a website that tracks scammers. We work closely with the Agency Scam owner, Jim and often ask his advice where necessary.
Please refer to our Anti-scam Policy. - Who are the scammers and how do you spot them?
- There are many articles online about the scammers, with informal websites trying to play watchdog and help people understand what to look for, what need to be aware of, where you can go for inforamtion, how to report any scammers you come across. In a way, the industry self regulates in that all the genuine sites encourage people to report the scammers, and these names are published on anti scam websites.
- What type of anti scam lists are there and who is on them?
- There is a website you can go to called www.agencyscams.com which provides information on scamming. The lists are categorised by:
- Gold list – Good or outstanding sites, vetted and trusted with many years of service.
- White list – Adhere to the rules, no major complaints or infractions
- Grey lists – agencies that don’t don’t follow set standards and regulations
- The list - agencies that refuse to co-operate, allow unethical business to be conducted in their organization or blatantly conduct dishonest business.
- No List - If there is an agency/site that is not listed, may not be known, may be new, or can’t really tell which list they belong to.
- Refused List - These are agencies that either refused to be on the White List or do NOT care about the scammers they have on their site.
- How do your Romance tours compare to other agencies?
- you choose the length of the tour yourself and our agency will propose an itinerary or daily activity list that you can alter according to your tastes or the weather. The tour is YOUR tour and we will do all we can for you. The Tour fees are $250 no matter how long your tour is and this includes 10 free hours of translator costs.
- What do your tours include?
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The tours include:
- travel bookings if you would like us to arrange
- airport transfers
- apartment accommodation
- city cultural excursion
- 24 hour support from the agency
- meeting your special lady (ladies)
- a full agenda if you request
- translators at $15 per hour
- upgrade to 5 star accommodation where you will pay the cost difference
- What do your tours NOT include?
- Transfers between cities if you are seeing several ladies in different cities
- How much spending money will I need?
- We have found that most of our clients are very comfortable with a budget of between $700 and $1,000. Some spend more than that and some will spend less, it really depends on your taste. Our host cities are all fairly large with attractions and outlets for a variety of tastes and income levels.
- What additional costs are involved?
- Other than normal spending money there will be very little in the way of expenses you will need to worry about. Your package includes continued daily guidance and assistance from our local agency staff. You may have a very special request or need that could incur an additional cost. However, few of our clients encounter a need for this. Relatively minor additional expenses could include special transportation, interpreter, or gift services. Don't forget your tour package includes a very nice breakfast on a daily basis.
- What paperwork will I need to travel?
- You will need a passport which you can obtain from your home country. If you already possess a passport please be sure there is at least 6 months remaining on it from when you plan to enter the Ukraine. You also need a visa to visit the Ukraine. To obtain the visa you will need an invitation to enter the country which UBA provides.
- Do I need additional health insurance?
- You should check with you health care insurer and ask if your current policy will cover you outside your country of departure. If not, you may want to purchase a rider policy to cover any emergency medical situations, which may occur.
- What is the dress code for a social get together or dinner out?
- We recommend smart casual, and comfortable. Just keep in mind that this will be your only opportunity to make a good first impression.
- Should I bring photos?
- We recommend that you take every advantage to make this experience as real as possible for both you and the ladies, so bring along any photos of yourself, friends, family, pets, home, cars and your recreational activities to allow the lady to have a much fuller understanding of who you are and what your particular geographic location affords for those residents living in the area.
- May I bring videotape?
- United States and European videotape formats are not compatible, but by all means bring your video on your computer laptop.
- What sort of clothing do I need in the Ukraine?
- Be yourself and dress comfortably during most of your trip. Summer attire may be jeans, shorts, and trousers. Of course in the winter months you will want to dress appropriately. An umbrella is always a good item to pack as well. If you attend the ballet or opera, you will want to wear something a little more formal.
- Can anyone from anywhere in the world attend a tour or your socials?
- Yes they can. However, all tours are by invitation only, and we or the agency reserve the right to accept or decline anyone on the tour. Please remember, that our agency primarily targets Western countries and Europe as potential partners for the ladies.
- What can I bring with me?
- You can bring any personal items you like, except drugs and weapons! Lap top computers are the best to bring for images and videos, a camera and video cam. Remember to check visa requirements, have a letter of invitation from our agency and all contact and travel details with you when you travel. Obviously you will need to speak to your airline in terms of baggage allowance etc.
- Should I bring any gifts for the ladies?
- You can purchase anything in our host cities that is available in any other major city. Most of the women do not have the money to purchase the extras. Our advice is to take advantage of any personal connections or good deals available to you to keep costs down. Think of something unique that reflects your home country that she couldn’t purchase in the Ukraine
- What can I purchase in the Ukraine and take home with me?
- You can take anything bought from a Western-style shop or department store, but save your receipts. Since 1990 the removal from the country of certain quantities of consumer goods such as caviar, tea, fabrics, some clothing, carpets, leather, photo equipment, precious metals and stones has been restricted.
- What about currency and money?
- Your local agency will go over the local currency and the exchange rates with you. There are legal exchange offices nearly everywhere, including hotels, restaurants, boutiques, street front stores etc. You will be asked to fill out a currency statement when you enter the country. This statement is designed to prevent people from taking out more money than they brought in.
- What about credit cards?
- Visa, MasterCard/Eurocard and American Express are all widely accepted. If you have your credit card and pin number you may obtain cash from the many ATM's now easily accessible in most cities. ATM's will allow withdrawal of anyplace from $100 to $300 per use depending on the machine.
Travelers' cheques are only good for large Russian cities like Moscow or St. Petersburg but are not advised for the Ukraine as some banks take as long as one hour to cash. Once you get outside of the major cities Travelers' cheques can be more difficult to cash. American Express is the most widely recognized brand. It is advised to bring a combination of cash and credit cards.
Clients often tell us they have been warned to not use their credit cards in Eastern countries due to card theft. We have found this to be unfounded and have not yet had a negative experience regarding card theft.
If you want an additional safety barrier between you and your main account then do a little preplanning and open a special account specifically for your trip to the Ukraine. Deposit a set amount of money in the account and notify the card issuer that you will be using the card from a foreign destination. This safety measure will prevent someone from accessing all those millions you been saving for a rainy day. - What sort of accommodation do you provide?
- You have the choice of staying in a hotel or furnished apartment, all of which has been vetted and checked out by the local agencies. Information and photos of apartments are available on the information page or under romance tours.
- What about the electricity?
- The electricity is 220 volts, 50 Hz AC. The sockets do require a Continental or European plug adapter with two round pins. American appliances need a 220V to 110V/100V converter.
http://www.loveme.com/tour/faq.shtml - faq - Do they use the metric system?
- Yes. The metric system is in use.