Correspondence & Introduction Services

I've never been the customer of an "introduction service" myself, though about 1 in 3 of the ASAWA forum members are, or have been, according to our polls there. Some of people (men and women) were happy with the results, some were not. Pragmatically, these businesses serve a legitimate purpose and most are on the up and up. But I advise both the guys and gals who consider such services to be cautious. Some of the gals are wonderful, loving girls, some are gold diggers. Some of the guys are well-meaning and caring men, some are creeps. Be sure you know who you're dealing with before you make a commitment.

If you decide to use a service, here are some things for you to keep an eye out for:

1. Are the Filipinas advertised as sexual objects? If there are images of Filipinas on the site, are they models in bikinis or normal looking women in normal looking clothes?

2. Are "tours" to the Philippines offered? If so, do they sound like legitimate travel packages, or sex tours?

3. Is the site operated by a Fil-West couple? If yes, does the wife contribute actively to the site?

4. Does the site seem to you to be in compliance with Republic Act No. 6955 ? Of course, if you disagree with that law, or believe it to be inconsequential, this is a non-issue for you.

5. Is there customer feedback?

6. How long has the company been in business?

7. Does the site provide insight into Filipino culture?

8. Do you know of anyone who has used the company before?

9.  Have they met the requirements of the H.R. 3657: International Marriage Broker Regulation Act of 2005?   (see also http://www.govtrack.us/data/us/bills.text/109/h3657.pdf for full text).  This new law "Prohibits an international marriage broker from providing any U.S. client with any personal contact information of any individual under the age of 18. Prohibits a marriage broker from providing any U.S. client with the personal contact information of any foreign national client 18 years of age or older until the marriage broker has: (1) collected certain background information from the U.S. client; (2) provided a copy of such background information to the foreign national client; (3) provided the foreign national client information about legal rights; (4) received consent from the foreign national client to release personal contact information; and (5) informed the U.S. client that he or she will be subject to a criminal background check."

Those are at least a few of the things you should keep in mind when looking at sites. Remember, many, if not most, are legitimate and do act within the laws of their host nation as well as the Philippines. But there are a handful that do not, and you need to keep an eye out for them. Once you find them, deprive them of your business and let them whither on the vine. There are the types of businesses run by the types of individuals that make Fil-West relationships the center of far too much controversy.

Good luck!