Passport Bros

In recent years in the United States and in many parts of Europe, frustration with dating among men has contributed to the rise of what have been nicknamed “passport bros.”  The phrase is used to describe the social media movement involving western men who travel abroad seeking romantic relationships, typically with the goal of finding a spouse or long-term partner.  

Passport Bros

Passport bros have been depicted as both sex tourists or men looking for marriage abroad. Western men frequently travel to  developing countries like Thailand, Brazil, Columbia, the Philippines or Vietnam where American dollars stretch much further and these men are perceived in these countries as being wealthy. The passport bros movement is predominantly seen as a response to the rise in feminism, as these guys desire partners who are more traditional with family-oriented values, and who are more appreciative of a traditional patriarchal provider role. In many Western cultures nowadays, people are marrying later in life and prioritizing careers instead of family as expectations in relationships have shifted. Some men feel out of sync with the new norms and they look abroad to navigate that disconnect.

The change in American culture from women wanting the stereotypical housewife role has been brewing for decades. The workplace role of American women changed during World War II as millions of women began working. Around the same time, a handful of male war veterans in the U.S. desired a marriage with more traditional gender roles, as nearly 100,000 men married foreign women.

Why the rise more recently?  Globalization and remote work opportunities, as well as more accessible international travel options, have made cross-border relationships more and more feasible. According to a recent survey of approximately 30 countries, by Ipsos, a think tank, more than half of Generation Z men believe women’s rights have gone too far, and almost one-third would like wives to obey their husbands.

Other men comment that the dating landscape in American is unfavorable, and online dating only benefits a small handful of “the most desirable” men. Female hypergamy, the behavioral tendency for women to seek romantic partners with superior socioeconomic status and wealth, has definitely become more problematic according to many American men.

When an American man marries a woman from one of the developing countries listed above, he can either move to that country, or his new wife can immigrate to the U.S. If money is not a substantial issue and the man’s finances are in order, he can live a very high quality life in one of those countries due to the relatively very low cost of living. American men with strong pensions live awfully nice, retired lives overseas.

The United States does allow fiancés and wives of American citizens to immigrate here. If not yet married, a K-1 visa allows a foreign fiancé to travel to the U.S., but they must marry the visa sponsor (the man) within 90 days of arrival. Once married, the spouse can file for an adjustment of status with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to obtain her permanent resident green card. The average time it takes to obtain a K1 visa is approximately 12 months. If the couple has already married, Form I-130 is used and once approved the wife gets green card status.

Criticism of the passport bros movement.

Some argue that the movement exploits economic inequality creating unequal levels of power in the relationship reducing women to subservient roles.

As cross-border and cross-ocean relationships become more commonplace, it is important to understand potential legal issues that can arise when these relationships lead to marriage, relocation, children, and unfortunately in some cases divorce. Prior to entering a marriage with a foreign woman, it is important to consult with a Kansas City men’s divorce attorney. Attorney Robert Davis at the Men’s Center for Domestic Resolution is dedicated to helping men in family law matters such as divorce, child custody and prenuptial agreements.

 

The Men’s Center for Domestic Resolution is Kansas City’s law firm for father’s rights.