Judging from Jharvey’s comment about gold diggers in America, he must be at least moderately well-off to attract them here. That would go with Autolycus’ comment, “If you’re loaded, then sure, go ahead and proceed with extreme caution. If this would break the bank for you, then forget it.” Of course, there’s more spendthrift ways to go about all this than this particular site.
I had seen some documentary on mail order brides from Russia. I can’t remember, but it might be In the Name of Love. If this is the movie I’m thinking of, it might be interesting for you to give it a watch. I seem to recall all the women in it were sincere about trying to get married and not scammers
In rural Japan there are a lot of farmers who need wives. For some strange reason, Japanese women aren’t exactly jumping at the chance to break their backs cooking, cleaning, farming, and churning out kiddies so these men often go to the Phillipines or Thailand and bring back women to marry. I have met quite a few of them since we are all trying to learn Japanese. Many of these women seem perfectly happy here–certainly they are probably better off than back home–but it strikes me as a business relationship. If you get a mail order bride who is good to you, it’s because she has good customer service skills. She is a dependable employee. She is not really a wife in the Westernized romantic sense. It’s a business relationship. If that’s what you want, then go for it. Maybe you’ll get a model employee, dispensing sex, children, and a happy domestic home life with a smile. Unfortunately, you may also get the drug-addled junkie with 3 kids who steals from the cash register and just doesn’t show up to work one day. Hope you’re a good judge of character!
Hell, you could call these women slaves if you want, and I’d just point out that victims fall in love with their captors. Think of it this way: people have a knack for bonding, through shared experience especially. If two people are compatible enough to be friends, I think it’s inevitable they, confined to one-another, will become companions. And a companion is all anyone really wants.* Just watch out for the hazards mentioned: that she’s not a scammer and that you’re not an ogre.
*sure, maybe meeting someone in a bar, dating for years, and finally deciding you ain’t gonna find anyone better all the while repeating the word ‘love’ in inverse correlation to its truth is one culture’s idea of the proper. but i think there’s something redeeming in an arranged-type marriage that’s often overlooked. (at least when you get past that messy parents-forcing-kids-against-their-will part)
Russian marriage licence. Found it on Google. 
Oh, you wanted a specific marriage licence? 
When I was doing it, email wasn’t really available. (Late 90’s, Russia, soon after the breakup.) Back then they were selling addresses at N dollars each (maybe $10? I’m not sure.) However, you could become a member for around $100 - $200 and get all the addresses you wanted without additional charges.
Yes, a trip IS expensive. That is why you spend a lot of time up front corresponding with many different women – so you have a better chance of meeting the “right” one when you are there.
Thinking about it, $10 an email seems expensive. Do they allow you to exchange email addresses in those initial emails so that you don’t have to spend $10 for every subsequent message? I’d call or email AFA and ask what their policy is on this. Also check into “membership” or some quantity discount. Also, if the woman in Russia has access to a FAX machine, look into a “FAX callback service” to allow her to send letters to you via FAX.
J.
I was speaking in general. There are all kinds of people both in the US and in Russia.
I don’t think you have to be rich to do this, but you do need to have some resources. If you’re making $40K a year with little savings, I wouldn’t recommend it. But if you’re in a pretty good paying job and manage your money well, it’s doable. I’m not rich and it worked for me.
J.
Be Careful! This could happen to YOU if you decide on a Thai Internet bride.