The Visiting Internet Fiancé/ée (VIF): An Emerging Group of International Travelers

Here we describe an emerging category of travelers called the Visiting Internet Fiance/ee (VIF), characterized by their travel to pursue a romantic relationship with an individual they have only encountered online. The VIF is not well identified in travel medicine literature despite having a higher risk for several travel-related issues including sexually transmitted infections, monetary fraud, and international scams. We also propose specific counseling interventions designed to minimize the adverse outcomes faced by the VIF traveler.