Contemporary migration to the North is increasingly a female phenomenon. The literature has interpreted the accompanying upsurge in binational marriages as reflecting the escape of unskilled women from poverty in the South. This paper argues that many female migrants are in fact highly skilled, and that their binational marriages are not motivated chiefly by economics but by reasons of love and gender representations. A differentiated view of female migrants and of marriage migration is expounded, as revealed by testimonies of skilled Latin American women in Switzerland. The methods of study include in-depth interviewing, participant observation and focus groups. An analysis of the situation of social integration of these women shows that the majority are either employed at a level well below their qualifications or are excluded from the job market. This process has its roots in the prevailing discourses in Swiss society, which have lead to social practices and immigration policies that effectively hinder the social integration of female immigrants. In reaction to these barriers, the immigrant women have created numerous action networks, which demonstrate their initiative and desire to participate in Swiss society. The conclusion is a paradox: whereas Latin America loses valuable human capital, Switzerland fails to take advantage of its gain in human capital.