IMBRA law question

[Stephen1 0]

What is exactly is the IBRA law. When I filled out my petition I put no for the question about meeting my fiance through an international marriage broker. I thought an international marriage broker was more like a mail order bride thing. But I met my fiance through a matchmaking site called filipinaheart. Is this considered a international marriage broker? Is it legal? I love my fiance so much and it scares me to think I could be denied for something like this.

[Nagishkaw 510]

Did you pay for a membership or was this matchmaking site free? If it is free, you don't have to worry and did right by checking the NO box.

IMBRA law can be found in the IMBRA Forum.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...mp;s=&f=126

[Stephen1 0]

I did pay I think 20 dollars. I didnt know it was considered an international marriage broker. so how does this affect my case?

[Kazan' Tiger 1]

I looked at the site briefly and it said it is a free site. What did you pay $20 for?

[Nagishkaw 510]

Maybe it was free for the ladies, but the men have to pay a membership.

[Stephen1 0]

yeah, that was the case, men pay 20 dollars for a 3 month membership and for the ladies it was free

[Kazan' Tiger 1]

It stated a standard membership is free for all parties. It seems the $20 is a fee to upgrade to be able to perform advanced searches.

I am beginning to think they are an IMB as the site is obviously geared for Filipina ladies to find an International man for marriage in which the man pays a fee.

Maybe it was free for the ladies, but the men have to pay a membership.

[Justin and Masako 0]

Does this affect I-130 applications as well?

I only ask because my wife and I met through a penpals / personals site. I don't consider it a International Marriage Broker site though. I did need to pay to be able to contact or be contacted by others but that seems like a normal thing for that type of site.

I am a bit worried now. I hope someone can put my mind at ease.

[Justin and Masako 0]

Does this affect I-130 applications as well?

I only ask because my wife and I met through a penpals / personals site. I don't consider it a International Marriage Broker site though. I did need to pay to be able to contact or be contacted by others but that seems like a normal thing for that type of site.

I am a bit worried now. I hope someone can put my mind at ease.

Ok, it applies only to K non-immigrant VISAs and does not apply to K-3 VISAs. Also there are other conditions that need to be met as well. Specifically it looks for multiple K VISA applications over a few years, criminal activity and abuse.

But if someone with some clear knowledge of this could re-confirm my findings I would be ever so grateful!

Oh and Stephen1, sorry I am not meaning to hijack your thread. Just had my heart jump a bit there.

Thanks,

[Kazan' Tiger 1]

You two are fine. The site you described is not an IMB.

Does this affect I-130 applications as well?

I only ask because my wife and I met through a penpals / personals site. I don't consider it a International Marriage Broker site though. I did need to pay to be able to contact or be contacted by others but that seems like a normal thing for that type of site.

I am a bit worried now. I hope someone can put my mind at ease.

Ok, it applies only to K non-immigrant VISAs and does not apply to K-3 VISAs. Also there are other conditions that need to be met as well. Specifically it looks for multiple K VISA applications over a few years, criminal activity and abuse.

But if someone with some clear knowledge of this could re-confirm my findings I would be ever so grateful!

Oh and Stephen1, sorry I am not meaning to hijack your thread. Just had my heart jump a bit there.

Thanks,

[YuAndDan 153]

Correct an IMB is a company that actively looks to match up couples usualy for a lot higher than $20. I used Cherry Blossoms a fer years ago, and when IMBRA came up I asked them if they were a n IMB and they replied that they were not, because the people on their site were only messaging each other without any intervention on the part of the website owner.

You two are fine. The site you described is not an IMB.

Does this affect I-130 applications as well?

I only ask because my wife and I met through a penpals / personals site. I don't consider it a International Marriage Broker site though. I did need to pay to be able to contact or be contacted by others but that seems like a normal thing for that type of site.

I am a bit worried now. I hope someone can put my mind at ease.

Ok, it applies only to K non-immigrant VISAs and does not apply to K-3 VISAs. Also there are other conditions that need to be met as well. Specifically it looks for multiple K VISA applications over a few years, criminal activity and abuse.

But if someone with some clear knowledge of this could re-confirm my findings I would be ever so grateful!

Oh and Stephen1, sorry I am not meaning to hijack your thread. Just had my heart jump a bit there.

Thanks,

[Stephen1 0]

so what exactly defines something as a IMB. I did pay the 20 dollars or whatever it was and the site is disigned to bring westerners to chat with filipinas, but there was no intervention with the owner of the website. There are possibley hundreds or thousands using it at once and people meet eachother on there own initiative by chatting. Does anyone know exactly what classifies something as an IMB

[Justin and Masako 0]

You two are fine. The site you described is not an IMB.

Kazan' Tiger and YuAndDan thank you for your posts. You really put my heart at ease, and my mind. Though it is scary that today is the first time I have heard about this even though I researched the K-1 this summer when we were trying to decide which VISA to apply for.

Stephen1, I really hope that you are met with good news too! And it would be nice if it (and many other things) was spelled out with some guidelines or a detailed description as to what qualifies as an IMB.

Good luck!

[Tanjay 0]

You two are fine. The site you described is not an IMB.

Kazan' Tiger and YuAndDan thank you for your posts. You really put my heart at ease, and my mind. Though it is scary that today is the first time I have heard about this even though I researched the K-1 this summer when we were trying to decide which VISA to apply for.

Stephen1, I really hope that you are met with good news too! And it would be nice if it (and many other things) was spelled out with some guidelines or a detailed description as to what qualifies as an IMB.

Good luck!

We met first on Cherry Blossoms too. Hope everything is okay at interview on 2-4.

[Kazan' Tiger 1]

Here you go...

INTERNATIONAL MARRIAGE BROKER. IN GENERAL. The term "international marriage broker" means a corporation, partnership, business, individual, or other legal entity, whether or not organized under any law of the United States, that charges fees for providing dating, matrimonial, matchmaking services, or social referrals between United States citizens or nationals or aliens lawfully admitted to the United States as permanent residents and foreign national clients by providing personal contact information or otherwise facilitating communication between individuals.

In other words, they charged you $20 to make a social referral. Thus, this site is an IMB.

so what exactly defines something as a IMB. I did pay the 20 dollars or whatever it was and the site is disigned to bring westerners to chat with filipinas, but there was no intervention with the owner of the website. There are possibley hundreds or thousands using it at once and people meet eachother on there own initiative by chatting. Does anyone know exactly what classifies something as an IMB