IMBRA letters

[amwo 0]

maybe there are other people/organizations to contact?

http://www.lifetimetv.com/community/olc/violence/imbra.html

here’s my letter to Lifetime channel:

Re: International Marriage Broker Regulation Act (IMBRA)

Great Idea, Poorly Written Law

I am an American woman who has been adversely effected by IMBRA. Our petition for a K1 fiance visa was approved but recalled from the foreign consulate. Unfortunately the law’s definition of a marriage broker applies to anyone who petitions for a fiance. So, I, a 40 year old female designer, am now a marriage broker.

And I am not the only one. There are many of us (men and women) who cannot get answers from our government because no new procedures have been put into place to implement this law. We are in limbo. Innocent citizens are being penalized.

Are foreign women really protected from abusive men by this law? I think not. Predators are predators and will find a way. So while the government figures this one out (is it constitutional? what about online dating services? and K3 spouse visas?), I sit here with my clock ticking (family history of early menopause) and women are still being abused.

Where is my protection for the pursuit of happiness?

[aussiewench 9]

americanwoman

K-3 does come under IMBRA even though it is stated those petitions wouldnt be recalled. It is all K nonimmigrant petitions which includes the K-3

Also........Nice job with all the letters being written by everyone to congressmen

Edited May 27, 2006 by aussiewench

[amwo 0]

americanwoman

K-3 does come under IMBRA even though it is stated those petitions wouldnt be recalled. It is all K nonimmigrant petitions which includes the K-3

Also........Nice job with all the letters being written by everyone to congressmen

Aussiewench,

I know K3's fall under IMBRA but they are being handled differently as the 2 people are already married and the US government cannot force divorce. Hence I am assuming (###? you? me?) that there will be different procedures applied to K3's, implemented at the same time as K1 procedures.

And thanks for the snub on "...being written by everyone to congressmen". I merely contacted Lifetime in addition to government officials to create as much awareness to this issue as possible. Not that I think it will truly help......I'm so deflated at his point.

[aussiewench 9]

americanwoman

K-3 does come under IMBRA even though it is stated those petitions wouldnt be recalled. It is all K nonimmigrant petitions which includes the K-3

Also........Nice job with all the letters being written by everyone to congressmen

Aussiewench,

I know K3's fall under IMBRA but they are being handled differently as the 2 people are already married and the US government cannot force divorce. Hence I am assuming (###? you? me?) that there will be different procedures applied to K3's, implemented at the same time as K1 procedures.

And thanks for the snub on "...being written by everyone to congressmen". I merely contacted Lifetime in addition to government officials to create as much awareness to this issue as possible. Not that I think it will truly help......I'm so deflated at his point.

no snub intended at all I think any letters to congressmen or anyone for that matter where peoples dismay in how this has been handled is perfectly ok. I actually originally had 'congressman etc' but took it out as I wont encourage the same to USCIS because in my mind that may cause more harm then good. Quite simple really. And I know you and everyone else is finding this time extremely difficult. I don't spend a lot of time in the K-1 forum for nothing you know.....I do care.

On the K-3......No they cannot force a divorce but they can deny a petition or a visa. And all K nonimmigrant petitions will undergo the background checks for criminal history and multiple petitions.

Lorelle

Edited May 27, 2006 by aussiewench

[ashp 0]

Although the IMBRA law may seem like it would only affect particular cases that met through a broker, they'll be requiring those checks from EVERY single K1 petitioner.

God, I so hope this mess is starting to clear up in 18 days when I'm in a position to file. Our relationship seems to be full of random problems like this cropping up. I swear, one day my plane will crash mid-route to visiting. :/

[GaryC 7]

I just sent a letter to the AP. There is a reporter that did a story about the problems of bringing in loved ones legaly. The story I refer to is here: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/immigration_legal_immigrants .

So I thought I would write to the reporter and give him our story. Here is the email I sent:

Dear Giovanna Dell'orto,

I read your story about Carlos Carbonell with interest

as I am in a similar situation with regard to

immigration. You may or may not know that congress

passed a law in January called "The International

Marriage Broker Reform Act" or IMBRA. The intention

was to protect alien brides brought in via

international marriage brokers from dangerous

predators that bring foreign brides here only to abuse

them. Unfortunately, it has had far reaching effects.

I am trying to bring my fiance to America from the

Philippines. I didn't meet her via a broker. However

this new law requires ALL K1 visa applicants to submit

their criminal background to the USCIS as part of the

petition process. I can live with that but the law

went into effect on March 5 of this year and the USCIS

and the DHS has not gotten the procedures in place to

collect this information. The net result is all

applications for K1 (fiance) visas have been put on

hold for a indeterminate period of time. There have

been some applications that were erroneously approved

through the Vermont Service Center, sent to the

embassies of the fiance and had interviews scheduled

only to have them pulled back to the service center.

The Department of State has admitted that they missed

the deadline for changing their procedures but will

give no estimate as to when they will get back on

track.

http://travel.state.gov/visa/laws/telegram...grams_2927.html

All of us that are doing things correctly and by the

book are being penalized by this poorly thought out

law. It is causing untold heartache and grief for

those of us trying to unite with our loved ones.

We have a forum for those trying to get family based

visas. Please come in and talk to us. It is at

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/

There is a thread under the General Discussion Area >

Immigration News area dealing with the effects of

IMBRA.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?

showtopic=13584

I started the thread and am the one collecting the

information you see posted there. My ID on the site is

GaryC.

If you can get some attention shined on this issue it

may help us. We have already contacted our

Representatives and the government agencies involved

with no result.

You can contact me at *********@yahoo.com .

Thank you,

Gary ******

I hope this gets some attention. Maybe, maybe not.

[Ladylethal 12]

I hope you hear something back, Gary. Great work!

[Captain Ewok 1,891]

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=13584