A question about IMBRA

[ccmkoho 0]

Whether or not match.com or other personals are included won't be decided until court for a while down the line.

Where did you get this information?

Basically if you met online, you can either risk a flaw in documentation and go with the first time you met in person, or just say you met through an online dating service and have all the other documentation ready.

What flaw? And what "other" documentation?

[Yodrak 7]

Libersolis,

IMBRA defines what a marriage broker is for the purposes of the Act.

Read it and you'll know what a marriage broker is (but you may or may not know if a specific entity is a marriage broker until some precedents have been set).

Yodrak

What exactly is a marriage broker?

[kitkat1 5]

Understandable...but what does this mean??? that they are going to RFE EVERYONE who submitted after March 6th to get this permission/statement? Or only those who submit with the new application when it is released? I dont understand why the application of this law is so vague to all of us...

It means that yes, they are going to RFE EVERYONE who submitted after March 6. We are just waiting for the form and wondering when we will get it.

[jozlee 0]

I agree with Yoprak. Basically, I'm just saying that marriage broker as it's defined in the act isn't precise to know whether or not online dating agencies are included, which won't be decided until some court (or even possibly an agency) decides who fits in it or who doesn't. I dont' know for sure, but I would think that the USCIS to be safe would probably include everyone.

The forum's bet is that because the old I-129F form isn't clear about how you met enough to disqualify the option of meeting through a marriage broker, everyone's assuming that everyone submitted after march 6th before the new i-129f form is approved will get RFEd with the new form to just make sure they don't qualify for any of the extra checks, because the only i-129f form doesn't provide sufficient information to the service centers about what level of examination an applicant needs.

[dwar49 0]

I agree with Yoprak. Basically, I'm just saying that marriage broker as it's defined in the act isn't precise to know whether or not online dating agencies are included, which won't be decided until some court (or even possibly an agency) decides who fits in it or who doesn't. I dont' know for sure, but I would think that the USCIS to be safe would probably include everyone.

The forum's bet is that because the old I-129F form isn't clear about how you met enough to disqualify the option of meeting through a marriage broker, everyone's assuming that everyone submitted after march 6th before the new i-129f form is approved will get RFEd with the new form to just make sure they don't qualify for any of the extra checks, because the only i-129f form doesn't provide sufficient information to the service centers about what level of examination an applicant needs.

You are absolutely right Jozlee, everyone is effected no matter what. How they will be affected if you met in anyway but in person will be determined in the courts. My concern for those who met online, or via any type of agency is that they may have hard time meeting what ever standards they come up with.

Now on the other hand for all we know they may just ask the question and if this is the only I-129F you have ever submitted, well they might just pass it on thru.

Guess the point is that no one knows how they will be handled. My original comment was meant to let people know that IMBRA doesnt cleary define what a marriage broker is. Like alot of other laws when first enacted it will take long time for the courts to sort it out and define what "marriage broker" is.

[ccmkoho 0]

I agree with Yoprak. Basically, I'm just saying that marriage broker as it's defined in the act isn't precise to know whether or not online dating agencies are included, which won't be decided until some court (or even possibly an agency) decides who fits in it or who doesn't. I dont' know for sure, but I would think that the USCIS to be safe would probably include everyone.

The forum's bet is that because the old I-129F form isn't clear about how you met enough to disqualify the option of meeting through a marriage broker, everyone's assuming that everyone submitted after march 6th before the new i-129f form is approved will get RFEd with the new form to just make sure they don't qualify for any of the extra checks, because the only i-129f form doesn't provide sufficient information to the service centers about what level of examination an applicant needs.

You are absolutely right Jozlee, everyone is effected no matter what. How they will be affected if you met in anyway but in person will be determined in the courts. My concern for those who met online, or via any type of agency is that they may have hard time meeting what ever standards they come up with.

Now on the other hand for all we know they may just ask the question and if this is the only I-129F you have ever submitted, well they might just pass it on thru.

Guess the point is that no one knows how they will be handled. My original comment was meant to let people know that IMBRA doesnt cleary define what a marriage broker is. Like alot of other laws when first enacted it will take long time for the courts to sort it out and define what "marriage broker" is.

Not sure what you mean by "standards they come up with". Again, every person who files a petition will be subject to a criminal background check. Those agencies that fall under IMBRA must have their clients fill out a questioner and then do a check of the client through the National Sex Offender public registry.

My belief is that everyone will be scrutinized the same for the NOA2 and interview regardless of how they met.

[Mike n Huong 1]

I dicussed this in great length with the lawyer I used, and this is the information that he gave me. When they talk about a marriage broker they are referring to those companies that a person would pay for a bride. He also stated that a dating site that was specific for one race, would also fall under this law, such as Asian Singles, or Russian Singles. Meaning that you are in search for a specific race. Sites like yahoo personals, or any other dating site are not race specific, and would not fall under this law.

I am not sure how accurate this information is, but it made sense to me. I would assume that well over 50% met online.

[dwar49 0]

Not sure what you mean by "standards they come up with". Again, every person who files a petition will be subject to a criminal background check. Those agencies that fall under IMBRA must have their clients fill out a questioner and then do a check of the client through the National Sex Offender public registry.

My belief is that everyone will be scrutinized the same for the NOA2 and interview regardless of how they met.

You are right under the new law we are all going to have to criminal background check of some kind and I think you probably are right we all will be scrutinized more.

By "standards they come up with" I meant thru the courts, how they will define marriage broker and how they determine what a valid relationship is. Think it is going to get sticky for those that have only met once or twice for short time.

[dalegg 143]

I dicussed this in great length with the lawyer I used, and this is the information that he gave me. He also stated that a dating site that was specific for one race, would also fall under this law, such as Asian Singles, or Russian Singles. Meaning that you are in search for a specific race.

You mean like AsiaFriendFinder.com? Oh boy, that's all Matt needs is another flag.

Edited June 8, 2006 by dalegg

[aussiewench 9]

You are right under the new law we are all going to have to criminal background check of some kind and I think you probably are right we all will be scrutinized more.

By "standards they come up with" I meant thru the courts, how they will define marriage broker and how they determine what a valid relationship is. Think it is going to get sticky for those that have only met once or twice for short time.

Meeting through a marriage broker is not going to make it more difficult for those having met that way. The act requires that all marriage brokers comply in having the USC supply all the required information re background checks on criminal history etc. and that the foreigner/beneficiary was made aware of this information by the marriage broker. No different to everybody else as far as that goes. All K petion beneficiaries/visa applicants will be asked the same thing at interview and told of any criminal history and/or multiple petition filings. It is then up to the visa applicant if they werent aware of the USC history, as to whether they will continue in their application for a visa.

Edited June 8, 2006 by aussiewench

[Imbra2005 0]

Definition of marriage broker from the statute:

A) 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.

(B) EXCEPTIONS.—Such term does not include—

(i) a traditional matchmaking organization of a

cultural or religious nature that operates on a nonprofit

basis and otherwise operates in compliance with the

laws of the countries in which it operates, including

the laws of the United States; or

(ii) an entity that provides dating services if its

principal business is not to provide international dating

services between United States citizens or United

States residents and foreign nationals and it charges

comparable rates and offers comparable services to

all individuals it serves regardless of the individual’s

gender or country of citizenship.

[JCCJ 0]

Alright, after reading all your comments I still don't know what do to...

We met on eharmony and yes, you have to pay to be able to communicate with each other. Should I check YES or NO on the I-129f to question 19. Did you meet your fiancee through the services of an international marriage broker?

thanks!

[KATHERINE+RODNEY 3]

What exactly is a marriage broker?

A marriage broker is a match making company that charges a fee for their services. Plain and simple. And also specializes in foreign matches. Match.com and Yahoo singles, etc... are exempt because they do not specialize in foreign brides. The majority of the matches are Natioanal, not international. I used Latinlovesearch.com a free site and is not under IMBRA because it is a all free web site. And I was searching specifically for a latina. Worked out great. Now just waiting for NOA 2. Has been 3 months........waiting impatiently....

Alright, after reading all your comments I still don't know what do to...

We met on eharmony and yes, you have to pay to be able to communicate with each other. Should I check YES or NO on the I-129f to question 19. Did you meet your fiancee through the services of an international marriage broker?

thanks!

Eharmony is NOT an International marriage broker.

[payxibka 10,045]

Alright, after reading all your comments I still don't know what do to...

We met on eharmony and yes, you have to pay to be able to communicate with each other. Should I check YES or NO on the I-129f to question 19. Did you meet your fiancee through the services of an international marriage broker?

thanks!

NO

[JCCJ 0]

NO

thank you!