is this IMBRA or not

[bigcasino75 0]

Hi all I am new here and will be applying for a K1 for my fiencee in a month or so. We are in no hurry now because she is in school in Thailand till next June so now I am just reading info and advice but here is one that I am not sure of. We met on a website called thaikisses.com it is a international dating site but it is more for europeanes than americans is this a IMB and when i am ask if we met on a IMB do I say yes? I am not sure and would hate to put down the wrong answer and get rejected because of it. thanks forr any help you can give

[rsn 135]

Hi all I am new here and will be applying for a K1 for my fiencee in a month or so. We are in no hurry now because she is in school in Thailand till next June so now I am just reading info and advice but here is one that I am not sure of. We met on a website called thaikisses.com it is a international dating site but it is more for europeanes than americans is this a IMB and when i am ask if we met on a IMB do I say yes? I am not sure and would hate to put down the wrong answer and get rejected because of it. thanks forr any help you can give

Short answer, if you paid a fee, then yes it is an IMB I think.

Long answer, from http://www.khersongirls.com/marriagebrokerlaw.htm

Q #1: What is the definition of "International Marriage Broker (IMB)"? Are there exceptions? Does this law apply to my favorite international correspondence website on the Internet?

Answer: IMB is defined very broadly in this law, as are all relevant terms in this law. (Bo Cooper, former INS General Counsel from several years ago, actually drafted this law; he sits on the board of directors of the feminist Tahirih Justice Center and intended to provide broad abuse protection to immigrant fiancées and brides.)

The definition of IMB, under Section 833(e)(4)(A), is any corporation, individual, or legal entity, whether or not existing under the laws of the U.S., who charges fees for providing dating, matrimonial, matchmaking or social referrals or is "otherwise faciliating communication between individuals."

There are, under Section 833(e)(4)(B), TWO IMPORTANT EXCEPTIONS, : 1) "The Non-Profit": a traditional matchmaking organization of a cultural or religious nature which offers its services on a non-profit basis under law, tyically a state-registered corporation, and 2) "The Non-Primary Business with Comparable Rates": a domestic dating service or other primary service whose principal business is NOT international dating and which charges comparable rates for comparable services to all individuals, men and women, domestic and foreign.

Your favorite international correspondence website on the Internet would in fact be subject to this law, IF the exceptions enumerated above do not apply.

Some U.S. clients and IMBs are asking if the IMB would "qualify" for an exception if they don't charge fees for the lady's personal contact. The safe answer would appear to be: only if the other qualifications of Exception No. 1 apply. An IMB's claim to an exception based in the statement that "We don't charge fees for lady's contact or any dating service", but coupled with an admission that the company generates revenue and profits, however small, from such things as advertising fees for related services such as flowers, candy and cards, Google "ad-words", or charitable donations from members, carries a risk that the "non-profit" exception does not genuinely apply.

Edited July 30, 2009 by rsn