International Marriage Broker question

[Kevin10 0]

I met my future spouse on www.amigos.com. Is this considered a marriage broker? What does it mean if I answer ‘yes’ to this question?

[mRx 16]

I met my future spouse on www.amigos.com. Is this considered a marriage broker? What does it mean if I answer ‘yes’ to this question?

No amigos is a personals, not a marriage broker. Im under the impression that a marriage broker is more like a mail-order bride service, where there is a middle man facilitating everything.

[dougyceci 0]

Interesting, I met my wife on Latinamerciacupid.com and figured they were a marraige broker. Anyone else have a take on this as I am interested as well.

Doug

[one...two...tree 2,762]

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.

..............

Answering 'yes' does not preclude a denial as I've seen several here on VJ who checked 'yes' and were approved.

Go to IMBRA special topics in this forum for more info.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showforum=126

[Teachers 12]

The following recent thread discusses this question in detail.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...c=31361&hl=

In our application we listed the personals website where we met, and then said that while we didn't consider it a IMB, we didn't know the legal definition. We weren't questioned on this. (At least not yet.)

Tom

[mozplay 29]

We did the same as TomYu did. Said we met on Match.com and said that while we did not consider it to be a MB under section 'whatever' of the act - here is the contact information anyway that they would want if it was. Talk about covering all your bases.

Mo

[joeyjoey 1]

I met my future spouse on www.amigos.com. Is this considered a marriage broker? What does it mean if I answer ‘yes’ to this question?

If you paid $$ for her contact information (address, email, telephone#, etc), then AMIGOS is a "marriage broker" under IMBRA laws.

Answer "YES", give their address, telephone#, sign and date the form and return your RFE.

[Michelle_Otman 0]

is it a dating service did u have to pay anything to be on the site?? if so its a marraige broker. so lets say u met on match.com u would have to show all the info prof from that site.... how ever i heards its easier to say u met in a chat and then shared your emails and then have chatted with msn or yahoo messenger or something i heard it alot more stuff they ask for.... honestly i would asnwer no and let your fiancee know that u have met on line and what not...

michelle

I met my future spouse on www.amigos.com. Is this considered a marriage broker? What does it mean if I answer ‘yes’ to this question?

[one...two...tree 2,762]

is it a dating service did u have to pay anything to be on the site?? if so its a marraige broker. so lets say u met on match.com u would have to show all the info prof from that site.... how ever i heards its easier to say u met in a chat and then shared your emails and then have chatted with msn or yahoo messenger or something i heard it alot more stuff they ask for.... honestly i would asnwer no and let your fiancee know that u have met on line and what not...

michelle

I met my future spouse on www.amigos.com. Is this considered a marriage broker? What does it mean if I answer ‘yes’ to this question?

Michelle, I wouldn't recommend lying to immigration under ANY circumstances.

[Erik 0]

If you are unsure, as was I regarding this question, then answer yes and add an attachment stating you were not sure if the place you met was considered a Marriage Broker by law, but you are providing the information they request in cases of Marriage Brokers.

This is what I did, and had no problems what so ever. If your not sure, it's usually better to give them the information and let them decide if it is a Marriage Broker or not... that way if they determine it is, they will already have the information, so no RFE.

[payxibka 10,047]

If you are unsure, as was I regarding this question, then answer yes and add an attachment stating you were not sure if the place you met was considered a Marriage Broker by law, but you are providing the information they request in cases of Marriage Brokers.

This is what I did, and had no problems what so ever. If your not sure, it's usually better to give them the information and let them decide if it is a Marriage Broker or not... that way if they determine it is, they will already have the information, so no RFE.

I am uncertain as to why people are scared to answer "Yes" to the MB question? Is there a stigma or a percieved delay that will occur because of it? There is no question that I met my lady through an MB, so I am concerned what all the fuss is about.

[Mew 0]

If you are unsure, as was I regarding this question, then answer yes and add an attachment stating you were not sure if the place you met was considered a Marriage Broker by law, but you are providing the information they request in cases of Marriage Brokers.

This is what I did, and had no problems what so ever. If your not sure, it's usually better to give them the information and let them decide if it is a Marriage Broker or not... that way if they determine it is, they will already have the information, so no RFE.

I am uncertain as to why people are scared to answer "Yes" to the MB question? Is there a stigma or a percieved delay that will occur because of it? There is no question that I met my lady through an MB, so I am concerned what all the fuss is about.

I think people worry about the interview stage.

[payxibka 10,047]

If you are unsure, as was I regarding this question, then answer yes and add an attachment stating you were not sure if the place you met was considered a Marriage Broker by law, but you are providing the information they request in cases of Marriage Brokers.

This is what I did, and had no problems what so ever. If your not sure, it's usually better to give them the information and let them decide if it is a Marriage Broker or not... that way if they determine it is, they will already have the information, so no RFE.

I am uncertain as to why people are scared to answer "Yes" to the MB question? Is there a stigma or a percieved delay that will occur because of it? There is no question that I met my lady through an MB, so I am concerned what all the fuss is about.

I think people worry about the interview stage.

Is there something specific here that I should be thinking about and preparing my fiance' for when that time arrives?

[Mew 0]

If you are unsure, as was I regarding this question, then answer yes and add an attachment stating you were not sure if the place you met was considered a Marriage Broker by law, but you are providing the information they request in cases of Marriage Brokers.

This is what I did, and had no problems what so ever. If your not sure, it's usually better to give them the information and let them decide if it is a Marriage Broker or not... that way if they determine it is, they will already have the information, so no RFE.

I am uncertain as to why people are scared to answer "Yes" to the MB question? Is there a stigma or a percieved delay that will occur because of it? There is no question that I met my lady through an MB, so I am concerned what all the fuss is about.

I think people worry about the interview stage.

Is there something specific here that I should be thinking about and preparing my fiance' for when that time arrives?

That's what we'd like to know. We've found some changes in how the interview goes are mentioned in the law, but we don't know how the consulates will handle IMBRA issues.

[payxibka 10,047]

If you are unsure, as was I regarding this question, then answer yes and add an attachment stating you were not sure if the place you met was considered a Marriage Broker by law, but you are providing the information they request in cases of Marriage Brokers.

This is what I did, and had no problems what so ever. If your not sure, it's usually better to give them the information and let them decide if it is a Marriage Broker or not... that way if they determine it is, they will already have the information, so no RFE.

I am uncertain as to why people are scared to answer "Yes" to the MB question? Is there a stigma or a percieved delay that will occur because of it? There is no question that I met my lady through an MB, so I am concerned what all the fuss is about.

I think people worry about the interview stage.

Is there something specific here that I should be thinking about and preparing my fiance' for when that time arrives?

That's what we'd like to know. We've found some changes in how the interview goes are mentioned in the law, but we don't know how the consulates will handle IMBRA issues.

Hopefully some are in the pipeline and will be able to provide insight. Other than 1 person who reported a non-event interview with his fiance' on Sept 18th at the Kiev consulate, I do not know anyone here who is close. I know of one person for sure who is ahead of me in the process and if he gets there before we have heard some reports, I will certainly post his experience but in the mean time I will "bang the bushes" for others that I might come in contact with...