I-129F Question 35a

[TheFoxxy 76]

I met my fiancée on Elena's Models a year ago. I am filling out the I-129F to send in next week and came to this question. I have researched the forums for a clear answer but had trouble finding anything of solidity.

Is Elena's Models an IMB? If so, she and I have no idea what this IMB form that she was supposed to have signed is. Is this something I need to find and print and have her sign? Is EM not an IMB?

Any help is appreciated, thank you!

[Zachris 5]

I also me my wife (one time fiance) on Elena's Models.

They are indeed an IMB and they are also IMBRA compliant. List them on your i-129 and things will go without a problem.

[TheFoxxy 76]

I also me my wife (one time fiance) on Elena's Models.

They are indeed an IMB and they are also IMBRA compliant. List them on your i-129 and things will go without a problem.

Great, thank you for the quick response. What about this written consent form from the IMB? We are clueless as to what this is or where to get it. Is it necessary? Or can we just put EM url and address down and move on?

[djv-tco 29]

I read up on Elena's Models About page and the following is an excerpt:

• We were the first dating agency to publish its own Black List of Russian dating scammers back in 1999. We know every trick in the scammers' book. Scammers are not welcome in our agency.
• Elena's Models is #1 recommended agency by AntiScam.NET and many other anti-scam websites.
• The information on women we represent is always checked, and double-checked. We have representatives in Russia, Ukraine, Bulgaria and Romania, so it is easy for us to keep in touch with our female clients.
• We are a service-oriented company. Our customer support is always prompt, friendly and effective. If you have a question or need help, our experienced team will be happy to assist you. Your emails and phone calls are always welcome. You won't be left alone to walk down this road - we'll be by your side every step of the way.
• The prices we offer are 50-90% less than you can find at our competitors. Some agencies will charge you as much as $1,800 to become members -our prices start from $16.50 a month. We believe that finding true love does not have to cost a fortune. We deliver excellent service while keeping the costs within your means.
• We are completely dedicated to making your search a success. All our services are designed to bring results. If any service does not result in successful relationships for our clients, we remove it, even if it makes us money. You can be assured that when you use Elena's Models, you are getting value for your money.

Wikipedia's definition of an International Marriage Broker:

“International marriage broker” is defined as an entity (whether or not U.S.-based) that charges fees for providing matchmaking services or social referrals between U.S. citizens/permanent residents and foreign nationals. The definition also exempts non-profit religious or cultural matchmaking services, and dating services that do not match U.S. citizens/residents with aliens as their principal business and that charge comparable rates and offer comparable services to all clients, regardless of gender or country of citizenship.

Based on these information, I would classify Elena's Models as an IMB.

Here are a couple of links to VJ discussion about IMB/IMBRA:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/283664-imbra-international-marriage-broker-act/

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/31361-are-personals-web-sites-considered-marriage-brokers/

Good luck!

[TheFoxxy 76]

Great! We have established that EM is an IMB and follows IMBRA guidelines. Now about the written consent form, she never signed anything to give consent of me to have access to her information.

Is this something we have to find and pursue? Or do we just list EM and the address and not worry about this written consent?

[baron555 934]

I met my fiancée on Elena's Models a year ago. I am filling out the I-129F to send in next week and came to this question. I have researched the forums for a clear answer but had trouble finding anything of solidity.

Is Elena's Models an IMB? If so, she and I have no idea what this IMB form that she was supposed to have signed is. Is this something I need to find and print and have her sign? Is EM not an IMB?

Any help is appreciated, thank you!

Same here. It is not am IMB but on our petition I did list it as one. Wasn't a problem.

[TheFoxxy 76]

Same here. It is not am IMB but on our petition I did list it as one. Wasn't a problem.

Ok so can I list EM as how we met and that it is an IMB and just not attach this consent form? Or if I check yes do I HAVE to attach this consent form?

Any clarification would be extremely helpful. Thank you

[baron555 934]

Great! We have established that EM is an IMB and follows IMBRA guidelines. Now about the written consent form, she never signed anything to give consent of me to have access to her information.

Is this something we have to find and pursue? Or do we just list EM and the address and not worry about this written consent?

That's all I did....list their address, etc. There is not written consent form but I do believe we needed to answer some information before we joined? ....was a long time ago....anyway not an issue.

[TheFoxxy 76]

That's all I did....list their address, etc. There is not written consent form but I do believe we needed to answer some information before we joined? ....was a long time ago....anyway not an issue.

Ok thank you. I think the form may have changed recently so I have had a problem finding anyone with a solid answer. I will just put that we met online at EM, we did not have to sign a written consent form and that I gathered no personal information about her through the site but only through after speaking. I will put the address url of EM and then move on.

I hope that everything will be ok!

[baron555 934]

Ok thank you. I think the form may have changed recently so I have had a problem finding anyone with a solid answer. I will just put that we met online at EM, we did not have to sign a written consent form and that I gathered no personal information about her through the site but only through after speaking. I will put the address url of EM and then move on.

I hope that everything will be ok!

I don't remember anything about the consent form, so maybe that is a new thing on the form. Ask your fiance is she had to send any information to EM prior to joining, she may have consented online.

[TheFoxxy 76]

I don't remember anything about the consent form, so maybe that is a new thing on the form. Ask your fiance is she had to send any information to EM prior to joining, she may have consented online.

I asked her, she said no. We have no idea what this form is or could be. I am starting to think I should just answer no and say that we met in a chat room or something to avoid the headache.

Not really sure what to do. I tried to see if there is a universal IMBRA form you can sign online or something but with no luck I found nothing.

[TheFoxxy 76]

I read on the USCIS site that you, "must provide the signed, written consent form that the IMB obtained from your beneficiary authorizing the release of his or her personal contact information to you."

What if they never did this? I don't know what to do, neither does my fiancée. Getting really agitated how nit picky this process is becoming.

[baron555 934]

I read on the USCIS site that you, "must provide the signed, written consent form that the IMB obtained from your beneficiary authorizing the release of his or her personal contact information to you."

What if they never did this? I don't know what to do, neither does my fiancée. Getting really agitated how nit picky this process is becoming.

Maybe then EM is not an IMB since they did not execute this mystery form.

[Zachris 5]

Because Elena's Models is an Australian company. As such, they are not subject to US laws and are therefore not required to provide the IMBRA talk to their women clients. Which means, that they are IMBRA compliant.

I listed them on the i-129 with their LA address, and it created no problems with the K-1 visa application.

[TheFoxxy 76]

Maybe then EM is not an IMB since they did not execute this mystery form.

So do I put EM as how we met and then not check the box for imb? I emailed EM asking if they have this form or anything. I will see what they say if they ever get back to me.

Really stressed about this one question.

Because Elena's Models is an Australian company. As such, they are not subject to US laws and are therefore not required to provide the IMBRA talk to their women clients. Which means, that they are IMBRA compliant.

I listed them on the i-129 with their LA address, and it created no problems with the K-1 visa application.

I see but the I-129F recently changed to make you provide the written consent form if you met on an IMB site. Can I check yes and explain on question 34 that we never received this form or ever signed anything?