RFE Demaning IMBRA consent form, which I Don't have

[imbravictim2 0]

I applied for K1 visa, Just got an RFE from USCIS. They claim the websiteI used was an IMB and they are demanding proof of the consent form that an IMB should obtain from its members.

Of course, the website never asked for any such "consent" from my fiance, and does not even reply to my emails when I ask for them to provide any info on IMBRA.

Has anyone had this problem? If so please advise

what happened.

How do I reply to the RFE?

Here is the text of the RFE.

The evidence in the file reflects that you met the beneficiary through the services of an International Marriage Broker (IMB). You stated you met the beneficiary through Bridesandlovers.com. This website is considered to be an International Marriage Broker as it is a business that charges fees for providing, dating, matrimonial, matchmaking services. or social referrals between United States citizens and foreign nationals. Therefore, you are required submit a copy of the signed written consent form that the International Marriage Broker obtained from the beneficiary, authorizing the release of her personal contact information to you.

The decision of whether to approve or deny your petition will be based upon the type(s) of evidence submitted and its credibility.

[lost_at_sea 995]

That website is owned by RedSquareCupid. They list some contact information here, including a phone number: http://www.redsquarecupid.com/contact-us.php

[imbravictim2 0]

Thanks.

ANYONE, got any advice on how to reply to the RFE?

[Villanelle 4,122]

Well youre going to have to be more specific on the type of help you need--

Did you contact the webmaster at the link lost-at-sea gave you? Did they provide you with a 'signed written consent form'? Or any sort of paperwork or form?

Depending on what you have or dont have- people here can assist you in creating a response or getting the proper paperwork. (its never advisable to send it back w/o what they asked for, youll generally be denied)

[Tony&Natasha 16]

I applied for K1 visa, Just got an RFE from USCIS. They claim the websiteI used was an IMB and they are demanding proof of the consent form that an IMB should obtain from its members.

Of course, the website never asked for any such "consent" from my fiance, and does not even reply to my emails when I ask for them to provide any info on IMBRA.

Has anyone had this problem? If so please advise

what happened.

How do I reply to the RFE?

Here is the text of the RFE.

The evidence in the file reflects that you met the beneficiary through the services of an International Marriage Broker (IMB). You stated you met the beneficiary through Bridesandlovers.com. This website is considered to be an International Marriage Broker as it is a business that charges fees for providing, dating, matrimonial, matchmaking services. or social referrals between United States citizens and foreign nationals. Therefore, you are required submit a copy of the signed written consent form that the International Marriage Broker obtained from the beneficiary, authorizing the release of her personal contact information to you.

The decision of whether to approve or deny your petition will be based upon the type(s) of evidence submitted and its credibility.

Greetings! Natasha and I met on BridesandLover.com and we also received the exact same RFE requesting the signed written consent form which, of course, does not exist!

I went to B&L.com website and wrote a respectful message via their contact link that I met a woman through their website. "I am a US Citizen and I recently submitted a request for a Fiance Visa. As part of that process I indicated we met on your BridesandLovers.com website The US State Dept believes your website falls under the \"International Marriage Broker\" Law and is asking me to provide the signed consent for that is required of women member before release of their information. I know Natasha never signed any consent form.

Can you provide me with an official email stating you are not a Marriage Broker and

you are just a dating site?

Regards,"

I received a a very nice message from an administrator of that website! They agreed and sent an official email describing B&L.com as a dating site and not a marriage broker. The message acknowledged that no consent was required nor asked for to use their website services.

I also wrote a very respectful letter claiming they were not an "IMB" based on the attached email from B&L.com as proof and then proceeded to described our bonafied relationship and plans to be married!

Natasha wrote and signed a letter describing how we met and affirming the fact she was never asked to sign any consent form.

I sent the 2 letters and a copy of the Email from B&L administrator as my answer to the RFE! Now we wait!

Two people meet online in a website, fall in love, spend months getting to know each other, travel to meet in her home country, make the decision to get married, go through all the trouble to file a 6 page application with 150 pages of documents and evidence then they demand us to produce a consent form that never existed in the first place!

There is no list that tells anyone which websites are IMBs or regular dating sites!

They wrote this law so foreign women would know the criminal background of the USC applicant BEFORE communicating with him (her)! Great! It is ridiculous - how on earth will they compel a foreign owned and operated businesses to comply with a US LAW? By demanding a non-existent consent form after the fact from a USC applicant for a visa?

It is really sad that we have a government that creates laws that do nothing to but make matters worse!

I have lived in various places around the world and the bureaucratic nightmare of getting things done in some of these countries just makes my hair hurt! Lol!

The USA used to be a free country but it is clearly becoming like the rest all in the name for protecting something or someone!

End of rant!

I love my Natasha with all my heart and if they do not approve our K-1 because of this stupid law then we will just get married and file as a couple!

Edited April 12, 2015 by Tony&Natasha

[bublik 26]

Here is my question about a very similar thing:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/540967-got-rfe-for-imbra-consent-form-but-we-met-on-simple-dating-site-what-to-do/

In my RFE, they blatantly lied, stating: ".. you indicated in your petition that you met your fiance through the IMB..." What??? They implied that I answered 'yes' to question 35, which I did not. I clearly marked 'no'.

and demanded the same thing.

To make matters worse, my website has nobody 'live' to answer any emails, and the person I got in touch with from the Holding that owns that dating site told me that the site is functional, but about to be closed, so there is nobody to email me from it...

At least you can get an email response.

So I just went line by line through the IMBRA definition of IMB, and proved with printouts from the web that the site in no way falls under IMBRA.

They received my RFE on March 23, and nothing still, So I can't tell you if my approach worked.

[Tony&Natasha 16]

Greetings!

Today we received NOA2! I am so happy I can hardly contain myself!

I just called her and we cried together!

Be honest! Be true! AN ask God for help! He answered us - He will certainly answer you!

Regards,

Tony and Natasha!!!

[TBoneTX 45,319]

Congratulations!

[JeffandTanya 30]

Here is my question about a very similar thing:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/540967-got-rfe-for-imbra-consent-form-but-we-met-on-simple-dating-site-what-to-do/

In my RFE, they blatantly lied, stating: ".. you indicated in your petition that you met your fiance through the IMB..." What??? They implied that I answered 'yes' to question 35, which I did not. I clearly marked 'no'.

and demanded the same thing.

To make matters worse, my website has nobody 'live' to answer any emails, and the person I got in touch with from the Holding that owns that dating site told me that the site is functional, but about to be closed, so there is nobody to email me from it...

At least you can get an email response.

So I just went line by line through the IMBRA definition of IMB, and proved with printouts from the web that the site in no way falls under IMBRA.

They received my RFE on March 23, and nothing still, So I can't tell you if my approach worked.

The exact same thing happened to me, I said No to IMB but received the same letter you did. Can you give me any good advice? I see you made it through. Appreciate any help!

[bublik 26]

I did make it through... in 55 days:)

I just wrote a letter explaining what kind of site it was, how we used it vs what in IMBRA act is described as an IMB.

Since I couldn't get any response from the site, I printed out the front page, bunch of other pages showing that the site was a dating subsite of a bigger corporation and was not producing any income by charging clients, but only by posting ads.

I also went line by line over the definition of IMB from the act, explaining in details why our site doesn't fit the definition.

I has a 3 page letter with 10 or so exhibits.

[JeffandTanya 30]

I did make it through... in 55 days:)

I just wrote a letter explaining what kind of site it was, how we used it vs what in IMBRA act is described as an IMB.

Since I couldn't get any response from the site, I printed out the front page, bunch of other pages showing that the site was a dating subsite of a bigger corporation and was not producing any income by charging clients, but only by posting ads.

I also went line by line over the definition of IMB from the act, explaining in details why our site doesn't fit the definition.

I has a 3 page letter with 10 or so exhibits.

Glad you ended up with good news! I'm not sure mine will be as easy to prove, they do charge clients, but they claim to be non-IMB based on where they are located, etc. I have really poured over this site and the internet trying to find good responses,especially for Elena's Models, but it's really confusing. I will be biting my nails after sending it in and hoping, because if they deny it you are pretty much done at that point.

[bublik 26]

Won't it be easy then to provide the information they ask- the consent form or something like that? This is the only thing that is required in addition if the dating site is and IMB. Either that, or the site might provide you with the document (email) where they state that they do not fall under IMBRA.

Did she sign any consents when she joined the site?

[JeffandTanya 30]

Won't it be easy then to provide the information they ask- the consent form or something like that? This is the only thing that is required in addition if the dating site is and IMB. Either that, or the site might provide you with the document (email) where they state that they do not fall under IMBRA.

Did she sign any consents when she joined the site?

Thanks for the reply. They state that they are not an IMB, therefore, they do not send consent forms for signature. I do have an email from them saying they are not an IMB, but I don't know if their statement is proof they are not in the eyes of USCIS. In the end I think that is what I will end up going with, plus a couple of other statements pointing out that they are located out side of U.S., etc.

[bublik 26]

Well, then it is even easier. You know, just because the site is not free, doesn't automatically makes it IMB. There are more conditions to that. Plus, if it is not a US site, it doesn't have to adhere to the US laws and regulations.

If you have a letter from them, this is all you need, really. I didn't have a letter, this is why I had to come up with a lot of stuff to proof my point. I didnt even have 'terms of use'- the link on my site was dead.

Do not worry, you will be fine:)

[JeffandTanya 30]

Well, then it is even easier. You know, just because the site is not free, doesn't automatically makes it IMB. There are more conditions to that. Plus, if it is not a US site, it doesn't have to adhere to the US laws and regulations.

If you have a letter from them, this is all you need, really. I didn't have a letter, this is why I had to come up with a lot of stuff to proof my point. I didnt even have 'terms of use'- the link on my site was dead.

Do not worry, you will be fine:)

You can sign up and have limited use for free as well, so I have that too. I have been doing a lot of research and trying to figure out how to respond. I can imagine how tough that had to be preparing yours. Thanks for the vote of confidence, I needed it!

I have to say too the VJ community has been great, TBoneTX, is awesome and I got a great PM from someone else in the same situation along with their RFE reply.