What is exactly is the IBRA law. When I filled out my petition I put no for the question about meeting my fiance through an international marriage broker. I thought an international marriage broker was more like a mail order bride thing. But I met my fiance through a matchmaking site called filipinaheart. Is this considered a international marriage broker? Is it legal? I love my fiance so much and it scares me to think I could be denied for something like this.

Did you pay for a membership or was this matchmaking site free? If it is free, you don't have to worry and did right by checking the NO box.
IMBRA law can be found in the IMBRA Forum.
http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...mp;s=&f=126

I did pay I think 20 dollars. I didnt know it was considered an international marriage broker. so how does this affect my case?

I looked at the site briefly and it said it is a free site. What did you pay $20 for?

Maybe it was free for the ladies, but the men have to pay a membership.

yeah, that was the case, men pay 20 dollars for a 3 month membership and for the ladies it was free

It stated a standard membership is free for all parties. It seems the $20 is a fee to upgrade to be able to perform advanced searches.

I am beginning to think they are an IMB as the site is obviously geared for Filipina ladies to find an International man for marriage in which the man pays a fee.

Does this affect I-130 applications as well?
I only ask because my wife and I met through a penpals / personals site. I don't consider it a International Marriage Broker site though. I did need to pay to be able to contact or be contacted by others but that seems like a normal thing for that type of site.

I am a bit worried now. I hope someone can put my mind at ease. :(

Ok, it applies only to K non-immigrant VISAs and does not apply to K-3 VISAs. Also there are other conditions that need to be met as well. Specifically it looks for multiple K VISA applications over a few years, criminal activity and abuse.

But if someone with some clear knowledge of this could re-confirm my findings I would be ever so grateful! :)

Oh and Stephen1, sorry I am not meaning to hijack your thread. Just had my heart jump a bit there.

Thanks,

You two are fine. The site you described is not an IMB.

Correct an IMB is a company that actively looks to match up couples usualy for a lot higher than $20. I used Cherry Blossoms a fer years ago, and when IMBRA came up I asked them if they were a n IMB and they replied that they were not, because the people on their site were only messaging each other without any intervention on the part of the website owner.

so what exactly defines something as a IMB. I did pay the 20 dollars or whatever it was and the site is disigned to bring westerners to chat with filipinas, but there was no intervention with the owner of the website. There are possibley hundreds or thousands using it at once and people meet eachother on there own initiative by chatting. Does anyone know exactly what classifies something as an IMB

Kazan' Tiger and YuAndDan thank you for your posts. You really put my heart at ease, and my mind. Though it is scary that today is the first time I have heard about this even though I researched the K-1 this summer when we were trying to decide which VISA to apply for.

Stephen1, I really hope that you are met with good news too! :) And it would be nice if it (and many other things) was spelled out with some guidelines or a detailed description as to what qualifies as an IMB.

Good luck! :)

We met first on Cherry Blossoms too. Hope everything is okay at interview on 2-4.

Here you go...

INTERNATIONAL MARRIAGE BROKER. 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.

In other words, they charged you $20 to make a social referral. Thus, this site is an IMB.

I just looked at the site again and it looks like I couldve joined for free but would have had to wait to be contacted by someone. The 20 dollars allowed me to contact anyone I wanted.So possibley the site isnt considered a marraige broker since its only the premium service that they want money for. Still not 100 percent sure though. Hopefully my 129f goes well regardless.

Hell no, it's not an International Marriage Broker. It's at most an internet dating site.

Then help me please understand how they are not. They charge money to arrange a social referral. Don't they? Take a look at Elena's Models. How are they different? They charge money in the same way this site does. Free or premium. They, themselves, admit they fall under the category IMB. I really do not see a difference.

I really hope thats all it is cause I put "no" on my I129f, the site is geared towards americans meeting filipinas which does seem to fit into the definition. Just curious as to what clasifies something as a IMB

To understand, one must read not only the IMB description but the specific exclusions. You'll find the "primary business" exclusion most compelling in this case.

Read carefully and interpret literally. Start here:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=72245

Eureka Pushbrk. By Section 833(e)(4)( exception you are correct, this site is not an IMB. So, curiously, why do so many Dating sites state they are an IMB and their attorneys agree? Indeed they charge "comparable rates" along nationality lines and do not target Americans as principal business interest?

There may be some. I'm not aware of any. Examples?

I read that topic and just posted to it. I provided info on a site but while I am inclined to thing that it is not an IMB I really couldn't say for sure from what I have read. Though I am pretty sure that it wouldn't impact our petition either way.

Give it a read and let me know what you think. :)

Certainly appears to be the situation... many on either side of the question have had there petitions approved and visas granted.

Well, my opinion is Elena's Models for one. They are an Australian firm and I discussed their IMB status with the owners back when the law first appeared. They have always charged the same rate to all clients regardless of nationality. Their site is filled with members of both genders from all over the world. (Although most females are from Russia and the CIS) They hardly target Americans as principal business. I do not see how they are.

Oh, I absolutely see this as an IMB but I could see how doubts could arise. Here are their telling statements.

Meet Model Quality Russian Women -
Beautiful, Pre-Screened, REAL Girls
Seeking a Man Like YOU!

Model Quality Women - beautiful, pre-screened, REAL girls

Clearly they are "selling" their female members.

The ONLY Licensed Introduction Agency among large Russian dating agencies

Keyword "agency".

As for charges, I see nothing on the site that indicates what they charge the ladies. I suspect this sight either charges the ladies quite a bit.

This is where I get confused. So it is because they call themselves an "agency"? The pre-screening means they actually contact their ladies to make sure they exist. Membership allows both genders to search the database for a match. Once found, the member can send an expression of interest or a full letter via the site. Ladies join for free and men pay a membership fee which is universal across national borders. This is why I do not see the difference easily between this site and the one previously discussed.

Where do you get that the ladies aren't charged?

I have placed ladies on this site when I lived in Kazan' that did not have computers or internet. They had full access to the men's database instantly while the men did not of the ladies'. Ladies were never charged a kopek.

Will this help you see the difference between this and "internet dating"?

http://www.elenasmodels.com/services/individual.htm

With that particular service, yes. I can.

I saw one called thaidarling and that one you can pay like 800 dollars and get dates with up to 10 girls and I guess if any like you and you like them you can marry them. This would defenitly classify and is probably what the law is targeting. And if you pay you can get there personal info like emails and stuff.