Hello,
As many others here, I'm confused by the wording of the definition of what constitutes an International Marriage Broker. I've seen all of the arguments on this forum that go one way or another, and they're all convincing.
With that in mind, I called CSC to ask for clarification. The woman I spoke to, if you can call speaking to someone you can't understand a conversation, indicated that meeting someone from online, paid or not, constitutes a marriage broker. We met at a free online site that was not expressly for the purposes of marriage between US citizens and foreigners.
Has anyone else contacted their service center regarding having met on online sites, and what were they told?
Best regards
Full Version: Question 1 definition & CSC/IMBRA RFE form
QUOTE(Brendan @ Jul 4 2006, 04:39 AM) 
With that in mind, I called CSC to ask for clarification. The woman I spoke to, if you can call speaking to someone you can't understand a conversation, indicated that meeting someone from online, paid or not, constitutes a marriage broker.
By CSC you mean the NCSC number. Definately goes to show why this is called the misinformation line. What a load of crock.
QUOTE(aussiewench @ Jul 3 2006, 11:56 AM)
QUOTE(Brendan @ Jul 4 2006, 04:39 AM)
With that in mind, I called CSC to ask for clarification. The woman I spoke to, if you can call speaking to someone you can't understand a conversation, indicated that meeting someone from online, paid or not, constitutes a marriage broker.
By CSC you mean the NCSC number. Definately goes to show why this is called the misinformation line. What a load of crock.
My bad, I didn't explain well enough. I tried calling the Laguna Niguel phone number listed on the bottom of the RFE cover sheet, but the number was disconnected and there was no forwarding information. I called the (800) 375-5283 number listed in the instruction portion of the RFE sheet and was connected to someone who answered that they were from the California Service Center.
Regarding questions 2 and 3, I asked why there was no "No or N/A" checkbox, and she told me that I would have to explain the answer to those questions on a separate piece of paper, in addition to explaining Question 1.
Anyone else have a similar experience?
QUOTE(Brendan @ Jul 3 2006, 04:09 PM)
QUOTE(aussiewench @ Jul 3 2006, 11:56 AM)
QUOTE(Brendan @ Jul 4 2006, 04:39 AM)
With that in mind, I called CSC to ask for clarification. The woman I spoke to, if you can call speaking to someone you can't understand a conversation, indicated that meeting someone from online, paid or not, constitutes a marriage broker.
By CSC you mean the NCSC number. Definately goes to show why this is called the misinformation line. What a load of crock.
My bad, I didn't explain well enough. I tried calling the Laguna Niguel phone number listed on the bottom of the RFE cover sheet, but the number was disconnected and there was no forwarding information. I called the (800) 375-5283 number listed in the instruction portion of the RFE sheet and was connected to someone who answered that they were from the California Service Center.
Regarding questions 2 and 3, I asked why there was no "No or N/A" checkbox, and she told me that I would have to explain the answer to those questions on a separate piece of paper, in addition to explaining Question 1.
Anyone else have a similar experience?
For what I've read on VJ so far people have just left the boxes empty if they meant 'no'.
QUOTE(Brendan @ Jul 4 2006, 05:09 AM)
QUOTE(aussiewench @ Jul 3 2006, 11:56 AM)
QUOTE(Brendan @ Jul 4 2006, 04:39 AM)
With that in mind, I called CSC to ask for clarification. The woman I spoke to, if you can call speaking to someone you can't understand a conversation, indicated that meeting someone from online, paid or not, constitutes a marriage broker.
By CSC you mean the NCSC number. Definately goes to show why this is called the misinformation line. What a load of crock.
My bad, I didn't explain well enough. I tried calling the Laguna Niguel phone number listed on the bottom of the RFE cover sheet, but the number was disconnected and there was no forwarding information. I called the (800) 375-5283 number listed in the instruction portion of the RFE sheet and was connected to someone who answered that they were from the California Service Center.
Regarding questions 2 and 3, I asked why there was no "No or N/A" checkbox, and she told me that I would have to explain the answer to those questions on a separate piece of paper, in addition to explaining Question 1.
Anyone else have a similar experience?
Much of late about being able to speak directly with the service centers via the NCSC number. It is not the case. The (800) 375-5283 number is the NCSC which is a call center only, contracted to USCIS and they are referred to as the misinformation line for a reason.
Service Centers
The four USCIS Service Centers in Vermont, Texas, California, and Nebraska were established to
handle the mail, file, data entry, and adjudication for approximately 65% of applications received by
USCIS. Service Centers do not conduct interviews with customers and are not staffed to handle
walk-in applications or answer questions. (This includes phone calls, faxes and emails. The only center that still offers email contact is CSC)
Telephone Centers
Through the National Customer Service Center’s four telephone centers (these are also based in Vermont, Texas, California, and Nebraska) USCIS provides toll-free nationwide assistance to customers calling from within the United States. Customers can access live assistance from 8:00AM until 6:00PM, Monday through Friday; they can access recorded information (including information about the status of their specific case) 24 hours a day/7 days a week. Both live and recorded service is available in English and Spanish. Callers from outside the U.S. can access more limited information through a separate toll number.
Meeting online in DOES NOT necessarily constitute a marriage broker......hence why the IMBRA contains exceptions.
We met on a free Romanian site.
I just put down that site and their mailing address and it was fine. No problems. You definately want to list it because they are going to probably ask how you met. Of course it may go fine at CSC but the consulate doesn't care if it went through fine there. If they think anyone is not being honest they can ask for more evidence or deny.
Your fiance is Romanian. Was it noi2? If so I have the mailing address.
With that in mind, I called CSC to ask for clarification. The woman I spoke to, if you can call speaking to someone you can't understand a conversation, indicated that meeting someone from online, paid or not, constitutes a marriage broker.
By CSC you mean the NCSC number. Definately goes to show why this is called the misinformation line. What a load of crock.
My bad, I didn't explain well enough. I tried calling the Laguna Niguel phone number listed on the bottom of the RFE cover sheet, but the number was disconnected and there was no forwarding information. I called the (800) 375-5283 number listed in the instruction portion of the RFE sheet and was connected to someone who answered that they were from the California Service Center.
Regarding questions 2 and 3, I asked why there was no "No or N/A" checkbox, and she told me that I would have to explain the answer to those questions on a separate piece of paper, in addition to explaining Question 1.
Anyone else have a similar experience?
Much of late about being able to speak directly with the service centers via the NCSC number. It is not the case. The (800) 375-5283 number is the NCSC which is a call center only, contracted to USCIS and they are referred to as the misinformation line for a reason.
Service Centers
The four USCIS Service Centers in Vermont, Texas, California, and Nebraska were established to
handle the mail, file, data entry, and adjudication for approximately 65% of applications received by
USCIS. Service Centers do not conduct interviews with customers and are not staffed to handle
walk-in applications or answer questions. (This includes phone calls, faxes and emails. The only center that still offers email contact is CSC)
Telephone Centers
Through the National Customer Service Center’s four telephone centers (these are also based in Vermont, Texas, California, and Nebraska) USCIS provides toll-free nationwide assistance to customers calling from within the United States. Customers can access live assistance from 8:00AM until 6:00PM, Monday through Friday; they can access recorded information (including information about the status of their specific case) 24 hours a day/7 days a week. Both live and recorded service is available in English and Spanish. Callers from outside the U.S. can access more limited information through a separate toll number.
Meeting online in DOES NOT necessarily constitute a marriage broker......hence why the IMBRA contains exceptions.
I just put down that site and their mailing address and it was fine. No problems. You definately want to list it because they are going to probably ask how you met. Of course it may go fine at CSC but the consulate doesn't care if it went through fine there. If they think anyone is not being honest they can ask for more evidence or deny.
Your fiance is Romanian. Was it noi2? If so I have the mailing address.
QUOTE(aussiewench @ Jul 3 2006, 02:27 PM)
QUOTE(Brendan @ Jul 4 2006, 05:09 AM)
QUOTE(aussiewench @ Jul 3 2006, 11:56 AM)
QUOTE(Brendan @ Jul 4 2006, 04:39 AM)
With that in mind, I called CSC to ask for clarification. The woman I spoke to, if you can call speaking to someone you can't understand a conversation, indicated that meeting someone from online, paid or not, constitutes a marriage broker.
By CSC you mean the NCSC number. Definately goes to show why this is called the misinformation line. What a load of crock.
My bad, I didn't explain well enough. I tried calling the Laguna Niguel phone number listed on the bottom of the RFE cover sheet, but the number was disconnected and there was no forwarding information. I called the (800) 375-5283 number listed in the instruction portion of the RFE sheet and was connected to someone who answered that they were from the California Service Center.
Regarding questions 2 and 3, I asked why there was no "No or N/A" checkbox, and she told me that I would have to explain the answer to those questions on a separate piece of paper, in addition to explaining Question 1.
Anyone else have a similar experience?
Much of late about being able to speak directly with the service centers via the NCSC number. It is not the case. The (800) 375-5283 number is the NCSC which is a call center only, contracted to USCIS and they are referred to as the misinformation line for a reason.
Service Centers
The four USCIS Service Centers in Vermont, Texas, California, and Nebraska were established to
handle the mail, file, data entry, and adjudication for approximately 65% of applications received by
USCIS. Service Centers do not conduct interviews with customers and are not staffed to handle
walk-in applications or answer questions. (This includes phone calls, faxes and emails. The only center that still offers email contact is CSC)
Telephone Centers
Through the National Customer Service Center’s four telephone centers (these are also based in Vermont, Texas, California, and Nebraska) USCIS provides toll-free nationwide assistance to customers calling from within the United States. Customers can access live assistance from 8:00AM until 6:00PM, Monday through Friday; they can access recorded information (including information about the status of their specific case) 24 hours a day/7 days a week. Both live and recorded service is available in English and Spanish. Callers from outside the U.S. can access more limited information through a separate toll number.
Meeting online in DOES NOT necessarily constitute a marriage broker......hence why the IMBRA contains exceptions.
I would not suggest leaving the line bland. Either put yes or no or you may get an RFE The correct answer is no.
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