[JoeMama]

I want to know how the USCIS defines as a "INTERNATIONAL MARRIAGE BROKER" in I-129F? I met my fiance on a personals website, RussianEuro.com. I do not know if this site is deemed as a "International Marriage Broker" service as defined by the USCIS. I paid for a year-long membership with unlimited membership contact. They do not monitor or censor letters, instant messenging, etc. She contacted me first with a positive message through this website. We immediately moved to using Yahoo Instant Messenging because I can log our chat sessions. But I did not know this would come in handy later on as our relationship had progressed to love and the discussion of marriage.
If anyone has a detailed description from USCIS that defines an "INTERNATIONAL MARRIAGE BROKER", I would greatly appreciate it! Thanks for your time! ;-)

[payxibka]

altimixdj, on Jan 25 2007, 08:02 PM, said:

I want to know how the USCIS defines as a "INTERNATIONAL MARRIAGE BROKER" in I-129F? I met my fiance on a personals website, RussianEuro.com. I do not know if this site is deemed as a "International Marriage Broker" service as defined by the USCIS. I paid for a year-long membership with unlimited membership contact. They do not monitor or censor letters, instant messenging, etc. She contacted me first with a positive message through this website. We immediately moved to using Yahoo Instant Messenging because I can log our chat sessions. But I did not know this would come in handy later on as our relationship had progressed to love and the discussion of marriage.
If anyone has a detailed description from USCIS that defines an "INTERNATIONAL MARRIAGE BROKER", I would greatly appreciate it! Thanks for your time! ;-)

I cannot say for sure but probably not.

[Turboguy]

I can say for sure and it is. If you paid for addresess or the ability to contact people and it is not a religious based organization then it is considered to be an International Marriage Broker. If you contact her from a free site it is not or if it is one primarily operated for US citizens it is not. If you look around this section you will find the legal definion but it really boils down to if you paid for anything, it is an IMB

[payxibka]

Turboguy, on Jan 25 2007, 10:33 PM, said:

I can say for sure and it is. If you paid for addresess or the ability to contact people and it is not a religious based organization then it is considered to be an International Marriage Broker. If you contact her from a free site it is not or if it is one primarily operated for US citizens it is not. If you look around this section you will find the legal definion but it really boils down to if you paid for anything, it is an IMB

Yahoo personals is not considered an IMB... how is that different?

[JoeMama]

That is the question. The website where I met my fiancee is exactly like "Yahoo Personals". You only pay a small membership to use the site to meet other people. You do not pay for addresses or phone numbers. This is why I am caught whether the site I met my fiancee is to be considered an "International Marriage Broker" according to I-129F.

[garya505]

altimixdj, on Jan 25 2007, 07:02 PM, said:

I want to know how the USCIS defines as a "INTERNATIONAL MARRIAGE BROKER" in I-129F? I met my fiance on a personals website, RussianEuro.com. I do not know if this site is deemed as a "International Marriage Broker" service as defined by the USCIS. I paid for a year-long membership with unlimited membership contact. They do not monitor or censor letters, instant messenging, etc. She contacted me first with a positive message through this website. We immediately moved to using Yahoo Instant Messenging because I can log our chat sessions. But I did not know this would come in handy later on as our relationship had progressed to love and the discussion of marriage.
If anyone has a detailed description from USCIS that defines an "INTERNATIONAL MARRIAGE BROKER", I would greatly appreciate it! Thanks for your time! ;-)

The only definition of INTERNATIONAL MARRIAGE BROKER that matters is the one in IMBRA.
USCIS does not define it, IMBRA does. USCIS is just following the law (sort of).

RussianEuro probably fits the definition, so just say YES and give the website URL, the address and phone of RussianEuro. That's the safe course of action.

[BJZags]

fwaguy, on Jan 25 2007, 11:51 PM, said:

Yahoo personals is not considered an IMB... how is that different?

To us, there is no difference between Yahoo Personals or RussianEuro, or FilipinaHeart, but under the IMBRA law, there is a difference. Yahoo's primary purpose is NOT a dating site whereas the primary purpose for the others is exactly that. Just google IMBRA and read the definition for yourself.

[1HappyGuy]

I agree. The USCIS is loosely interpreting IMBRA. In their minds, if you paid for membership to meet people they are going to say it is an International Marriage Broker. But, what it really boils down to is this. Do you have anything in your background that might influence this lady from Ukraine about possibly marrying you? A marriage should be entered with full knowledge and complete trust.

But, what is more concerning to me is that you haven't mentioned if you two have met. Email and even telephone conversations are great, but you need proof of having met each other. Any talk of marriage before that would be premature. I hope if you haven't met her, that you have plans for a trip to Ukraine soon. The spring is a wonderful time to visit, especially in May.

Good Luck and keep us posted about your progress.

[payxibka]

1HappyGuy, on Jan 26 2007, 10:18 AM, said:

I agree. The USCIS is loosely interpreting IMBRA. In their minds, if you paid for membership to meet people they are going to say it is an International Marriage Broker. But, what it really boils down to is this. Do you have anything in your background that might influence this lady from Ukraine about possibly marrying you? A marriage should be entered with full knowledge and complete trust.

But, what is more concerning to me is that you haven't mentioned if you two have met. Email and even telephone conversations are great, but you need proof of having met each other. Any talk of marriage before that would be premature. I hope if you haven't met her, that you have plans for a trip to Ukraine soon. The spring is a wonderful time to visit, especially in May.

Good Luck and keep us posted about your progress.

I guess the bottom line is really... What difference does it make? When in doubt, put the information on the petition and move on.

[JoeMama]

I found out the term USCIS has defined as "International Marriage Broker". This should help for anyone in the future if they have questions regarding the same situation on their I-129F form.

What is the definition of "International Marriage Broker (IMB)"? Are there exceptions? Does this law apply to my favorite international correspondence website on the Internet?

Answer: IMB is defined very broadly in this law, as are all relevant terms in this law. (Bo Cooper, former INS General Counsel from several years ago, actually drafted this law; he sits on the board of directors of the feminist Tahirih Justice Center and intended to provide broad abuse protection to immigrant fiancées and brides.)

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.

Your favorite international correspondence website on the Internet would in fact be subject to this law, IF the exceptions enumerated above do not apply.

Some U.S. clients and IMBs are asking if the IMB would "qualify" for an exception if they don't charge fees for the lady's personal contact. The safe answer would appear to be: only if the other qualifications of Exception No. 1 apply. An IMB's claim to an exception based in the statement that "We don't charge fees for lady's contact or any dating service", but coupled with an admission that the company generates revenue and profits, however small, from such things as advertising fees for related services such as flowers, candy and cards, Google "ad-words", or charitable donations from members, carries a risk that the "non-profit" exception does not genuinely apply.

[JoeMama]

1HappyGuy, on Jan 26 2007, 08:18 AM, said:

I agree. The USCIS is loosely interpreting IMBRA. In their minds, if you paid for membership to meet people they are going to say it is an International Marriage Broker. But, what it really boils down to is this. Do you have anything in your background that might influence this lady from Ukraine about possibly marrying you? A marriage should be entered with full knowledge and complete trust.

But, what is more concerning to me is that you haven't mentioned if you two have met. Email and even telephone conversations are great, but you need proof of having met each other. Any talk of marriage before that would be premature. I hope if you haven't met her, that you have plans for a trip to Ukraine soon. The spring is a wonderful time to visit, especially in May.

Good Luck and keep us posted about your progress.

Thanks for the attention to the question I had. I was able to find the answer after some time. And I must list that we did meet through an "international marriage broker" according the change of law in 2006. You were wondering if we have ever met personally. As of this date, no I have not met her. My friends in Ukraine have personally met her. But I will be with her in 16 days for 2 weeks in Odessa. This is the last requirement I need to fulfill on my behalf to apply for the fiancee visa. I have been to Ukraine 3 other times this past year and a half. I love it over there! My fiancee and I spend anywhere from 4-10 hours a day on Yahoo IM with webcams. It was some time after communicating the way we have on a daily basis, we knew what we both wanted. Believe me, I am not wealthy at all. I've disclosed EVERYTHING from my profile even mentioning my 3 daughters living with me that would prevent any lady from thinking that I offer the "Easy life full of luxuries". Besides, my fiancee's mother hops the computer and speaks with me now.

This post has been edited by altimixdj: 26 January 2007 - 03:03 PM

[Turboguy]

I hope you have a good trip and that it turns out the way you hope. I have been to Ukraine myself perhaps 12-15 times. It is a great country and I really enjoy it there.

I was in about the same situation that you are. I met my fiancee through Elena's models which is similar to the service you used. I answered yes on my petition and gave the name and address for Elena's. The odds are that it will never come up in the interview or create any problems for you.

[bradyvicky]

Turboguy, on Jan 26 2007, 10:58 PM, said:

I hope you have a good trip and that it turns out the way you hope. I have been to Ukraine myself perhaps 12-15 times. It is a great country and I really enjoy it there.

I was in about the same situation that you are. I met my fiancee through Elena's models which is similar to the service you used. I answered yes on my petition and gave the name and address for Elena's. The odds are that it will never come up in the interview or create any problems for you.

It IS an International Marriage broker if the user pays a fee to a company to be able to contact an international potential spouse with the intention of a relationship and possible marriage. The company who receives the payment must be one whose primiary objective is to introduce a non-american to an american for relationship and/or marriage intentions.

Dont risk trying to say it is not one if it actually is...simply because you dont want to have to claim you met this way. Be proud of the option you chose, tell the Government about it and move on. They dont frown on it, they just want to know so they can regulate and monitor.

[garya505]

bradyvicky, on Jan 27 2007, 10:39 AM, said:

Turboguy, on Jan 26 2007, 10:58 PM, said:

I hope you have a good trip and that it turns out the way you hope. I have been to Ukraine myself perhaps 12-15 times. It is a great country and I really enjoy it there.

I was in about the same situation that you are. I met my fiancee through Elena's models which is similar to the service you used. I answered yes on my petition and gave the name and address for Elena's. The odds are that it will never come up in the interview or create any problems for you.

It IS an International Marriage broker if the user pays a fee to a company to be able to contact an international potential spouse with the intention of a relationship and possible marriage. The company who receives the payment must be one whose primiary objective is to introduce a non-american to an american for relationship and/or marriage intentions.

Dont risk trying to say it is not one if it actually is...simply because you dont want to have to claim you met this way. Be proud of the option you chose, tell the Government about it and move on. They dont frown on it, they just want to know so they can regulate and monitor.

You're reading things into then definition that are not there. The IMBRA definition says nothing about intentions.

[MidnightinMoscow]

This should help. If it is not a huge corporation like Match.com that won't disclose whether its membership is now more than 50% foreign, if less than 50% of non-paying members are American and the site says it wants to specifically help Americans meet someone non-American for a social (as opposed to business) reason, it is a marriage broker. If it is a lesbian dating site like www.girlfriendsmeet.com, they are a marriage broker too. I am not sure if you have to discuss whether you met someone on an IMB before the restraining order on IMBRA was lifted in September, but you clearly will not have to worry much if the European Connections case is decided against the government, which could happen anytime. The government would not dare reject you at this time because of where you met:

This post has been edited by MidnightinMoscow: 28 January 2007 - 06:47 PM