Why are I-129F petitions denied for the petitioner?

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

WHOA!

He did not say he met through a marriage broker. He said it was an internet dating website and that he paid a fee. It takes a whole lot more than that to be an International Marriage Broker.

An I-129F petition will be denied for the following reasons.

1. The petitioner is not a US Citizen

2. The couple hasn't met in person in the past two years.

3. The petitioner has been convicted of a sex crime against a child.

4. The petitioner has exceeded the number of allowed petitions filed and no waiver was requested or the requested waiver was denied.

People who meet on internet dating websites, answer "NO" when asked if they met through an international marriage broker. This is a common misconception though, as the I-129F instructions fail to mention the exceptions to the definition they show. The vast majority of internet dating sites are not IMBs. All that said, I've seen no evidence it makes a bit of difference how you answer the IMB question on the forms. Vast numbers of people have said yes when they should have said no.

Pushbrk,

Keith and I really thought it was not a marriage broker, but like I said, we answered according to our lawyer's instructions...

Apparently we said YES when we should have said NO... What now?

Can you see any problem with that?

Thanks

Lu

despite the lawyers screw up, you should have no problem. IMBs do not disqualify you. It will make no difference. Good thing for the attorney, hope is other errors are as harmless. Gotta love lawyers, eh?

[Lu & Keith 0]

WHOA!

He did not say he met through a marriage broker. He said it was an internet dating website and that he paid a fee. It takes a whole lot more than that to be an International Marriage Broker.

An I-129F petition will be denied for the following reasons.

1. The petitioner is not a US Citizen

2. The couple hasn't met in person in the past two years.

3. The petitioner has been convicted of a sex crime against a child.

4. The petitioner has exceeded the number of allowed petitions filed and no waiver was requested or the requested waiver was denied.

People who meet on internet dating websites, answer "NO" when asked if they met through an international marriage broker. This is a common misconception though, as the I-129F instructions fail to mention the exceptions to the definition they show. The vast majority of internet dating sites are not IMBs. All that said, I've seen no evidence it makes a bit of difference how you answer the IMB question on the forms. Vast numbers of people have said yes when they should have said no.

Pushbrk,

Keith and I really thought it was not a marriage broker, but like I said, we answered according to our lawyer's instructions...

Apparently we said YES when we should have said NO... What now?

Can you see any problem with that?

Thanks

Lu

despite the lawyers screw up, you should have no problem. IMBs do not disqualify you. It will make no difference. Good thing for the attorney, hope is other errors are as harmless. Gotta love lawyers, eh?

Hey Garry,

Like I said, the lawyer was my fiancé's choice, since he's working in Afghanistan now (I explained it a few posts above...).

No, I don't love lawyers, that's why I'm here asking so many questions...

Yes, hope he doesn't make any other mistakes...

Curiosity: can I fire a lawyer during the process, if needed??

Thanks!

Lu

[pushbrk 13,611]

WHOA!

He did not say he met through a marriage broker. He said it was an internet dating website and that he paid a fee. It takes a whole lot more than that to be an International Marriage Broker.

An I-129F petition will be denied for the following reasons.

1. The petitioner is not a US Citizen

2. The couple hasn't met in person in the past two years.

3. The petitioner has been convicted of a sex crime against a child.

4. The petitioner has exceeded the number of allowed petitions filed and no waiver was requested or the requested waiver was denied.

People who meet on internet dating websites, answer "NO" when asked if they met through an international marriage broker. This is a common misconception though, as the I-129F instructions fail to mention the exceptions to the definition they show. The vast majority of internet dating sites are not IMBs. All that said, I've seen no evidence it makes a bit of difference how you answer the IMB question on the forms. Vast numbers of people have said yes when they should have said no.

Pushbrk,

Keith and I really thought it was not a marriage broker, but like I said, we answered according to our lawyer's instructions...

Apparently we said YES when we should have said NO... What now?

Can you see any problem with that?

Thanks

Lu

Already answered in the post you quoted.

[Chris_Жанна 11]

One reason is you cannot prove that you can provide enough support. IF you are below proverty level income wise, you may need a sponser.

No. He is asking about the petition. No financial information is required for that. Financial information is provided at the visa interview AFTER the petition is approved.

The most common cause for denials on K-1s is lack of evidence of meeting in person.

Hey Gary awhile back You posted you found a cheap flight to Moscow???? Where did you look? Janna is planning to come here next month, but if she has a problem getting past PoE I'm going to try to make the trip to Russia. Also, Question about the Russian Visa, You cannot apply by mail? how did you go about getting yours? I know this has nothing to do with the thread but it's my post so

[Chris_Жанна 11]

Also, how's VT I just moved from Burlington less than a year ago. I miss VT!!!

[Lu & Keith 0]

WHOA!

He did not say he met through a marriage broker. He said it was an internet dating website and that he paid a fee. It takes a whole lot more than that to be an International Marriage Broker.

An I-129F petition will be denied for the following reasons.

1. The petitioner is not a US Citizen

2. The couple hasn't met in person in the past two years.

3. The petitioner has been convicted of a sex crime against a child.

4. The petitioner has exceeded the number of allowed petitions filed and no waiver was requested or the requested waiver was denied.

People who meet on internet dating websites, answer "NO" when asked if they met through an international marriage broker. This is a common misconception though, as the I-129F instructions fail to mention the exceptions to the definition they show. The vast majority of internet dating sites are not IMBs. All that said, I've seen no evidence it makes a bit of difference how you answer the IMB question on the forms. Vast numbers of people have said yes when they should have said no.

Pushbrk,

Keith and I really thought it was not a marriage broker, but like I said, we answered according to our lawyer's instructions...

Apparently we said YES when we should have said NO... What now?

Can you see any problem with that?

Thanks

Lu

Already answered in the post you quoted.

True!!

Sorry, too anxious, didn't read it well enough!

[m&k 0]

One reason is you cannot prove that you can provide enough support. IF you are below proverty level income wise, you may need a sponser.

No. He is asking about the petition. No financial information is required for that. Financial information is provided at the visa interview AFTER the petition is approved.

The most common cause for denials on K-1s is lack of evidence of meeting in person.

Hey Gary awhile back You posted you found a cheap flight to Moscow???? Where did you look? Janna is planning to come here next month, but if she has a problem getting past PoE I'm going to try to make the trip to Russia. Also, Question about the Russian Visa, You cannot apply by mail? how did you go about getting yours? I know this has nothing to do with the thread but it's my post so

I can answer about Russian visa. You can do it all by mail. Just go the visahq.com. You can fill out most of the info online. They take care of the stuff like "invitation" or whatever , then send your passport to them and they'll send it back with the visa. They even give you status.

[Chris_Жанна 11]

I can answer about Russian visa. You can do it all by mail. Just go the visahq.com. You can fill out most of the info online. They take care of the stuff like "invitation" or whatever , then send your passport to them and they'll send it back with the visa. They even give you status.

Spasiba!!!!

[DGAB2008 3]

International Marriage Broker Defined

"The definition of International Marriage Brokers in IMBRA covers virtually all for-profit matchmaking entities, whether U.S. based on not, whose main business is the facilitation of dating or like services between U.S. citizens and foreigners. The definition excludes matchmaking sites whose principal business in not providing dating services between U.S. residents and foreign clients and which charges like fees for its services regardless of the gender or national origin of the client."

In other words, dating websites like Yahoo Personals, E-harmony, etc. that don't set out to exclusively make love connections between U.S. citizens and foreigners, but that charge a set fee to everyone using the site, regardless of where they live, are not considered international marriage brokers.

Second, even though you answered that question incorrectly based on the advice of your attorney, shouldn't make or break your case and probably will have no impact whatsoever, especially if you explained in either question #18 or in your personal statements, how your relationship came to be. The examiner will see from your statements that you met through an online dating site, and they, knowing the definition of an international marriage broker, will understand that you clearly didn't understand the definition.

If you did not explain that you met on an internet dating site in either question #18 or in your personal statements, then perhaps it might be worth notarizing an amended statement to add to you file, or submitting a notarized amendment to the IMBRA question only.

I'm not one to leave things to chance so if you have an opportunity to provide clarity and it won't hurt you by doing so, but could hurt you without doing so, I say do it. Though again, I strongly believe, the examiner will understand on their own that you just didn't understand the definition.

Fire that attorney!!!

Dionne

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

One reason is you cannot prove that you can provide enough support. IF you are below proverty level income wise, you may need a sponser.

No. He is asking about the petition. No financial information is required for that. Financial information is provided at the visa interview AFTER the petition is approved.

The most common cause for denials on K-1s is lack of evidence of meeting in person.

Hey Gary awhile back You posted you found a cheap flight to Moscow???? Where did you look? Janna is planning to come here next month, but if she has a problem getting past PoE I'm going to try to make the trip to Russia. Also, Question about the Russian Visa, You cannot apply by mail? how did you go about getting yours? I know this has nothing to do with the thread but it's my post so

If you don't mind I will answer in PM.

[Chris_Жанна 11]

One reason is you cannot prove that you can provide enough support. IF you are below proverty level income wise, you may need a sponser.

No. He is asking about the petition. No financial information is required for that. Financial information is provided at the visa interview AFTER the petition is approved.

The most common cause for denials on K-1s is lack of evidence of meeting in person.

Hey Gary awhile back You posted you found a cheap flight to Moscow???? Where did you look? Janna is planning to come here next month, but if she has a problem getting past PoE I'm going to try to make the trip to Russia. Also, Question about the Russian Visa, You cannot apply by mail? how did you go about getting yours? I know this has nothing to do with the thread but it's my post so

If you don't mind I will answer in PM.

Sounds good

[pushbrk 13,611]

International Marriage Broker Defined

"The definition of International Marriage Brokers in IMBRA covers virtually all for-profit matchmaking entities, whether U.S. based on not, whose main business is the facilitation of dating or like services between U.S. citizens and foreigners. The definition excludes matchmaking sites whose principal business in not providing dating services between U.S. residents and foreign clients and which charges like fees for its services regardless of the gender or national origin of the client."

In other words, dating websites like Yahoo Personals, E-harmony, etc. that don't set out to exclusively make love connections between U.S. citizens and foreigners, but that charge a set fee to everyone using the site, regardless of where they live, are not considered international marriage brokers.

Second, even though you answered that question incorrectly based on the advice of your attorney, shouldn't make or break your case and probably will have no impact whatsoever, especially if you explained in either question #18 or in your personal statements, how your relationship came to be. The examiner will see from your statements that you met through an online dating site, and they, knowing the definition of an international marriage broker, will understand that you clearly didn't understand the definition.

If you did not explain that you met on an internet dating site in either question #18 or in your personal statements, then perhaps it might be worth notarizing an amended statement to add to you file, or submitting a notarized amendment to the IMBRA question only.

I'm not one to leave things to chance so if you have an opportunity to provide clarity and it won't hurt you by doing so, but could hurt you without doing so, I say do it. Though again, I strongly believe, the examiner will understand on their own that you just didn't understand the definition.

Fire that attorney!!!

Dionne

IMBRA had an implicit intent that the cases would be handled differently as to any disclosure issues, based on IMB or not IMB. However, in practice, I've seen no evidence in the last three years that there is even the slightest difference in how disclosure is handled. Really, the only significance between yes or no was to impose a requirement on the IMB to take part in the disclosure of any criminal record to beneficiary. There just simply has been no difference. IMBRA was never about an impact on whether a petition would be approved except in the multiple filing scenario.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Also, how's VT I just moved from Burlington less than a year ago. I miss VT!!!

OK, since others are answering. I have used travel agencies and the take care of the visa and invitation. They have all the forms and just follow their directions. Just as described above. I think the main reason for the visas is to drum up business for Russian travel agents.

I booked round trip tickets, Moscow to JFK and return to Moscow for our son $519 round trip. This if for arrival in July and return in early Sept. Aerosvit airlines, with a connection in Kiev. Vermont is great, but still waiting for summer. We had two days in the low 90's in APRIL and cool ever since, As you know, we only GET two days of summer...maybe that was IT. Alla tells me to warm up the lake for when she gets back to go swimming. Uh huh. Will do, sweetheart.

[Chris_Жанна 11]

Also, how's VT I just moved from Burlington less than a year ago. I miss VT!!!

OK, since others are answering. I have used travel agencies and the take care of the visa and invitation. They have all the forms and just follow their directions. Just as described above. I think the main reason for the visas is to drum up business for Russian travel agents.

I booked round trip tickets, Moscow to JFK and return to Moscow for our son $519 round trip. This if for arrival in July and return in early Sept. Aerosvit airlines, with a connection in Kiev. Vermont is great, but still waiting for summer. We had two days in the low 90's in APRIL and cool ever since, As you know, we only GET two days of summer...maybe that was IT. Alla tells me to warm up the lake for when she gets back to go swimming. Uh huh. Will do, sweetheart.

Tell her to watch out for Champ!!! haha

[Lu & Keith 0]

International Marriage Broker Defined

"The definition of International Marriage Brokers in IMBRA covers virtually all for-profit matchmaking entities, whether U.S. based on not, whose main business is the facilitation of dating or like services between U.S. citizens and foreigners. The definition excludes matchmaking sites whose principal business in not providing dating services between U.S. residents and foreign clients and which charges like fees for its services regardless of the gender or national origin of the client."

In other words, dating websites like Yahoo Personals, E-harmony, etc. that don't set out to exclusively make love connections between U.S. citizens and foreigners, but that charge a set fee to everyone using the site, regardless of where they live, are not considered international marriage brokers.

Second, even though you answered that question incorrectly based on the advice of your attorney, shouldn't make or break your case and probably will have no impact whatsoever, especially if you explained in either question #18 or in your personal statements, how your relationship came to be. The examiner will see from your statements that you met through an online dating site, and they, knowing the definition of an international marriage broker, will understand that you clearly didn't understand the definition.

If you did not explain that you met on an internet dating site in either question #18 or in your personal statements, then perhaps it might be worth notarizing an amended statement to add to you file, or submitting a notarized amendment to the IMBRA question only.

I'm not one to leave things to chance so if you have an opportunity to provide clarity and it won't hurt you by doing so, but could hurt you without doing so, I say do it. Though again, I strongly believe, the examiner will understand on their own that you just didn't understand the definition.

Fire that attorney!!!

Dionne

IMBRA had an implicit intent that the cases would be handled differently as to any disclosure issues, based on IMB or not IMB. However, in practice, I've seen no evidence in the last three years that there is even the slightest difference in how disclosure is handled. Really, the only significance between yes or no was to impose a requirement on the IMB to take part in the disclosure of any criminal record to beneficiary. There just simply has been no difference. IMBRA was never about an impact on whether a petition would be approved except in the multiple filing scenario.

Dionne and pushbrk,

Thank you very much for your input!

The Affidavit of Sincere Relationship / Personal Statement my fiancé wrote starts like this: "Luciana and I were both members of a website, www.XXX.com. I had been a member for a few days when I came across her profile....".

We didn't omit that, and on question #19 we provided the physical address of the website as well.

Do you think we are fine with that or you still recommend us to submit a notarized amendment?

I thought to myself that they also might access the website to check and see it's not a marriage broker... Is that possible?

And yes, thinking seriously about firing the attorney...

Again, thank you very much everyone, for your opinion! They are really important to me!

Lu

Edited June 18, 2009 by Lu & Keith