International Marriage Broker

[ameriken]

USCONGUZ, thanks for all the time you take to help us at CFL.

 

As you probably already know, there is much confusion about IMBRA.

 

The new I-129F asks if the couple met through an IMB.

 

I think many are confused about how to answer. For one, no one wants to answer "Yes" and add unnecessary time/paperwork if they truly did NOT meet through an IMB. On the other hand, no one want to falsely answer "no."

 

The confusion in reading the law is 'what is/is not an IMB'.

 

More specifically are internat'l dating sites. A USC and a Chinese citizen can peruse profiles and elect to talk or not talk to each other, and that may eventually lead to a friendship, relationship or marriage. The USC pays for membership and the privelege of doing so. Chinese women may or may not be required to pay for similar priveleges.

 

They provide a means for members to post a profile/photos and email/chat with each other, and nothing more. Some of these are chineselovelinks.com, asianeuro, asianfriendfinder.com, and others.

 

In the view of USCONGUZ, can you tell us your interpretation of what is and what is not an IMB? Are sites like this considered an IMB?

Edited June 16, 2006 by ameriken (see edit history)

[USCONGUZ]

The law states that:

 

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.

(B EXCEPTIONS.—Such term does not include—

(i) a traditional matchmaking organization of a

cultural or religious nature that operates on a nonprofit

basis and otherwise operates in compliance with the

laws of the countries in which it operates, including

the laws of the United States; or

(ii) an entity that provides dating services if its

principal business is not to provide international dating

services between United States citizens or United

States residents and foreign nationals and it charges

comparable rates and offers comparable services to

all individuals it serves regardless of the individual’s

gender or country of citizenship.

[warpedbored]

The law states that:

 

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.

(B EXCEPTIONS.—Such term does not include—

(i) a traditional matchmaking organization of a

cultural or religious nature that operates on a nonprofit

basis and otherwise operates in compliance with the

laws of the countries in which it operates, including

the laws of the United States; or

(ii) an entity that provides dating services if its

principal business is not to provide international dating

services between United States citizens or United

States residents and foreign nationals and it charges

comparable rates and offers comparable services to

all individuals it serves regardless of the individual’s

gender or country of citizenship.

226185[/snapback]

Vague answer. We still don't know what is or isn't a marriage broker. If we met our wives/fiancee's on a matchmaking website such as Asia Friend finder, Asia euro, match .com are they considered a marriage broker? What if we met them on such a website but neither of us were paying members?

[USCONGUZ]

Further clarification and questions on this issue should be directed to the USCIS.