I guess Jaime caved

[william3rd]

dont forget the sex offender check-

So easy a caveman can do it!!!!

[michaelb]

An agency that is K-1 compliant? And "last visa issued by the agency". Sounds like the women is either stunninly ill informed or is  talking malarky.

What's wrong with that? Her quote "We are aware of the immigration laws and we follow the guidelines set, so my answer is yes, our agency compliant with K-1 requirements."

OK, OK, if you want to be the grammar police (I'd advise against that though, your own post has two misspellings), you could point out that she should have the word "is" between "agency" and "compliant" (or, for that matter, she could have used the word "complies" instead of "compliant"), but to me, "compliant with K-1 requirements" means that she is following the IMBRA law.

As for the second quote, we all know that agencies don't and can't issue visas, so I'll give her the benefit of doubt and assume that by  "last visa issued by the agency" she means "last visa issued to an agency client".

So how is she "stunninly (sic) ill informed" or "talking malarky (sic)"?

[OsageDave]

An agency that is K-1 compliant? And "last visa issued by the agency". Sounds like the women is either stunninly ill informed or is  talking malarky.

Someone else has already responded to this, but I thought I would too, since it's an email that was sent to me. In order to be K-1 compliant, they had to have supplied the right information to comply with IMBRA laws/rules, and the visa was issued to a client of their agency.

You're correcting grammar for someone who doesn't speak English as her native language. Can you convey thoughts in Spanish perfectly? Her meaning was very clear.

[piglett]

ok
i emailed filipinaheart & this is what i recieved back


Dear member,

Thank you for contacting us.

Please be advised that section 4 (B) (ii) of IMBRA exempts dating
companies whose principal business is not to provide dating services
between US citizens and foreign nationals so long as it charges comparable
rates and offers comparable services to all individuals regardless of
gender or country of citizenship. Consequently our company is exempt as it
falls within this exemption (as do many other large dating companies).


Full information regarding IMBRA can be found at
http://usaimmigrationattorney.com/images/IMBRA2005.pdf

Please contact us if you require any further assistance and quote your
Incident Number:[[2253465]].



team@FilipinaHeart.com

-------------------------------
original message
-------------------------------

Hello i have found a very nice lady in Manila by using your site , thank
you.
The question i have is am i going to have any trouble with IMBRA?
Has anyone else already asked this question?
Is your site concitered an IMB?
Thanks for your help in advance
Patrick Evans
wolfeboro,NH, USA

[mudd]

just because a past client,  (and they don't say how long the client applied for the visa, could have been 2 years ago)  received a visa, that they are in compliance of th IMBRA law. Maybe the client lied and didn't tell the embassy that he used a marriage agency. i couldn't find anything on their website about IMBRA.

[william3rd]

ok
i emailed filipinaheart & this is what i recieved back


Dear member,

Thank you for contacting us.

Please be advised that section 4 (B) (ii) of IMBRA exempts dating
companies whose principal business is not to provide dating services
between US citizens and foreign nationals so long as it charges comparable
rates and offers comparable services to all individuals regardless of
gender or country of citizenship. Consequently our company is exempt as it
falls within this exemption (as do many other large dating companies).


Full information regarding IMBRA can be found at
http://usaimmigrationattorney.com/images/IMBRA2005.pdf

Which means that they charge the same exact fees to their female clients as they do for their male clients both domestic and foreign. So if it costs you 25 us dollars, then they are charging Filipinos the same rate AND their main business is not the service- the Yahoo personals rule.

[OsageDave]

Which means that they charge the same exact fees to their female clients as they do for their male clients both domestic and foreign. So if it costs you 25 us dollars, then they are charging Filipinos the same rate AND their main business is not the service- the Yahoo personals rule.

My understanding of that exemption is that their main business cannot be a "dating" service (i.e. personally introduce two people/setup a date). A personals web site that only allows people to contact each other is more akin to a fee based Internet community and would qualify for that part of the exemption. The "charge both men and women the same rate" is taken care of by allowing any paying member to contact any paying or nonpaying member and allowing nonpaying members to contact paying members. They still charge the same for a paid membership, but that allows women in other countries to get a free account then be contacted or contact men (or anyone) who have paid.

Because of what I wrote above, my understanding is that CherryBlossoms, the Cupid sites, etc. all would be exempt from IMBRA regulations. Is that correct?

[Shadow_mas]

Because of what I wrote above, my understanding is that CherryBlossoms, the Cupid sites, etc. all would be exempt from IMBRA regulations. Is that correct?

If I read the definition of an IMB as used in IMBRA correctly internet matchmaking services are considered an IMB and have to comply with IMBRA, unless they are exempt due to other reasons.

[william3rd]

I dont see any of them to be exempt from potential regulation. The legislative intent is to INCLUDE-not to find reasons to EXCLUDE. 25 years of cherryblossoms has been arranging intros-one of the original MOBs- where you were actually mailing letters.

Here is the translation of the law that that I see-

 IMBRA includes ANY business entity or person whether in the US or outside the US that charges a fee for ANY facilitation of contacts for ANY social contact between citizens/residents of the US and foreign Nationals  EXCEPT
nonprofit traditional religious or cultural matchmakers lawfully operating under foreign and US laws
OR
a company that has a PRINCIPLE business (like yahoo, Match, or the others that are owned by major corporations) that is not engaged  in  ANY facilitation of contacts for ANY social contact between citizens/residents of the US and foreign Nationals AND charges everybody the same regardless of sex or national origin.

Here is the Act again-
(4) INTERNATIONAL MARRIAGE BROKER-

(A) 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.

[Ray]

William,

How would you interpret this part of IMBRA?

Though the agent may be considered an IMB under the law, and may have to collect background data of US clints, what obligation does he have to release information to a foreign national IF the site is set up so that foreign national clients can contact US clients directly but not vice-versa? It appears to me that the agent would not be required to share any info with the foreigner under this scenario.

I’m thinking of dating sites where a profile of the US client is posted so that interested foreign ladies can initiate the personal contact while no contact info of the foreign ladies is provided to US clients.

*****
Section 833.d. (3) OBLIGATION OF INTERNATIONAL MARRIAGE BROKERS WITH RESPECT TO INFORMED CONSENT-

(A) LIMITATION ON SHARING INFORMATION ABOUT FOREIGN NATIONAL CLIENTS- An international marriage broker shall not provide any United States client or representative with the personal contact information of any foreign national client unless and until the international marriage broker has--

(i) performed a search of the National Sex Offender Public Registry, or of the relevant State sex offender public registry for any State not yet participating in the National Sex Offender Public Registry in which the United States client has resided during the previous 20 years, for information regarding the United States client;

(ii) collected background information about the United States client required under paragraph (2);

(iii) provided to the foreign national client--

(I) in the foreign national client's primary language, a copy of any records retrieved from the search required under paragraph (2)(A)(i) or documentation confirming that such search retrieved no records;

(II) in the foreign national client's primary language, a copy of the background information collected by the international marriage broker under paragraph (2)(B); and

(III) in the foreign national client's primary language (or in English or other appropriate language if there is no translation available into the client's primary language), the pamphlet developed under subsection (a)(1); and

(iv) received from the foreign national client a signed, written consent, in the foreign national client's primary language, to release the foreign national client's personal contact information to the specific United States client.
*****

Thanks,

Ray

[henryw]

Mike I wasn’t referring to any spelling or grammar errors and yes I typed too fast. I thought K-1 was a visa and the applicant would need to be compliant with certain requirements to get it. I also thought that (in the case of Colombia) the US Embassy issued K-1 and other visas not privately run marriage/introduction agencies.  I stand corrected.

[william3rd]

William,

How would you interpret this part of IMBRA?

Though the agent may be considered an IMB under the law, and may have to collect background data of US clints, what obligation does he have to release information to a foreign national IF the site is set up so that foreign national clients can contact US clients directly but not vice-versa? It appears to me that the agent would not be required to share any info with the foreigner under this scenario.

I’m thinking of dating sites where a profile of the US client is posted so that interested foreign ladies can initiate the personal contact while no contact info of the foreign ladies is provided to US clients.

*****
Section 833.d. (3) OBLIGATION OF INTERNATIONAL MARRIAGE BROKERS WITH RESPECT TO INFORMED CONSENT-

(A) LIMITATION ON SHARING INFORMATION ABOUT FOREIGN NATIONAL CLIENTS- An international marriage broker shall not provide any United States client or representative with the personal contact information of any foreign national client unless and until the international marriage broker has--

(i) performed a search of the National Sex Offender Public Registry, or of the relevant State sex offender public registry for any State not yet participating in the National Sex Offender Public Registry in which the United States client has resided during the previous 20 years, for information regarding the United States client;

(ii) collected background information about the United States client required under paragraph (2);

(iii) provided to the foreign national client--

(I) in the foreign national client's primary language, a copy of any records retrieved from the search required under paragraph (2)(A)(i) or documentation confirming that such search retrieved no records;

(II) in the foreign national client's primary language, a copy of the background information collected by the international marriage broker under paragraph (2)(B); and

(III) in the foreign national client's primary language (or in English or other appropriate language if there is no translation available into the client's primary language), the pamphlet developed under subsection (a)(1); and

(iv) received from the foreign national client a signed, written consent, in the foreign national client's primary language, to release the foreign national client's personal contact information to the specific United States client.
*****

Thanks,

Ray

If the US citizen information is posted for all the world to see? Or- is this like a  reverse publication arrangement?

[Ray]

William, I was thinking of a membership site or publication where your self-composed profile is posted, along with contact info, for the perusal of foreign members.

That way, the foreign woman is making the decision to initiate contact. I can think of at least one member here who found his future wife that way...

Would that type of system nullify the IMBRA requirement to provide background/criminal history to the foreign contact in advance of any communication?

Ray

[william3rd]

The call of the section is informed consent needing a specific written consent and not being allowed to release contact information without running the checks and providing the information. DOnt cut off just part of sub iv; you need to read it in context. Only Jehovah's Witnesses get away with cut and paste

Under those specific facts, where the alien is in contact with the USC and the agency provides no contact information at all, there would appear to be no violation of the law. It would appear to allow for that type of contact until one of the foreign nationals gets beaten up by somebody skirting the regulations..

Wifebeaters, marry abroad. Pedophiles are sunk in any case.

[OsageDave]

marry abroad.

That's easy enough. I'm definitely wanting to marry a broad.

[Caballero2009]

Well you all can do what ya want...

As I am an upstanding guy who has no criminal record as far as I am concerned, i will meet my future wife on the beach while on vacation. No one needs to know more than that. and I plan to soak up alot of sun on my trip to Colombia.

If two people cant remember they meet on the beach then you probably shouldnt be getting married cuz youll never remember your anniversary!

We dont need governments to run your personal life. Its very simple.

[Maria]

If two people cant remember they meet on the beach then you probably shouldn't be getting married cuz youll never remember your anniversary!

Not only remember...She can't just show up and improvise..It would be sad that the woman gets to the interview clueless about what is going happen. And if you are at this stage of the relationship how can the two not agree on when and how they met?

I Don't think lying is the way out,Preparation is the key.

FL

[michaelb]

Go ahead, tell them what ever makes you feel like "I'll show them that they don't run my personal life!"........do what ever you like. Just remember that they are going to ask you a direct "yes or no - did you use an agency?" question on the forms and then they're going to ask her the same question in person......be a real shame if your answers didn't match. Now, maybe they don't "need to know more than that", but they're the guvmint and they want to know. Your problem is that the visa she's going to need is in their hands and they aren't going to give it over until you play the game their way, that's what's very simple.

[Ray]

Well you all can do what ya want...

As I am an upstanding guy who has no criminal record as far as I am concerned, i will meet my future wife on the beach while on vacation. No one needs to know more than that.

I have to disagree.

An upstanding guy wouldn't purposely put his future wife in a position where she would have to lie and commit perjury under oath. That isn't fair to her and it's very selfish on your part, IMHO.

Disobeying the law to make a point on principal is your choice, but please don't drag some innocent young lady down with you...

Think about it...

Ray

[bcc_1_2]

Well you all can do what ya want...

As I am an upstanding guy who has no criminal record as far as I am concerned, i will meet my future wife on the beach while on vacation. No one needs to know more than that. and I plan to soak up alot of sun on my trip to Colombia.

If two people cant remember they meet on the beach then you probably shouldnt be getting married cuz youll never remember your anniversary!

We dont need governments to run your personal life. Its very simple.

All the more reason why any article on selecting an agency should talk about IMBRA. Or people start thinking like this.

I'd make sure I remembered what MichaelB just wrote. You can't get around it on a K1.

[Researcher]

We dont need governments to run your personal life. Its very simple.

   I couldn't agree more but if you haven't gone through this process yet, get ready to put your personal life on display for our government.


   Researcher

[Jamie]

the last issue i can think of is the using of his lodging. the rumor mill has it that if you don't always stay at his lodging on future trips and he finds out about it... he might or does blacklist you from future service.

If that is or is not the case I just think it needs to be clarified. And if it is true list on the website for full disclosure to future clients.

Blacklisting works both ways men can decline to do business with me and I can decline to do business with them. I do not provide any memberships so I am not obligated to provide on-going services once the paid services are completed.

dont forget the sex offender check-

So easy a caveman can do it!!!!

So are you saying I am going to need help