The INS has issued a notice of intent to require mail-order bride businesses to provide certain immigration information to recruits. The INS is hoping to get public input in its first efforts to regulate the activities of international matchmaking organizations. The Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 requires this.
The INS states that it is reacting to “a growing concern in the United States about the potential hazards to individuals who meet their spouses through mail-order bride services. The risks of marrying a virtual stranger and/or ignorance of US immigration laws may lead either spouse to an abusive relationship involving marriage fraud or domestic violence.”
The new regulations in this area are expected to require matchmaking organizations to provide immigration information in the native language of the recruits. The information will cover conditional/permanent resident status, the battered spouse waiver for permanent resident status, marriage fraud penalties and the unregulated nature of international matchmaking businesses. Organizations failing to comply with the new regulations will face a penalty of up to $20,000 for each violation.
The new regulations will not be issued until at least the 60 day public notice period ending on September 16, 1997 is over. The public notice is available at the INS web site at http://www.ins.usdoj.gov/mailorder/bridespo.html.
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