GARY BALA'S IMMIGRATION BLOG
---Legally Flawed “Anti-Couple” Legislation Labels U.S. Men Abusers and Hurts Foreign Women's Options for American Courtship---
Opinion-Editorial by Gary Bala, USA Immigration Attorney
Date: January 16, 2006
Office Press Release on IMBRA The Purpose and Use of the Repeal IMBRA PetitionPR Web Newswire on IMBRA: Feb. 21, 2006 PR Web Newswire No. 2 on IMBRA: March 13, 2006 Prague Post Online on IMBRA, Quotes Gary Bala: Feb. 20, 2006 Santa Fe New Mexican, Quotes Gary Bala: Sept. 24, 2006 Also Interviewed on the IMBRA law by Congressional Quarterly Magazine, San Antonio Current Magazine, and New York Times in July and August 2006
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NOTE: Mr. Bala, a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Assn. (AILA) with 25 years of legal experience, has completed hundreds of family cases, fiancée visas, spousal petitions and consultations. His office is in Pennsylvania. Contact him via E-Mail: gb@garybala.com
Website: USA Immigration Attorney.com
Blog: Fiancee Visa - Spousal Visa
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After hours on the Saturday before Christmas Weekend 2005, the U.S. House rushed through the final version of a law, H.R. 3402, which will, as a practical matter, effectively shoot down Cupid’s Arrow for many American men (and women) seeking romance and love with a foreign partner.
The International Marriage Broker Regulation Act of 2005 (IMBRA), Public Law No. 109-162, Title VIII, Subtitle D, January 05, 2006 [codified at 8 USC §1375a(d)(2) and (e)(4)] was passed on a simple but undemocratic “voice vote”, by the House on Saturday, Dec. 17 following a "unanimous consent" vote by the Senate on Friday, Dec. 16, in time to allow lawmakers to return home for the holidays, without any hearings, witness testimony or even review of relevant statistical or empirical evidence, in true "backdoor" fashion. SEE Congressional Action on IMBRA: Passed by House on "Voice Vote" 12/17/05 5:19PM Eastern Time, Passed by Senate by "Unanimous Consent" by 12/16/05.
Many legislators who agreed on the voice vote after a House-Senate Conference probably did not even read the law as it was cleverly attached, by its feminist proponents notably Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA), to the back-end of the universally applauded “Violence Against Women and Department of Justice Reauthorization Act of 2005”, signed by the President on January 05, 2006. Most of the law's provisions go into effect in 60 days, or by March 06, 2006.
Let’s be crystal clear that NO ONE is against protection of women and children from deadly and vicious attacks at the hand of spouses who may be violent offenders. Yes, we all agree and should indeed work hard and imaginatively to combat this wicked evil in our society. But this law is NOT the answer...
---Legally Flawed “Anti-Couple” Legislation Labels U.S. Men Abusers and Hurts Foreign Women's Options for American Courtship---
Opinion-Editorial by Gary Bala, USA Immigration Attorney
Date: January 16, 2006
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NOTE: Mr. Bala, a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Assn. (AILA) with 25 years of legal experience, has completed hundreds of family cases, fiancée visas, spousal petitions and consultations. His office is in Pennsylvania. Contact him via E-Mail: gb@garybala.com
Website: USA Immigration Attorney.com
Blog: Fiancee Visa - Spousal Visa
---------------------------------------------------
After hours on the Saturday before Christmas Weekend 2005, the U.S. House rushed through the final version of a law, H.R. 3402, which will, as a practical matter, effectively shoot down Cupid’s Arrow for many American men (and women) seeking romance and love with a foreign partner.
The International Marriage Broker Regulation Act of 2005 (IMBRA), Public Law No. 109-162, Title VIII, Subtitle D, January 05, 2006 [codified at 8 USC §1375a(d)(2) and (e)(4)] was passed on a simple but undemocratic “voice vote”, by the House on Saturday, Dec. 17 following a "unanimous consent" vote by the Senate on Friday, Dec. 16, in time to allow lawmakers to return home for the holidays, without any hearings, witness testimony or even review of relevant statistical or empirical evidence, in true "backdoor" fashion. SEE Congressional Action on IMBRA: Passed by House on "Voice Vote" 12/17/05 5:19PM Eastern Time, Passed by Senate by "Unanimous Consent" by 12/16/05.
Many legislators who agreed on the voice vote after a House-Senate Conference probably did not even read the law as it was cleverly attached, by its feminist proponents notably Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA), to the back-end of the universally applauded “Violence Against Women and Department of Justice Reauthorization Act of 2005”, signed by the President on January 05, 2006. Most of the law's provisions go into effect in 60 days, or by March 06, 2006.
Let’s be crystal clear that NO ONE is against protection of women and children from deadly and vicious attacks at the hand of spouses who may be violent offenders. Yes, we all agree and should indeed work hard and imaginatively to combat this wicked evil in our society. But this law is NOT the answer...
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WELCOME TO OUR ARTICLE, FAQ SECTION AND BLOG ON THE INTERNATIONAL MARRIAGE BROKER LAW OR IMBRA, ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR ON THE INTERNET. PLEASE REVIEW OUR POSTING RULES AND JOIN THE DISCUSSION ON IMBRA WITH YOUR THOUGHTFUL COMMENTS AND OPINIONS. THANK YOU! BLOG COMMENTS ARE 24/7 AND TO THE PRESENT JAN. 2007
--------------------------------------------------CLICK HERE TO READ OUR BLOG POSTING RULES ---------------------------------------------------
A Brief Description of this Law and How It Affects You
President Bush signs VAWA and IMBRA Laws.
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FOR MORE INFORMATION AND READING ON IMBRA:
READ OUR OP-ED: The Backdoor Law That Sabotages International Romance
Office Press Release on IMBRA The Purpose and Use of the Repeal IMBRA PetitionPR Web Newswire on IMBRA: Feb. 21, 2006 PR Web Newswire No. 2 on IMBRA: March 13, 2006 Prague Post Online on IMBRA, Quotes Gary Bala: Feb. 20, 2006 Santa Fe New Mexican, Quotes Gary Bala: Sept. 24, 2006 Also Interviewed on the IMBRA law by Congressional Quarterly Magazine, San Antonio Current Magazine, and New York Times in July and August 2006
Pease Also Visit Our Website: USA Immigration Attorney.com
Blog: Fiancee Visa - Spousal Visa
Our Contact E-Mail: gb@garybala.com --------------------------------------------------
Date: January 05, 2006
Dear Clients, Friends and Supporters,
On January 05, 2006, President Bush signed into law the "International Marriage Broker Regulation Act of 2005 (IMBRA)", Public Law No. 109-162, Title VIII, Subtitle D, January 05, 2006 [codified at 8 USC §1375a(d)(2) and (e)(4)].
SEE: White House Announcement
This law was attached to the Violence Against Women (VAWA) and Department of Justice Reauthorization Act of 2005 up for renewal (passed by House and Senate). No public hearings were conducted, or any witnesses questioned. There was no statistical evidence submitted regarding International marriages, subsequent divorces or incidences of domestic violence. In fact, all informal studies suggest that inter-cultural couples enjoy a divorce rate percentage much smaller than the national domestic rate of 50%. More discussion will certainly result from this as individuals learn of this law's enactment.
For the text of the final version of the new law, see this link (in Adobe PDF Format):
International Marriage Broker Regulation Act of 2005
WHAT IS THIS NEW LAW? WHAT DROVE IT?...
WELCOME TO OUR ARTICLE, FAQ SECTION AND BLOG ON THE INTERNATIONAL MARRIAGE BROKER LAW OR IMBRA, ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR ON THE INTERNET. PLEASE REVIEW OUR POSTING RULES AND JOIN THE DISCUSSION ON IMBRA WITH YOUR THOUGHTFUL COMMENTS AND OPINIONS. THANK YOU! BLOG COMMENTS ARE 24/7 AND TO THE PRESENT JAN. 2007
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Blog: Fiancee Visa - Spousal Visa
Our Contact E-Mail: gb@garybala.com
Date: January 05, 2006
Dear Clients, Friends and Supporters,
On January 05, 2006, President Bush signed into law the "International Marriage Broker Regulation Act of 2005 (IMBRA)", Public Law No. 109-162, Title VIII, Subtitle D, January 05, 2006 [codified at 8 USC §1375a(d)(2) and (e)(4)].
SEE: White House Announcement
This law was attached to the Violence Against Women (VAWA) and Department of Justice Reauthorization Act of 2005 up for renewal (passed by House and Senate). No public hearings were conducted, or any witnesses questioned. There was no statistical evidence submitted regarding International marriages, subsequent divorces or incidences of domestic violence. In fact, all informal studies suggest that inter-cultural couples enjoy a divorce rate percentage much smaller than the national domestic rate of 50%. More discussion will certainly result from this as individuals learn of this law's enactment.
For the text of the final version of the new law, see this link (in Adobe PDF Format):
International Marriage Broker Regulation Act of 2005
WHAT IS THIS NEW LAW? WHAT DROVE IT?...
