The International Marriage Broker Regulation Act of 2005 (Subtitle D of Title VIII (Sections 831–834) of United States Public Law 109–162), or IMBRA, codified at 8 U.S.C.
For a fee, before an international marriage broker provides a foreign national client's personal contact information to a United States client, the international marriage broker must: Any person who knowingly misuses any information obtained by an international marriage broker under IMBRA (i.e., uses that information for any unauthorized purpose other than IMBRA's required disclosures) is subject to a fine or imprisonment of not more than 1 year, or both, in addition to other possible penalties that may be imposed under federal or state law (sections 833(d)(3)(C)).
"International marriage broker" is defined as an entity (whether or not U.S.-based) that charges fees for providing matchmaking services or social referrals between U.S. citizens/permanent residents and foreign nationals.
IMBRA requires the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), in consultation with the Departments of State (DOS) and Justice (DOJ) and nongovernmental organizations with specialized expertise, to develop a pamphlet for foreign fiancé(e)s and spouses about the K visa immigration process, the legal rights and resources available to immigrant victims of domestic violence and other crimes, the illegality of marriage fraud (i.e., knowingly entering a marriage solely to obtain an immigration benefit) and U.S. legal obligations regarding child support.
However, the Department of Homeland Security cannot ordinarily waive the limits if the U.S. petitioner has a record of violent criminal offenses (section 832(a)(1); 8 U.S.C.