Aliens who are members of the foreign media may be eligible for foreign media visas, designated by the letter "I." Eligibility for an I visa turns on the nature of the alien's job and the purpose of his or her trip to the United States. The procedures used in issuing media visas depend upon the procedures the alien's country uses to issue similar visas to U.S. media representatives. This is because the U.S. follows a procedure called "reciprocity." This means that the applicable U.S. procedures mirror the procedures the alien's country would use in admitting a U.S. journalist on a temporary basis.

The purpose of the media member's trip is central to the type of visa he or she should seek. For instance, although media members may be eligible for the more basic visitor visa if they are only vacationing or attending conferences or meetings about which they will not report, they may not use visitor visas if they will engage in their vocations in the U.S. Similarly, media members may be eligible for business traveler visas if they will only deal with the purchase of media equipment or broadcast rights. These are considered legitimate business purposes and do not require the issuance of media visas.

Who Is Eligible?

There are two basic considerations in determining whether an alien is eligible to apply for a foreign media visa: the nature of the alien's job and the purpose of the alien's trip to the U.S. The burden is on an alien requesting a media visa to show that he or she is eligible.

What Are The General Visa Requirements?

Because media representatives are not immigrating permanently to the U.S., applicants must show that they have sufficient funds to cover their entire trip and that their stay in the U.S. is only temporary in nature. Additionally, applicants must not be ineligible for a visa. Examples of aliens who are ineligible for visas include those who practice polygamy; who have certain communicable diseases, such as AIDS and tuberculosis; who traffic in drugs; and who advocate the overthrow of the U.S. government. The submission of fraudulent documents also disqualifies an alien from obtaining a visa.

Who Qualifies For A Media Visa?

One who wishes to obtain a media visa must show that he or she is a foreign media representative, that his particular function is essential to the foreign media, that he or she is going to engage in the media profession while in the U.S., and that the information gathered in the U.S. is of actual current events. First, the alien must be a member of the press, radio, film, or print industries. Jobs that qualify as essential to the functioning of the press include editorial, reporting, and filming positions. Second, the alien must show that he or she will perform her profession while in the U.S. and that the events he or she will report on are informational in nature. Examples of media occupations that would qualify, assuming an informational purpose, are media employees filming a documentary or a news event and media members producing an informational film. Qualifying journalists might work as independent contractors, as employees of independent production companies, or as foreign branch office employees of an U.S. network or newspaper.

What Activities Do Not Qualify For A Media Visa?

The basic inquiry in determining whether a media visa is appropriate is the nature of the media representative's activity in the U.S. If the trip will involve news gathering or reporting information, a media visa will be required if the alien's job is essential to the function of the media. The following activities would not qualify for media visas: filming of commercial entertainment or advertisements; filming of fictitious events or staged events, such as reality shows and game shows; and filming or taping artistic media programming. Similarly, aliens in occupations that are not central to the media function, such as set designers and proofreaders, are not eligible for media visas.

How Do I Apply?

An alien seeking a media visa must set up an interview with an U.S. consulate or embassy, at which fingerprints will be taken, as well as a digital photograph. Additionally, as with all other visa types, both documentation and fees are required to obtain an I visa.

Required Documentation

Both general and specific documentation is required from applicants for media visas. The general documentation required to obtain a media visa includes a nonimmigrant visa application, a passport, and a photograph. Additionally, males between the ages of 16 and 45, as well as applicants aged 16 or older from designated state sponsors of terrorism, must submit a supplemental application, which provides additional details about the purpose of their trip. There are also documentation requirements specific to the I visa, which are targeted toward defining the nature of the alien's job and the purpose of the alien's U.S. trip. The alien must show proof of his or her employment, which, depending on the type of employment, might require a letter from the alien's employer, a copy of the alien's contract with a media organization, or a letter from an organization commissioning the work with which the alien is tasked.

Required Fees

Only two fees are associated with obtaining media visas: the nonimmigrant visa application processing fee and the fee for the issuance of the alien's visa. Whether the latter is required and in what amount depends upon the fee charged by the alien's country to U.S. media members.

May My Spouse And Child Travel To The U.S. With Me?

A media representative's spouse and minor, unmarried children are eligible to obtain visas on the representative's journalistic credentials, known as derivative I visas, so that they may live with the media representative in the U.S. Although spouses and children may study during th

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