Media (I) visas are for representatives of the foreign media, including members of the press, radio, film, and print industries. The media representative must be traveling temporarily to the United States to work in their profession. The individual may only participation informational or educational activities, essential to the foreign media function. Activities in the United States while on a media (I) visa must be for a media organization with a home office outside of the United States. Activities in the United States must be informational in nature and generally associated with the news gathering process and reporting on current events.
Travel purposes which require an (I) Visa for Representatives of Foreign Press, Radio, Film, or Other Information Media – Examples:
- An employee of the foreign media or employee of an independent production company with a credential issued by another country’s professional journalistic association. The employee is engaged in filming a news event or documentary.
- A member of the foreign media engaged in the production or distribution of film, if the material being filmed will be used to disseminate information, news, or is educational in nature. The primary source and distribution of funding must be outside the Unite States.
- A journalist working under contract with a credential issued by another country’s professional journalistic association, if working on a product to disseminate information or news that is not primarily intended for commercial entertainment or advertising.
- A foreign journalist travelling to the United States to report on U.S. events solely for a foreign audience, if the journalist works for an overseas media outlet having its home office in a foreign country.
- An accredited representative of a tourist bureau, controlled, operated, or subsidized in whole or in part by a foreign government, who engages primarily in disseminating factual tourist information about that country, and who is not entitled to receive an A-2 visa as a
- foreign government official or employee.
- An employee of an organization that distributes technical industrial information who will work in the U.S. office of that organization.
Travel Purposes for which a Visitor Visa Can Be Used Instead of a Media Visa – Examples:
- Attend a conference, seminar, convention, or meeting as a participant, provided you will not report about the conference or meeting while in the United States or upon return to your home country.
- Guest speak, lecture, or engage in an academic activity for which you will receive an honorarium from an institution of higher education, a related or affiliated nonprofit entity, a nonprofit research organization, or a governmental research organization. The speaking activity must not last longer than nine days at a single institution, and you must not have received payment from more than five institutions or organizations for such activities in the last six months.
- Take a vacation, but you may not work or report during your trip.
- Citizens of Visa Waiver Program participating countries may be able to travel to attend a conference, lecture or take a vacation (see the above examples), on the Visa Waiver Program instead of a visitor (B) visa.
- Undertake independent research.
- Take still photographs, provided you receive no income from a U.S. source.
Some travel purposes require a temporary worker visa, not a media (I) visa:
While certain activities related to information and news gathering clearly qualify for the media visa, others require a temporary worker petition-based type visa, such as the H or O visa. Select Temporary Worker to go to the Department of Homeland Security, USCIS website to learn about temporary worker requirements and procedures for filing the petition, which must be approved by USCIS, prior to applying for the visa.
How to Apply? There are several steps to apply for a visa. The order of these steps and how you complete them may vary at the U.S. embassy or consulate where you apply.
Complete the Online Visa Application:
- Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application, Form DS-160 – Learn more about completing the DS-160. You must: 1) complete the online visa application and 2) print the application form confirmation page to bring to your interview.
- Photo – You will upload your photo while completing the online Form DS-160. Your photo must be in the format explained in the Photograph Requirements.
Schedule an Interview:
While interviews are generally not required for applicants of certain ages outlined below, consular officers have the discretion to require an
interview of any applicant, regardless of age.
If you are age:
Then an interview is:
13 and younger – Generally not required
14-79 – Required (some exceptions)
80 and older – Generally not required
Gather Required Documentation:
- Passport valid for travel to the United States – Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your period of stay in the
- United States (unless exempt by country-specific agreements). If more than one person is included in your passport, each person who needs a visa must submit a separate application.
- Nonimmigrant Visa Application, Form DS-160 confirmation page
- Application fee payment receipt, if you are required to pay before your interview
- Photo – You will upload your photo while completing the online Form DS-160. If the photo upload fails, you must bring one printed photo in the format explained in the Photograph Requirements.
Additional Documentation May Be Required:
Review the instructions for how to apply for a visa on the website of the U.S. Embassy or Consulate where you will apply. Additional documents may be requested to establish if you are qualified.
- A journalist working under contract or freelance to a foreign media organization will need to present a valid contract of employment.
- An employee of an independent production company, with a few exceptions, will need to present a credential issued by a professional journalistic association.
Additional Information:
- You may travel to the United States on a media (I) visa to work in your profession as a foreign media representative. As part of the same trip you may take a vacation while in the United States.
- Your spouse and unmarried minor children may apply for media (I) visas to accompany or join you to reside temporarily in the United States.
- Unless canceled or revoked, a visa is valid until its expiration date. Therefore, a valid U.S. visa in an expired passport is still valid. If you have a valid visa in your expired passport, do not remove it from your expired passport. You may use your valid visa in your expired passport along with a new valid passport for travel and admission to the United States.
- For information about employment and study, review Representative of Foreign Media and Employment Authorization on the USCIS website