Media (I) visa Factsheet

Journalists, their direct support staff, and other members of the press (who are not U.S. citizens) intending to travel to the United States for the purpose of engaging in professional media activities must obtain a media (I) visa for such travel.  The media (I) visa is different from the business or visitor’s visa (B), and is specifically for non-U.S. media representatives traveling on media-related business.

Who May Qualify for a Media (I) Visa
Under Unites States law, media (I) visas are for representatives of the foreign media, including members of the press, radio, film or print industries, whose activities are essential to the foreign media function, such as reporters, film crews, editors and persons in similar occupations traveling to the U.S. to engage in their profession. The applicant must be engaging in qualifying activities for a media organization which has its home office in a foreign country. 

Activities Which Qualify for a Media Visa
The activity must be essentially informational and generally associated with the news gathering process to be eligible for a media visa. Examples include, but are not limited to:
• Primary employees of foreign information media engaged in filming a news, sporting, or entertainment industry (such as an acting awards ceremony) event or documentary. 
• Members of the media engaged in the production or distribution of a film will only qualify for a media visa if the material being filmed will be used to disseminate information or news. Additionally, the primary source and distribution of funding must be outside the United States.
• Journalists working under contract - Persons holding a credential issued by a professional journalistic organization, if working under contract on a product to be used abroad by an information or cultural medium to disseminate information or news not primarily intended for commercial entertainment or advertising. Please note that a valid employment contract is required.
• Employees of independent production companies who hold a credential issued by a professional journalistic association.
• Foreign journalists working for an overseas branch office or subsidiary of a U.S. media outlet if the journalist is going to the United States to report on U.S. events solely for a foreign audience.
• Accredited representatives of tourist bureaus, controlled, operated, or subsidized in whole or in part by a foreign government, who engage primarily in disseminating factual tourist information about that country.
• Technical industrial information- Employees in the United States offices of organizations, which distribute technical industrial information.

Activities Which Do Not Qualify for a Media Visa
Examples of activities which would not qualify for a media visa include:
• Material for commercial entertainment or advertising purposes.
• Proofreaders, librarians, set designers.
• Stories which are staged events, television and quiz shows.
• Artistic media content production.
In addition, media visas are not appropriate under the following circumstances:
• Media representatives who are going to the U.S. to attend conferences or meetings as a participant and will not report about the meeting, either while in the U.S. or upon their return must travel on a visitor visa to the U.S.
• Media representatives traveling for the purpose of guest speaking, lecturing, or engaging in other usual academic activity, for which they 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, must travel on a visitor visa to the U.S. 
• A visitor visa can be used by employees to purchase U.S. media equipment or broadcast rights or take orders for foreign media equipment or broadcast rights, since they are considered ordinary business visitors. 
• Likewise, a foreign media journalist who does not have a media visa can take vacation to the U.S. on a visitor visa.

Applying for a Media Visa - Required Documentation
Making your appointment for an interview is the first step in the visa application process.  Each applicant for a media (I) visa must submit the following forms and documentation at the time of the interview:
• An electronic Nonimmigrant Visa Application, Form DS-156. 
• A Supplemental Nonimmigrant Visa Application, Form DS-157.  Submission of this form is required for all male applicants between 16-45 years of age.
• A passport valid for travel to the United States and with a validity date at least six months beyond the applicant's intended period of stay in the United States.
• One (1) 2x2 photograph.
• Proof of Employment: 
Staff Journalist: Reporters should bring their Chinese government issued “Reporter’s Certificate” or other evidence of accreditation by professional journalistic associations (such as the Associated Press).  If not available, they should provide a letter on company letterhead from the employer that gives the employee’s name, position held within the company, and purpose and length of stay in the United States. 
Freelance Journalist under contract to a media organization: A copy of the contract with the organization, which shows the employee’s name, position held within the company, purpose and length of stay in the United States, and duration of contract.
Media Film Crew: A letter on company letterhead from the employer which gives the following information: name; position held within company; title and brief description of the program being filmed and period of time required for filming in the United States.
• Independent Production Company under contract to media organization: A letter on company letterhead from the organization commissioning the work which gives the following information: name; title and brief description of the program being filmed; period of time required for filming in the United States and duration of contract.Finally, applicants for I visas should be prepared to show ties to China and demonstrate their intent to return following the completion of their duties in the United States.  For more information on this, see the General Advice section on this website.

For more detailed information, please see:
http://www.travel.state.gov/visa/temp/types/types_1276.html