A journalist visa, like all other visa types in the United States, is subject to a number of requirements. We'll walk you through the requirements catalog step by step below.

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PERSONAL REQUIREMENTS

The applicant maintains his permanent home outside of the United States and intends to visit the country solely for a short time. The verification of sufficient financial resources to fund the duration of the stay in America is also significant in the visa application review process, especially for self-employed individuals.

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Applicants must show proof of employment with a foreign media organization. This is normally accomplished by showing an employment contract that verifies the person's status as, say, a reporter or editor. Freelance journalists and production firm employees who have a contract with a media company outside the United States for deployment in the United States and can show regular royalties in the past may also qualify for an I visa. The presentation of a press card is usually required by the US consulate.

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ACTIVITY-RELATED REQUIREMENTS

On-site actions can only be used to disseminate and collect news or information. This means that if the journalistic content (e.g., reportage, film material, etc.) is published outside of the United States, it can only be of a documentary nature.

Persons or firms who produce commercial projects (advertising recordings, for example) and projects from the entertainment industry are exempt from the I visa category (documentary soaps, entertainment programs etc.). For these activities, an appropriate work visa (O, P, or H) must be applied for, as well as a work permit from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).