I Visa – Journalist Visa for The USA

A stay in the U.S. with an I visa is generally not limited in time and is possible as long as the applicant meets the necessary requirements.

Unlike other non-immigrant visas, applicants for an I visa do not have to prove that they will maintain their residence abroad during their stay in the U.S.

A journalist visa for the U.S. is only issued to individuals who work in the media and wish to travel to the U.S. for professional reasons. Applicants must be employed by or work for a non-U.S. media company (e.g. as a freelancer) and have a press card.

When applying for an I visa, applicants must be able to present a press card, a corresponding employment contract, and a current letter regarding the specific assignment.

Freelance journalists are only eligible for an I visa if they meet the following criteria:

• They must be in possession of a certificate of eligibility from a journalistic organization.
• The assignment must have been commissioned by a media company.
• They may only disseminate information or news that is not primarily for commercial entertainment purposes.
• The following applies to the assumption of costs in connection with the production of (documentary) films: They must be predominantly covered by organizations or companies outside the U.S.

It should be noted, however, that an I visa can only be considered if the activity to be pursued in the U.S. is primarily for information or education and not for entertainment. Individuals who wish to shoot videos or films for entertainment purposes are explicitly referred to the O visa or P visa, the requirements for which are not quite as easy to meet.

In principle, an E visa, H visa, or L visa may also be considered if the respective requirements are met. However, even if the requirements are met, a B-1-in-lieu-of-H-1B visa cannot be applied for in order to shoot a film or video of an entertainment nature.

The final decision on whether the requirements for a press visa are met, in particular whether the activity in the U.S. ultimately serves primarily to entertain or primarily to convey information or education, rests solely with the consular officer.

Spouses and unmarried children under the age of 21 may accompany the applicant to the U.S. However, they will only be issued an I visa if they intend to live with the applicant in the U.S. for an extended period of time. For short-term visits, they must apply for a visitor visa (B-2) or enter the country under the Visa Waiver Program.

Neither the spouse nor the children are allowed to work in the U.S. However, they are allowed to attend school or college without having to apply for an F visa.

For an I visa, you only need to fill out the DS-160 visa application form (electronically), pay the visa fee, and make an appointment at the consulate. This means that you do not need to submit a petition to the USCIS, nor do you need to send extensive documentation to the U.S. consulate by mail for preliminary review. The next available interview appointment at the consulate depends on the respective workload at the consulates. An appointment may be available within a few days, but it can also take weeks or months, which was particularly the case during the coronavirus pandemic.