US Media I Visa

Things You Need to Pay Attention to in the US Media (I) Visa Procedures

A US media visa is a type of visa that is granted to those who work in the press, radio, film and publishing industries and are a citizen of a country subject to the visa to temporarily engage in informative or educational media activities in the United States. Occupations that may be eligible for a US media visa include journalists, reporters, film producers, cinema workers and editors.

The US media visa, code I, is given to representatives of media organizations whose main office is located in a foreign country. In order to obtain a US visa as a media worker , the activities you will conduct in the United States must be informative, related to the process of gathering news and reporting on current events.

How to Get a US Media Visa?

For US media visa applications, you must follow the steps listed below in order.

  • Fill out the online US visa application form and get a confirmation printout.
  • Pay the US I visa application fee.
  • Make an interview appointment at the US consulate.
  • Prepare the necessary documents for the media visa.
  • Give your fingerprints at the appointment and attend the visa interview.

At the end of the US media visa interview, the consular officer will share with you whether your visa has been approved or rejected. Once your application is approved, you can pick up your passport from the PTT center where the US foreign mission you applied to operates.

Filling Out the US I Visa Application Form

To apply for a US media visa, first fill out the DS-160 visa form at ceac.state.gov. In the travel information section of the DS-160 form, mark the purpose of travel as “Foreign Media Representative- I” and then provide complete information such as the dates of the trip, place(s) to be accommodated, and how expenses will be covered.

After completing the DS-160 form filling process, upload your digital biometric photo to the system and finally create and print the barcoded confirmation page.

Application Fee Payment for US Journalist Visa

The US journalist visa application fee for 2022 is $160 and you must pay the fee before making an appointment for the visa. This amount increases if you receive a courier service for passport delivery, travel health insurance and consultancy services.

You must pay the application fee for a media visa by following the instructions provided at usvisa-info.com after completing the DS-160 form.

Appointment Process for US Media Visa

You can get an appointment for a US media visa in the next step after paying the fee. An appointment for a US media visa can be made from the visa unit of the US Embassy in Ankara or the US Consulate General in Istanbul.

After completing the US media visa appointment process, you must print out the appointment confirmation document sent to you by e-mail and prepare other necessary visa documents.

Documents to be Prepared for the US Media Visa

For US media visa applications, you must prepare the following documents.

  • Current passport (old passport and US visa if applicable)
  • Photocopy of press card
  • Employer letter
  • Identity card
  • Biometric photo
  • Supporting visa documents*
  • DS-160 application form approval printout
  • Appointment confirmation email printout

* For US media visa applications, you are requested to submit supporting US visa documents to prove your financial adequacy and that you will return to Turkey at the end of the visa period .

Employer Letter for Media Workers

You must obtain a letter from your employer explaining the purpose of your stay in the US and detailing the length of your stay, the duration of your employment contract, and your personal information.

Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to frequently asked questions to our consultants regarding US media worker visa applications are provided below.

What is the US Journalist Visa Interview?

In order to complete your US journalist visa application, you must attend a visa interview. On your appointment date, you must go to the US Consulate in person, submit the prepared visa documents, provide fingerprints, and then attend a visa interview with a consular officer. If additional documentation is deemed necessary to complete the process, you will be notified.

You can track your passport for approved US journalist visa applications via https://ceac.state.gov/.

How Long Does It Take to Get a US Media Worker Visa?

The American media worker visa is issued for the period in which you will have to work in the capacities described in the first section in the USA. In other words, if your employment contract states that you must be in the USA as a journalist for 6 months, your visa will only be valid for 6 months.

If your US media worker visa is about to expire and you still have work to do, you can apply for a US visa extension . To extend or change nonimmigrant status, you must file Form I-539 with USCIS. You must prove that you work in the gathering and dissemination of news information and your employment contract must be extended.

What Other Types of Visas Are Available to Work for US Media Organizations?

If you are going to work in a US media organization in the United States, you must have one of the non-immigrant work visa types, and for this you must find a job in a media organization and sign an employment contract.

You can change your status from an I visa to a different type of temporary work visa for the United States . For example, if you find an employer willing to sponsor you, you can get an H-1B visa.