Press

The "media" or I-1 visa is a nonimmigrant visa for foreign media representatives who have a home office in a foreign country and are traveling to the United States to engage in their profession for a temporary time. Some procedures and fees under immigration law, relate to policies of the travelers home country, and in turn, the U.S. follows a similar practice, which we call "reciprocity". Procedures for providing media visas to foreign media representatives of a particular country consider whether the visa applicants own government grants similar privileges or is reciprocal, to representatives of the media or press from the United States. A Central Florida I-1 Visa lawyer  can assist you in evaluating or obtaining your visa.


Qualifying for a Media or I1 Visa

  • Primary employees of foreign information media engaged in filming a news event or documentary.
  • Members of the media engaged in the production or distribution of 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 when those employees hold a credential issued by a professional journalistic association.
  • Foreign journalists working for an overseas branch office or subsidiary of a U.S. network, newspaper or other 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, and who are not entitled to A-2 visa classification.
  • Technical industrial information - Employees in the United States offices of organizations, which distribute technical industrial information.

Request a Consultation

Get in touch and we'll get back to you as soon as we can. We look forward to hearing from you!