Non-immigrant Visas
Representatives of Foreign Media
Τhe Immigration and Nationality Act authorizes nonimmigrant (I visa) status for certain information media representatives. To be eligible for an I visa as an Information Media Representative, the applicant has to be a “representative 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. In order to be eligible for the media visa, applicants must be traveling for activities that are essentially informational, and generally associated with the news gathering process, like reporting on actual current events. The applicant also must be engaging in these qualifying activities for a media organization with its home office in a foreign country. The consular officer will determine whether or not an activity qualifies for the media visa.
See www.travel.state.gov for more information.
According to U.S. regulations, all applicants must apply for their visas in person, by appointment.
For information on how to apply for an I visa at the U.S. Embassy in Athens, please click here, for a list of required application forms and supporting documents. In addition to documents required for every non-immigrant visa application, I-visa applicants must bring proof of employment in the media industry, including press credentials, journalist union membership, letter from employer and/or paychecks. Applicants must also bring proof of the intended work, including a contract or a letter from media outlet confirming that the bearer is hired on a contract or freelance basis for a specific event over a specific timeframe.
Please click here to view the list of supporting documents.