DOS Reminds Foreign Journalists to Use "I" Visa
Posted Jul 11, 2003

On June 3, 2003, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) issued a cable instructing consular officers to remind foreign journalists that they should use the "I" visa, rather than the "B" visa or the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), to enter the United States. This cable was released to AILA on July 1, 2003.

The DOS issued the cable after realizing that a number of journalists were denied entry at U.S. airports and other Ports of Entry (POEs) since they did not have an I visa. The Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) specifically requires that journalists file for and obtain the I visa to practice their profession in the U.S. and prohibits foreign journalists from coming to the U.S. to practice their trade when entering the U.S. on a B visa. Since the VWP generally is considered to be a substitute for the "B" tourist or business visitor visa, the DOS consular officers and the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) inspectors at the POE take the position that under the INA a foreign journalist is also prohibited from utilizing the B-1 or the VWP to enter the U.S. to engage in any journalism-related work.

For more information regarding the requirements for an I visa, please see our October 19, 2001 article, Overview : I Visas for Journalists, available on MurthyDotCom.