VISAS FOR PRESS AND BROADCAST MEDIA
By: U.S. Embassy Beijing
Revised: Jan. 1, 2004

Press and broadcast media require different types of nonimmigrant visas depending on the purpose of travel.

• Employees of magazines, newspapers, television and radio networks, and other media organizations who will go to the U.S. in order to report on actual current events as they occur and develop can be issued I (Media Representative) visas. No petition is required, although evidence that the applicant is an accredited media representative may be required.
• Media representatives who will travel to the U.S. in order to participate in the production of artistic media content (in which actors are used) require a petition approved in advance by INS before applying for visas. Depending on circumstances, H or P classification is most common for this type of activity, but O, L, and Q petitions may be appropriate in some circumstances. Television, radio, and film production companies may wish to seek expert counsel from an immigration attorney who specializes in media work for specific advice tailored to the project at hand.
• Media representatives going to the U.S. to attend meetings as ordinary participants or to purchase or sell media equipment or broadcast rights are considered ordinary business visitors and can travel using B-class visitor visas.