While many citizens of foreign countries wish to travel to the United States for pleasure, others may wish to travel for work purposes. Prospective applicants in foreign media, press, and radio industry qualify for certain immigration benefits. Similar to many other immigration applications, if a foreign media, press, and radio applicant wishes to work in the U.S, the applicant will need to meet several requirements to qualify and get approved for a Media (I) Visa.
A media (I) Visa is a nonimmigrant visa for qualified representatives of the foreign media which includes press, radio, film, and print industries who wish to travel temporarily to the United States to work in their informational or educational professions. Qualified representatives of the foreign media include members of media and documentary film crew, video tape editors, employees of independent production companies, and freelance journalists under contract. The works of these professionals must be essential to their foreign media function. A I Visa holder must be a member of a foreign media organization with a home office outside of the U.S. Commercial, entertainment, and advertising productions applicants do not fall under the qualified representatives of the foreign media.
A media (I) visa only allows applicants to work with their sponsored companies within the capacities outlined in their employment contracts. Therefore, applicants should remember that they can only work on their approved projects. If an applicant is found to be working for another company, the media (I) visa will be ceased. A media (I) visa worker can travel in and out of the United States with a valid visa for relevant work purposes. If a media (I) visa worker receives a new employment proposal from a different employer, he or she must speak to their prospective employer regarding such opportunity. The worker must not begin working for the new employer without applying for a change of status and being approved for a new classified visa with the new employer. Once the worker leaves his or her previous foreign media organization sponsor, the specific media (I) visa will no longer be valid.
When applying for a Media (I) Visa, applicants must submit a nonimmigrant visa application, Form DS-160. Applicants may be asked to upload their photos if completing Form DS-160 online with Immigration. While interviews are not always required for applicants of certain ages, some applicants may be required to schedule an appointment for their visa interviews at the U.S Embassy or Consulate in their country of citizenship. Applicants must, then, prepare for their interviews by obtaining an employment contract, letter signed by the sponsor foreign media organization, a passport valid for approximately six months beyond the time of intended stay in the country, and the payment of the non-refundable visa application fee. A media (I) visa may be approved for up to five years.
A media (I) Visa holder may apply for derivative I visas for their spouses and children (under the age of twenty-one) that would allow them to reside in the United States. The spouses and children of an (I) Visa holder will not be eligible for a work permit. They may, however, attend school and/or universities. If an (I) Visa holder wishes to reside in the United States permanently, the (I) visa holder should consider applying for an immigrant visa, also known as a green card. Any media (I) visa holder considering applying for a green card must be sponsored either by a US employer or a citizen family member.
It would be best to discuss the best immigration options with an immigration lawyer.
Patricia Elizee is the managing partner of Elizee Law Firm. The firm is focused on immigration and family law cases. To contact Elizee Law Firm please call 305-371-8846 or visit www.elizeelawfirm.com. 1110 Brickell Avenue, Suite 315, Miami, Florida 33131.
