'I' visa needed for journalists

'I' visa needed for journalists

JAKARTA: Press associations, media organizations and
Indonesian journalists who wish to travel to the United States as
representatives of foreign press, radio, film or other foreign
information media are required by the United States Immigration
and Nationality Act to obtain an "I" visa in order to do work or
research in the country.

The Consular and Public Affairs Offices of the U.S. Embassy in
Jakarta, in a media statement on Monday, said the U.S. government
encouraged working journalists to start the application process
well in advance. "I" visas may be issued for 12 months with a
multiple entry facility if a journalist plans frequent travel to
the U.S.

The embassy advised media organizations to consider obtaining
"I" visas for particular journalists even before they had plans
to visit the U.S., as a contingency measure in the event of an
urgent need to travel there. --JP