'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