How to apply for a visa for media employees:
- consular fees;
- filling out an electronic questionnaire DS-160;
- registration for a consular interview;
- organization of documents;
- passing the interview on the prescribed date.
List of required documents:
- Electronic Application for a Nonimmigrant Visa (Form DS-160).
- A valid international passport that is at least six months longer than the intended period of stay in the United States.
- One 5 x 5 cm photograph.
- Letter of invitation for an interview.
- Documents confirming employment.
What applies to documents confirming employment:
- In-house journalists must provide a certificate of employment stating the journalist’s first and last name, job title, purpose, and duration of travel to the United States.
- Freelance journalists who work with a media outlet under a civil law contract will provide a copy of this contract with the following details: first and last name of the journalist, job title, duration of contract, purpose, and duration of travel to the United States.
- Members of the film crews submit a certificate from the place of work indicating the name and surname of the member of the film crew, position in the company, title and a brief description of the plot or program being filmed, the purpose and duration of the trip to the United States.
- An independent production company contracted with a media outlet will provide a letter from the contracting authority indicating the artist’s first and last name, title, and a brief description of the story or program being filmed, the contract term, and duration of filming in the United States.
- Other documents that, in your opinion, confirm the information provided to the consular officer.
For an interview, you must take a journalist’s certificate and a certificate from the place of work indicating the purpose and planned duration of the trip, length of service at this place of work, and a total length of service as a journalist. This is a mandatory requirement when applying for a visa.
As you know, consuls assess not only the professional characteristics of the applicant, but also his social status, the presence of property on the right of ownership, family, children, and cultural level. Further plans of the applicant for life in the state of residence, the quality of his spiritual ties with his homeland, etc. can be taken into account.
