
About the Embassy	U.S. Policy Issues	U.S. Citizen Services	Visas to the U.S.	Programs and Services	Español

Non immigrant Visas

Non-immigrant visa application process

Business & Tourism

Intra-Company Transfer (L)

Official and Transit Visas

Study and Training

Transit & Crew Visas

Religious Workers (R)

Exchanges Programs

Treaty Traders & Investors

Media (I)

Work Visas

Domestic Employees

Medical Care Visas

Groups Traveling Together

Visa Fraud

MEDIA

ABOUT THIS VISA

Visitors to the United States who report on news events and who are engaged in activities to gather information for the media must obtain an I-visa. This includes reporters, film crews, videotape editors, employees of independent production companies, free-lance journalists working under contract, and persons in similar occupations. Both print and film activities are included in this category. However, if the visitor is filming, the film must be of an informational or educational nature. An I-visa cannot be used to film material which is used primarily for commercial entertainment or advertising purposes.

To Keep In Mind

Employees of independent production companies and free-lance media workers may qualify for I-visas if they are working under contract on a product to be used for its news value or as a documentary not primarily for commercial entertainment or for advertising purposes. The employee should hold credentials issued by a professional journalistic association. Consular officers may ask to see these credentials before adjudicating applications for I-visas.

You may hold an I visa and a tourist visa at the same time, and may apply for both at the same time (each requires the payment of $140 fee).

Journalists and media workers can qualify for the I-visa, if they are being assigned to reside in the US as representatives of a foreign press, radio, film, or other information medium which has a home office in a foreign country and the applicant's government allows for reciprocal visas to American information media.

The applicant must provide a letter from his employer describing job activities and length of stay in the US.

Spouse and children accompanying the principal applicant can qualify under the same visa category.

Applicants who seek to work on a film which is primarily intended for entertainment or advertising must obtain a temporary worker visa, categories H, O, or P depending on the nature of the job and the skills level involved. Applicants should have their managers or agents contact the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in the state where they intend to work.

Do you want to learn more about visa application process and US-VISIT Program? CLICK HERE!

Contact Information

If you have any additional questions please contact at consularsanjose@state.gov. Please allow up to 5 business days for a response.

— STEPS —

• To schedule your appointment, call our call center directly and pay by credit card or obtain your $14 PIN at any branch of Banco Nacional de Costa Rica. 24 hours after the PIN purchase, call 0-800-0521465 to schedule an appointment from Monday thru Friday from 8-6 PM.
• Pay your $140 application fee at any Branch of Banco Nacional de Costa Rica..
• Complete the Public Affairs Office to schedule an appointment with them.
• Arrive ON TIME for your scheduled appointment.
• Your fingerprints will be scanned at the interview.
• Passports are returned for pickup at a DHL office chosen by the applicant. The cost of the service is 3.000.00 colones.

— required forms —

• A recent 2 x 2 inches photograph.
• Valid Passport .
•Receipt from Banco Nacional.

THESE APPLICATIONS MUST BE FILLED OUT IN ENGLISH.

You should not bring your entire application. Your confirmation page is all that is needed to retrieve your application data. The confirmation page is the small sheet with the bar code that you print out after completing and saving your application. You must bring the confirmation page with you during all phases of the application process. Without the confirmation page, it may not be possible to access your application and process your visa case. DS-160

— We take fraud seriously —

Presenting false documents or making false statements to a Consular Officer can result in a permanent ban from entering the United States. Don’t do it!