Journalist Visa

No, they are not saying that, and media people from US, and from other countries, do go to India. But they have put extra hoops to jump through.

I'm sure he'll get his visa.

Essentially what they are saying is that a journalist "type" don't stop being journalist/reporters/editors even when on a vacation. US has denied entry to citizens of countries in VWP, when they have self declared themselves to be members of the Fourth Estate.

Thanks.

What's VWP?

Yeah - I've definitely seen the US deny visas. (In a rather annoying symmetry: my brother from India was also denied a visa to come here for the US ceremony. Apparently stats show my brother 'types' = (27, single, educated, analyst) don't go back to India)

But I (somehow) expect US to deny visas more frequently...

I am a freelance TV cameraman and I am travelling to India with an Australian rock band to shoot them performing and some stuff of them in various places throughout India. I then plan to travel to Mizoram to visit a friend and shoot some stuff about what she is doing there. It appears, as many have been saying here, that I may have to jump through hoops. Is it worth getting a Journalist Visa, or should I travel under a business Visa?

The Indian visa application process abounds with illogicJournalist visas sometimes get denied and are almost always given for short durations like 1 or 3 months. Business visas are much more flexible, but do you have a local business as a partner?

Thank you for all the information in this thread (and other related threads on J visas)
It seems that if you do anything media-related you need to get a J (or JT) visa.

My main job is freelancing, mostly within PR. But, on the description of my company writing is also listed (I do occational journalism and blogging). If I write Freelance PR-consultant, do you guys think that they will accept that or will that count as "media"-related so that i need a J / JT visa? Do you have any idea if they will look up me and my company on the web?

The reason I would love to have a clue about this in advance is the fact that it might affect how long I can stay in India (3 or 6 months), and it might take a longer time to get the visa...

Thank you for any help

Don't know where to post this, so posting here. If the mods feel it fits better some where else, please do move it.

From www.rediff.com here: http://www.rediff.com/news/report/us...t/20110923.htm

I applied for a tourist visa as a journalist - the only difficulty I had was that first, I needed to fill out a form stating that I would not be working during my visit (and I wasn't, though obviously I may write up pieces later), and secondly, I was told that while I could apply for a six month visa, that would have to go to the high commission, whereas a three month visa would come through the normal process. I elected to apply for three, and had the visa by return of post. The chap on the desk was extremely helpful. I'd also anticipated problems since I'm a freelance - no, that went just fine, no need to get a media organisation to vouch for me.

Right - applying for my visa for a second trip to India in February. I'm a journo with a local paper in South Wales, and last March I was given a J-visa for three months, after I applied for a multiple entry six month tourist visa (I didn't need it, the trip was only three weeks, but I wanted to see what I could get ).

Now to help speed things along my new forms ask for a journalist visa, for three months, and I've got a letter from my employer saying I'm going to be a good non-working journalist. Going to Cardiff to get it sorted on Tuesday - this all should be OK shouldn't it? I fly out on Feb 18.

Also: I've noticed the website asks for a self-declaration saying you will book all hotels yourself when you arrive. I've never heard of this before and never seen that mentioned on the site - has anyone else been asked for this?

http://articles.timesofindia.indiati...sts-visa-norms

And why, indeed, should there be?

However, although the basic rule is fine, it could be implemented in unfine ways. Could posting on a travel forum be called "journalism?" Probably depends on who's doing the calling.

Interesting !! Who is going to be the guinea pig ?