I Visa Stay, Extensions and Family Rules

The visa's validity and number of entries come from the State Department's reciprocity schedule, and they differ by country: 60 months for several large countries, 24 months for Italy, 12 months for Mexico and China. Each admission is set at the border.

A person who stays past the authorized period voids the visa under section 222(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, according to the State Department.

• I visas issued by country and post

The previous text of 8 CFR 214.2(i) admits a media representative for the duration of employment. For holders of People's Republic of China passports, other than Hong Kong and Macau, it ties admission to the activities or assignments, not to exceed a maximum set by the Secretary and no longer than one year. We did not check the maximum currently in force.

A Department of Homeland Security final rule published on July 17, 2026 (91 FR 44976) would replace the current admission rule for foreign media representatives with a fixed period. A federal court postponed it on September 14, 2026, and USCIS says it will proceed under the previous provisions until further notice. Check USCIS before you plan around either rule.

The eCFR still prints the new text, which describes a fixed period and a shorter one for PRC passports. We do not state any fixed period here as the rule in force.

• USCIS: Form I-539

• Under the previous text, an extension of stay is filed with USCIS, and a person who files in time may keep working for a limited period while it is pending.
• A media representative agrees not to change the information medium or employer until USCIS gives permission. The regulation refers to a form designated by USCIS, and we did not confirm which form.
• A change of status to I status is also possible through USCIS, according to the State Department.

• A spouse and unmarried minor children can apply for I visas. The State Department says so, and the statute covers a spouse and children who accompany or follow to join.
• The regulation says employment authorization does not extend to the dependents of a foreign information media representative. Dependents cannot work on I status.
• State Department statistics use one class code for the I visa, so the counts we publish combine principals and dependents.

• The current maximum admission for PRC passport holders under the previous rule.
• Which USCIS form a media employer change uses.
• How long the court order will stay in place. We update these pages when USCIS changes its position.

Lando's flat fee for the I visa is $8,000. It covers preparing the application: a review of your work against the foreign-media tests, the employer letter or contract and the credentials that support it, the DS-160, interview preparation, and applications for a spouse and unmarried children. The I visa has no USCIS petition, so there is no petition filing, no Request for Evidence and no USCIS filing fee, and the fee-back terms that apply to Lando's petition-based visas do not apply here. The State Department's visa application fee is separate and is paid to the State Department. A consular officer decides every application, and Lando does not promise an outcome.

• U.S. Department of State: Visas for members of the foreign media
• 8 CFR 214.2(i), representatives of foreign information media, on eCFR
• USCIS: Form I-539 and the status of the fixed-period rule
• U.S. Department of State: 9 FAM 402.11, Information Media Representatives (I Visas)

Checked October 2026.