CLARIFICATION OF PRESS REPORTS ABOUT VISA REQUIREMENTS FOR JOURNALISTS

Erroneous reports have been circulating that Ukrainian journalists may enter the United States without visas. This is incorrect. All Ukrainian citizens seeking to visit the United States must possess a valid visa.

Last week, U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced new guidelines that would give its Port Directors one-time only discretionary authority to permit traveling working journalists to enter the U.S. if they have the wrong kind of visa. Representatives of foreign press, radio, television or other foreign information media are required to have an "I" visa, and have been denied entry when they possess another type, such as a "B-1" business visa. The new guidelines were announced after several foreign reporters were detained and repatriated to their home countries because they did not have the proper "I" visa.

Journalists who benefit once from the new rule will be required to have the proper visa for subsequent trips to the United States.