Reply #33: This is really, really serious. One of the most alarming things [View All]

[kayell]

I have read in a couple of days of alarming signs from the BFEE. I must have missed earlier discussions of this.

Found one link about it so far.
http://www.ascribe.org/cgi-bin/spew4th.pl?ascribeid=20040706.113034&time=12%2012%20PDT&year=2004&public=1
Society of Professional Journalists Calls on State Department to Continue Renewing Visas to Foreign Journalists

INDIANAPOLIS, July 6 (AScribe Newswire) -- The Society of Professional Journalists has learned of the recent decision of the State Department to discontinue its domestic reissuance service for nonimmigrant I visas (foreign media representatives).

Each year roughly 20,000 I visas are provided to international journalists to come and visit the United States for reports, interviews and other news coverage. In addition thousands of accredited foreign reporters are semi-permanently stationed in the United States. The discontinuance of the reissuance service will directly affect the semi-permanently stationed reporters, while bringing havoc upon the many that visit us on short notice. Currently a renewal of an I visa in the United States will take sometimes four to six months, while renewing an I visa abroad at a U.S. consulate may take four to six weeks, and in some cases longer. Neither situation provides a professional journalist with a realistic option for renewal of his visa status. Foreign journalists travel, and cannot do their work without proper travel documents.

SPJ is very concerned that this action prompts reciprocal actions by foreign governments to American journalists living and working overseas. We remind the U.S. government that this regulation creates a serious gap in information about the United States for overseas viewers and readers, and about the world for American news consumers. Such a vacuum of responsible reporting provides opportunities for rumors and innuendo instead of facts. Moreover, if American journalists are limited in their ability to work overseas, due to introduction of reciprocal restrictions, we are directly deprived from our news sources as well, and fewer reports from abroad will reach the United States for our audiences. American journalists are stationed in almost every country and many nations have reporters stationed in the United States, or dispatch daily journalists to the States for coverage of spot or breaking news. Both depend highly on the mutual courtesy and flexibility of the respective governments to assure swift and accurate international reporting.

SPJ reminds the U.S. government that by deploying an extremely short term to introduce the new rule, many foreign media representatives semi-permanently stationed in the U.S., and most foreign journalists who may get coverage assignments, will not know about the new rule. This will create additional conflicts and confusion for all parties concerned. In addition, many American journalists stationed abroad may also be suddenly confronted with embarrassing, unpleasant and unjustified decisions of foreign governments taking retaliatory actions.

Those journalists with visas or an established record of work as a journalist in the United States should not be faced with additional restrictions after the fact. SPJ urges the U.S. government to change its immigration policy to allow foreign journalists to enter the United States for a short stay as easily as any other traveler. In fact, it should be easier for legitimate journalists to visit the United States on assignment than nearly anyone. Any exorbitant costs or excessive delays or additional bureaucratic paperwork in the acquisition of visas for journalists should not be tolerated.

Therefore, the Society of Professional Journalists suggests the United States government introduce an interim arrangement for all foreign journalists permanently stationed in the United States, and all foreign media representatives visiting us frequently, allowing for more lead time, and an expedient renewal process. Renewals of I visa should be available both in the country of origin and in the United States within two weeks from request. Such renewals in the United States could be issued by the field offices of the Department of Homeland Security throughout the nation and by immigration authorities at ports of entry.