CREDENTIAL RENEWALS: The procedure for renewing an FPCs credential is the same as applying for a new one.
The Foreign Press Centers (FPCs) issue press credentials to foreign media with a primary audience/circulation located outside the United States. These credentials grant access to the FPCs’ events, facilities, and services in Washington, D.C. and New York, NY. They are widely recognized by government and other organizations convening media events. Validity of the FPCs’ credential is in accordance with the terms of the applicant’s visa status, duration of eligibility to work in the United States, and/or reciprocity with the employing media agency’s home country. Validity will not exceed a term of three years, but credentials are renewable at the end of that period for members of the foreign media on continuing assignment in the United States.
To apply for an FPCs credential from the Washington Foreign Press Center, please submit the following documents via e-mail to DCFPC@state.gov with your application package. The Washington FPC Media Relations Officer responsible for your geographic region will respond to your inquiry.
PLEASE NOTE: Credentials do not guarantee admission to any specific media event, and journalists are encouraged to check specific instructions from hosting organizations and on notices of press availabilities.
FPC Credential Application Checklist:
Please provide the following information (copy and paste into the body of your e-mail). All information should be in English.
- Surname/Family Name
- First Name
- Middle Name, if any.
- Country of Media Organization
- Name of Media Organization
- Job Title
- Please include a short (2 – 4 sentence) biography describing your work and experience as a journalist.
- E.g. (“Name”) has been the Washington correspondent for the (“Outlet”) newspaper since 2017 and covers American politics with a focus on U.S. policy towards the Middle East. Founded in 1992, the (“Outlet”) has bureaus in Tokyo, Washington, DC, and Israel, and publishes across all digital platforms. Prior to the (“Outlet”), (“Name”) served as the Bureau Chief for (“Another Outlet”) newspaper.
- Type of Media (magazine, newspaper, TV, radio, online, news agency, other)
- Audience Size of Media Organization
- U.S. Office Address
- Office Phone
- Mobile Phone
- E-mail Address
- Twitter Handle(s)
- Media Organization Website Address
- Name of Employee you are Replacing, if any.
Please attach the following to your e-mail (as separate attachments, not embedded in the body of the e-mail). All copies should be in .pdf or .jpg format:
- One recent passport-size color photo in .jpg format (Note: Photo must be no older than six months). The photo must have a white background;
- One of the following types of evidence of valid work authorization:
- Copy of a valid U.S. passport or other evidence of U.S. citizenship;
- Copy of a U.S. legal permanent resident “green” card; or
- Copy of a valid Employment Authorization Document (EAD) or temporary authorization pending EAD issuance.
- Copy of the biodata/photo page of your passport and documentation showing that you are legally authorized to work in the United States. Qualifying documents include a valid “I” journalist visa. Bearers of other temporary worker visa categories may qualify under certain circumstances. Applicants must also submit a copy of the entry stamp from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services officer at the port of entry into the United States. The stamp should indicate how long the applicant is authorized to remain in the United States. Applicants must also provide copies of any applications for extensions to remain in the United States or authorizations of extensions.
- An original signed letter, scanned in .jpg or .pdf format, from the director of the media organization for which you work, written in English, on the organization’s letterhead and dated no more than 30 days prior to your application, confirming your assignment to the United States. The letter should include your title/position and the duration of your assignment. This letter cannot be signed by the applicant; and
- Three articles, images, or other media produced by the applicant and run by foreign news organizations within the last sixty days that credit the applicant . For photographers and videographers, this can also be demonstrated by presenting assignment sheets or other formal records from an assignments editor that indicate that the applicant has covered media events. The FPCs may, at its sole discretion, waive this requirement for new staff hired in the United States.
The FPCs reserve the right to request additional documentation attached to any work authorization.
FREELANCERS (PRINT/PHOTO/VIDEO):
Freelancers will be granted credentials based on their ability to demonstrate both that their primary employment is as a journalist and that the majority of their material is placed with media with a primary audience outside the United States. Freelance credentials have a maximum validity of twelve months, with the option to renew, provided the conditions noted in this section are met.
1. An original signed letter, scanned in .jpg or.pdf format, from the director of a media organization for which you work regularly, written in English, on the organization’s letterhead and dated no more than 30 days prior to your application, confirming you have placed work with that organization in the past year and that they will continue to accept material from you. Freelancers are encouraged to provide this same information for as many of the media placing their content as possible; and
2.Three articles, images, or other media produced by the applicant and run by foreign news organizations within the last sixty days that show the applicant as the author/creator. For photographers and videographers, this can also be demonstrated by presenting assignment sheets or other formal records from an assignments editor that indication that the applicant has covered media events.
The FPCs may, at its sole discretion, waive this requirement for new staff hired in the United States.
BLOGGERS AND OTHER SELF-EMPLOYED MEDIA: The FPCs will consider applications for credentials by bloggers and independent journalists on a case-by-case basis. Applicants will be expected to demonstrate both that their primary content is news and that their primary audience is overseas. Documentation of content-sharing agreements with established media and/or references from government media relations offices may be submitted in support of the application, but the FPCs reserve the right to grant credentials at its sole discretion.
APPROVED CREDENTIALS: If approved, you will be contacted by the Washington FPC Media Relations Officer responsible for your geographic region to arrange a time to pick up your credential.
IMPORTANT: The average processing time for a Washington FPC credential is THREE business days from the date on which all required application materials are received by the Media Relations Officer.
CHANGING MEDIA OUTLETS AND CHANGING STATUS: Credentials are specific to the media organization and authorized period of stay in the United States.
- Journalists who change media organizations should immediately notify the Media Relations Officer responsible for their geographic region in order to obtain a new credential. If a journalist on a non-immigrant visa changes outlets or status, he/she should file a form I-539 with USCIS (https://www.uscis.gov/i-539). Notification of approval is in the form of an I-797, which should be presented with the renewal application.
- Journalists on visas in the United States may apply with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to extend their status here, and may be issued a temporary FPCs credential pending the decision by USCIS.
CREDENTIAL REVOCATIONS: Credentials are the property of the U.S. Department of State. Members are obliged to return credentials to the FPCs immediately if they expire, the member has ceased working as a journalist, or the member is notified that his/her credential has been revoked.
Credentials from the FPCs are subject to revocation under the following circumstances:
- The FPCs determine that the member has provided false information regarding his or her employment, eligibility for employment, or visa status;
- The FPCs determine that the member has used his or her credential to misrepresent him- or herself in a non-journalistic context, or for some other unlawful purpose; or
- The member fails to comply with the FPCs’ rules regarding the conduct of events, such as physical placement or unsafe use of equipment; or physically disrupts events convened by the FPCs or other U.S. government agencies to which the member was admitted using the credential.
Reporting, editorial opinion, or content of questions will never be grounds for the revocation of a credential.