After September 11, 2001, at every point of crossing the American border the so-called 'zero tolerance' rules have been introduced with regard to any American visa-issue violations. In these conditions, an incident like that described in the newspaper has indeed taken place at a point of crossing the American border, the consul-general noted.
Simultaneously, Pettit stressed that, since recently, journalists with incorrectly issued visas can still cross the border, though only once.
It is the recognition of the fact that many journalists, especially from the countries covered by the programme of visa-free entry into the United States, do not know that covering an event or preparing a material is not the same thing as business, the American consul-general said.
He recalled that doing business in the United States requires B-1/B-2 category of visas. They are good for ordinary tourists, while journalists have to have the category I visa.
The new customs and border control rules were adopted last week. Under them, the chief of a border checkpoint may permit a journalist with an incorrectly issued visa enter the United States only one time. In such cases, the media man is to be informed of the need to get the due category of visa for future entries.
