Things to Know About US Crew (D) Visa Procedures
The US crew visa is a type of visa that allows ship and aircraft employees who must pass through the US in the normal course of operations to enter the US territory temporarily. This type of visa, which is mostly applied by sea crews, is also known as the US seaman’s visa.
If the crew member must first travel to the United States and then board the vessel on which he or she will be operating, a US C1/D visa, which is a combination of a US transit visa (C1) and a crew (D) visa, is required.
Who can get a US D Visa?
People who can get a US D visa are listed below.
- Commercial airline pilot or commercial flight attendant
- Ship captain or technician or crew working on the ship
- Lifeguards, waiters, cooks or service personnel working on a cruise ship
- Trainee on a training ship
How to Get a US Crew Visa?
To obtain a US crew visa, first fill out the DS-160 visa application form online at ceac.state.gov and print the confirmation page. In the travel purpose section of the DS-160 form, select the “Crewmember (D)” option, and in the section below, specify the arrival and departure dates to the US, relevant cities and transportation information.
After paying the Group D visa application fee ($160), make an online visa appointment at the US Consulate in Ankara or Istanbul, then print out the appointment confirmation email and prepare all other required application documents. On the appointment date, go to the Consulate in person, submit the D visa application documents, have an interview with the visa officer and provide digital fingerprint registration.
At the end of the visa appointment, the consular officer informs you whether your US visa has been approved or rejected. After the application is approved, the passport can be collected in person or by courier service from the PTT center where the foreign representative office operates.
What Documents Must Be Submitted for US Crew Visa?
For a US crew visa, US foreign missions require you to submit the following documents in addition to the standard application documents.
- Crew employer letter
- Employment contract for seafarers
- Seaman’s wallet
- Supporting visa documents*
* In US D visa applications, supporting documents must be submitted to prove the person’s financial situation and family and economic ties to his/her home country. Supporting visa documents can be listed in an explanatory manner by making the relevant selections on the US visa documents page.
Crew Employer Letter For Visa
A letter from your employer for a visa is a document written by your employer on the company’s letterhead, stating your employment status, planned US entry and exit dates and locations.
The name of the ship, the length of your stay in the US, the entry and exit dates and ports, your job position with job description, and the salary you will receive while in the US must be included in the employer letter for the US visa .
Supplementary Petition for US C1/D Visa
The supplemental petition for the US C1/D visa is a letter from your employer stating the transit requirement and must be submitted with the visa application.
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions frequently asked to our consultants regarding US crew visa applications and the rights granted to visa holders are answered below.
How Many Days Can a US Crew and C1/D Visa Be Granted?
The American C1/D visa, which functions as both a US crew visa and a transit visa, is issued with a validity period of 29 days. During this period, you can leave the port or airport of entry to the United States, but you must exit the US territory at the end of 29 days.
Is US Crew Visa Renewable?
No, the US crew visa is not renewable, you must leave the country within 29 days. You can re-apply for a visa 6 months after leaving the US with your last D visa.
What are the Situations Where the US Seafarer Visa Is Not Valid?
Situations where the US seafarer visa is not valid are listed below.
- Performing dry dock duties such as repairs while the boat is docked in a U.S. port
- Being on a fishing vessel that has a base of operations or home port in the United States
- Becoming a reserve shore officer
- Working on a private yacht that will be moored in the U.S. for more than 29 days
- Being a crew member on a ship traveling to the Outer Continental Shelf
In the above mentioned cases, you can get a US B1 visa instead of a D visa . However, if you are on a fishing boat, it is recommended that you apply for an H-2B visa.