The U.S. Crew Members (C1/D) Visa

Most often, seafarers need a C1/D visa before leaving for a voyage – this type of visa is issued to members of the crew serving naval ships in the United States. This is a combined type of visa that combines two types of nonimmigrant visas: category C permits transit through the United States, and category D permits work on a ship.

It can be said that among non-immigrant us visas, C1/D is a separate category, since it is not actually a work visa, but it is issued in order to give the specialist the opportunity to work on Board. Due to the fact that this visa is widely in demand among the crew, its colloquial name is “seaman’s visa”. It is valid for 10 years, the number of entries into the country during this period is not limited. The length of your stay depends on the route of the ship and your duties on Board.

Citizens of countries that have a special agreement with the United States are not required to make a C1/D before leaving for a flight. However, unfortunately, Ukraine and CIS countries is not on this list yet. Therefore, sooner or later, every sailor is faced with the need to open the visa.

The procedure for obtaining a seaman’s visa may have some nuances. During the short interview, you will be asked questions about the upcoming work on the contract, the name of the ship and the composition of the team. Listen carefully to everything that the visa officer asks, giving detailed answers. It is advisable to arrive at the Embassy at least 15 minutes before the scheduled time. Immediately after the interview is over, you will be notified if your visa is open.

How to apply for a visa:

• – Collecting the required set of documents
• – Payment of the consular fee
• – Entry to the Consulate for an interview
• – After the interview took place, you submit your biometric data

It is important not to make a mistake when filling out the questionnaire and not to forget about any document, as well as to prepare correctly for the interview. Special centers for seafarers provide assistance in this regard.

A set of documents that you will need to open a seaman’s visa in the United States:

Seaman’s passport – it must be available, in addition to the usual passport. Do not forget that the validity period of such a passport must be higher than the terms of the contract concluded with the employer. Since a seaman’s passport is issued to every employee of a ship, the visa officer will ask to see it to make sure that you are going to perform your professional duties during the trip.

Financial guarantees – a contract of employment between the seafarer and the employer , the ship owner company, where the company guarantees to cover all your expenses during the voyage, but the visa officer will check whether you have savings and your own funds for the trip. Otherwise, you may be suspected of asking for financial assistance in the United States, which is prohibited.

Confirmation of the ship’s route – this document, in fact, will prove to the officer the feasibility of opening a US visa for you. The owner of the ship or the company organizing the flight must provide you with a detailed schedule that will indicate the ship’s movement plan and its exact dates of entry into the United States, which also confirms the need for a visa for work purposes. Importantly, the confirmation of the ship’s route is also proof that you have a stable legal income, since it contains the employee’s ID number and other information about them (for example, the title, specialty, and information about the company that employs you)

Other supporting documents – here we are talking about additional documents that you will need to present in order to compare the stated goals to real ones. Usually this is a certificate of marital status and some document confirming your future plans after the end of the contract.

For their peace of mind and in order to save time, many prefer to delegate the care of obtaining a visa. Marine MAN Ltd ® provides services for opening a new and prolong old us visa for seafarers. Legal subtleties are no longer your problem! Convenient terms, competent legal advice, a package of required documents, assistance in filling out the questionnaire – all this we are ready to provide after your request. You only need a seaman’s passport, a letter of guarantee and a contract with the company.