Us Visa For Seafarers
If you are a seafarer and want to get a US Visa and then enter the USA, you should first think if your qualifications are sufficient to be enlisted in the USCG or USCG Deck or Engineer courses. The criteria applied in these courses are high, mainly the federal education requirement. The accepted federal education level is at least 42 weeks of classroom hours and also 24 weeks of training hours, earning at least 15 credit tests in all. This can be obtained from any maritime academy.
If you or your family needs a US Visa on an expedited basis, I can help you. If you need a non-immigrant visa to be applied for in Washington, DC or New York City, I can assist you. If you can’t make the trip to Washington, DC, do not worry since I cover the entire United States including Alaska and Hawaii.
Us Visa For Seafarers
Are you a seafarer? Do you want to go on a trip to the US? Then this is the right time for you!
US Visa For Seafarers are becoming more and more popular among travelers. With the help of this visa, you can go on holiday, visit your relatives or just have a good time in the United States.
If you are planning to get a visa for the United States, then it is very important for you to know about all the conditions that must be met by an applicant. There are many useful information about visas for seafarers on our website. Moreover, we also offer assistance in obtaining documents necessary for obtaining US visas for seafarers.
If you’re a seafarer and you want to work in the United States, then you’re in luck!
The U.S. Department of State has made it easier than ever to apply for a visa that will allow you to work in the U.S. as a seafarer. This means that if you’re interested in working on a cruise ship or freighter, or even just visiting friends or family in the U.S., then this visa is perfect for you! You can apply for this visa from any country outside of the United States and once it’s approved, it will allow you to enter the country and work legally for up to three years at a time before it expires.
If you’re interested in applying for this type of visa, we encourage you to contact our office today so that we can help make sure that everything goes smoothly when applying for your U.S. visa as a seafarer!
There are many reasons to apply for a U.S. visa for seafarers. It is important to understand what each visa type entails, as well as the process for obtaining one, in order to make the right decision for your specific situation.
The following information will help you determine if you need a U.S. visa and, if so, which visa type would be best suited to your situation.
Transit/Ship Crew Visas
Overview
Transit (C visa)
A citizen of a foreign country traveling in immediate and continuous transit through the United States enroute to a foreign destination requires a valid transit visa. Exceptions to this requirement include those travelers eligible to transit the U.S. without a visa under the Visa Waiver Program or travelers who are nationals of a country which has an agreement with the U.S. allowing their citizens to travel to the U.S. without visas.
If the traveler seeks layover privileges for purposes other than for transit through the U.S., such as to visit friends or for sightseeing, the applicant will have to qualify for and obtain the type of visa required for that purpose, such as a B-2 visa.
Crew (D visa)
A crew member serving onboard a sea vessel or aircraft in the United States needs a crew visa. Crew members of an aircraft or ship that will be transiting through the United States or its waters generally use a combination transit/crew visa (C-1/D). However, in some cases, individuals may only require the D visa.
Crew members who work aboard vessels within the Outer Continental Shelf, may qualify for a modified B-1 visa in lieu of a crew visa.
Crew members who will be entering the United States during time-off between flights or cruises should also obtain a B-1/B-2 visa to use during these personal/vacation days. Applicants applying simultaneously for both a C-1/D and a B-1/B-2 visa pay only one visa application fee.
Qualifications
To apply for a transit visa, you must show:
- Intent to pass in immediate and continuous transit through the United States.
- A common carrier ticket or other evidence of transportation arrangements to your destination.
- Sufficient funds to carry out the purpose of your transit journey.
- Permission to enter another country upon departure from the United States.
To apply for other C, D or C-1/D visas, you must demonstrate to a consular officer that:
- The purpose of your trip is to enter the United States solely for transit or crew purposes.
- You do not intend to be paid by a U.S. source while in the United States, unless you have been granted proper approval for a temporary work visa.
- You plan to stay for a specific, limited period of time.
- You have evidence of funds to cover all expenses while in the United States.
Applicants whose crewing agents are members of the Crew Visa Program (CVP) should follow the instructions provided to them by their agent.
Application Items
To apply for a transit or crew member visa, you must submit the following:
- A Nonimmigrant Visa Electronic Application (DS-160) Form. Visit the DS-160 webpage for more information about the DS-160.
- A passport valid for travel to the United States with a validity date at least six months beyond your intended period of stay in the United States (unless country-specific agreements provide exemptions). If more than one person is included in your passport, each person desiring a visa must submit an application.
- One (1) 2″x2″ (5cmx5cm) photograph. This page has information about the required photo format.
- A receipt showing payment of your US$160 non-refundable nonimmigrant visa application processing fee, paid in local currency. This page has more information about paying this fee. If a visa is issued, there may be an additional visa issuance reciprocity fee, depending on your nationality. The Department of State’s website can help you find out if you must pay a visa issuance reciprocity fee and what the fee amount is.
- If applicable, a seaman’s book valid beyond the expiration date of your employment contract and all prior seamen’s books. Crew members must submit an official report of loss if they are unable to submit the book.
In addition to these items, you must present an interview appointment letter confirming that you booked an appointment through this service. You may also bring whatever supporting documents you believe support the information provided to the consular officer.
Supporting Documents
Supporting documents are only one of many factors a consular officer will consider in your interview. Consular officers look at each application individually and consider professional, social, cultural and other factors during adjudication. Consular officers may look at your specific intentions, family situation, and your long-range plans and prospects within your country of residence. Each case is examined individually and is accorded every consideration under the law.
Although supporting documents may assist you in your interview, consular officers rely primarily on the interview to determine your eligibility for a visa. In other words, supporting documents are voluntary and of secondary importance.
Caution: Do not present false documents. Fraud or misrepresentation can result in permanent visa ineligibility. If confidentiality is a concern, you should bring your documents to the Embassy or Consulate in a sealed envelope. The Embassy/Consulate will not make your information available to anyone and will respect the confidentiality of your information.
You should bring the following documents to your interview:
- Current proof of income, tax payments, property or business ownership, or assets.
- A letter from your employer detailing your position, salary, how long you have been employed, any authorized vacation and the business purpose, if any, of your U.S. trip.
- Where appropriate, an itinerary and/or other information about your planned trip. (This can be tentative.)
- Bank statements or other evidence of liquid assets that indicate the balance in your accounts and account activity.
- For crew: a letter from your company’s headquarters and/or your seamen’s book.
For more information about transit visas and visas for crew members, visit the Department of State’s website.
What is the C-1D visa?
The C-1/D visa allows crew members or personnel of international airlines or (cruise) ships to enter the U.S. for a temporary stay as part of their work on board.
The C-1/D visa is the most frequently issued visa for:
- flight attendants
- captains
- cosmetician
- musicians
- pilots
- ship and service personnel
- technician
- entertainers and
- any other worker on board a ship or aircraft
Tip: For other individuals who are not employed as crew members, B-1 visas can be applied for under certain conditions. This includes crew members who are responsible for maintenance on the dry dock and can present a work agreement for this activity. Anyone who works on a private yacht and sails or cruises in American waters for more than 29 days also requires a B-1 visa.
What are the requirements for the C-1/D visa?
The following criteria must be met when applying for the C-1/D visa:
- Temporary stay in the U.S. as a crew member on board
For the approval of this visa category it is necessary to prove that the activity on board the vessel is part of the normal operation. Crew members who are in American waters on their C-1/D visa must leave the U.S. on their ship after a maximum of 29 days. The U.S. authorities define departure as when the ship departs from a U.S. port to a port outside the United States (the U.S. includes not only the mainland but also Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Guam and the American Virgin Islands). - Evidence of crew member activity
To obtain a C-1/D visa, the traveler should ideally be on the crew list of the airline or ship as a crew member. In addition, a letter from the employer confirming the working relationship with the airline or (cruise) ship must be available. The applicant may not receive any remuneration from the U.S. side or a U.S. company.
Tip: At the time of application itself, the person does not have to be employed yet, but a contract should be available that confirms the future employment on board. - Proof of intention to return (= strong ties to the home country or country of origin)
In concrete terms, this means that the C-1/D applicant retains his permanent residence outside the United States and intends to travel to the U.S. only for a temporary stay.
The nationality of the ship on which the crew members work is not important for the visa issue.
Note: This visa does not allow you to work for a U.S. employer. The C-1/D visa only permits temporary stays in the United States as part of your employment on board.
C-1/D visa application
C-1/D APPLICATION PROCEDURE
Applicants are required to appear in person at one of the responsible U.S. consulates for an interview. In Germany, you can apply for a C-1/D visa at the U.S. consulate in Berlin, Frankfurt / Main or Munich, for example.
In addition to the general application documents, you should submit documents on the employment relationship, purpose of entry and other evidence of the intention to return. The application is usually made at the U.S. consulate of the country in which the applicant lives.
HOW LONG DOES THE APPLICATION TAKE?
The processing time depends very much on the waiting time until the interview date. The availability of visa appointments depends, among other things, on the respective consulate or the season. Therefore, you should allow about one to two weeks for a C-1/D application.
About one week after the successful interview at the U.S. consulate, the passport including the C-1/D visa will be sent to the employee by mail.
WHAT DOES A C-1/D VISA COST?
Everyone who applies for a C-1D visa must pay application fees to the U.S. consulate.
| FEE TYPE | AMOUNT |
| Consular fee | $ 160 |
| Reciprocity fee if applicable | varies according to nationality (for Germany, Austria and Switzerland the Reciprocity Fee is waived) |
Payment is possible by bank transfer, immediate transfer or online payment via debit card.
Conclusion
If you are a foreigner and are looking for a job as a Seafarer, then you’ve come to the right place. The following is a good resource for you to have information about how to get a visa as a Seafarer.
To help you to apply for the us visa for seafarers, if interested, please read on and follow any links provided as necessary.