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Generally, a citizen of a foreign country who wishes to enter the United States must first obtain a visa, either a nonimmigrant visa for temporary stay or an immigrant visa for permanent residence. Crewmember (D) visas are nonimmigrant visas for persons working on board sea vessels or international airlines in the United States, providing services required for normal operation and intending to depart the United States on the same vessel or any other vessel within 29 days. If you travel to the United States to join the vessel you will work on, in addition to a crewmember (D) visa, you also need a transit (C-1) visa or a combination C-1/D visa.
Travel purposes which require Crewmember (D) Visas – Examples:
| You do not qualify for a Crewmember Visa if: | You may be able to apply for the following visa category: |
| Dry Dock: The primary services you will perform are dry dock repairs under warranty while the boat is docked at a U.S. port. | B-1 |
| Fishing Vessel: You are a crewmember on a temporary basis on a fishing vessel that has a home port or operating base in the United States | H-2 |
| Coasting Officer: You are a replacement coasting officer employed when an officer of a foreign vessel is granted home leave, and the vessel does not remain in U.S. waters for more than 29 days. | B-1 |
| Private yacht: You are a crew member on a private yacht sailing out of a foreign port that will be cruising in U.S. waters for more than 29 days. | B-1 |
| Outer Continental Shelf: You are a crewmember going to the Outer Continental Shelf. | B-1 |
Generally, a citizen of a foreign country who wishes to enter the United States must first obtain a visa, either a nonimmigrant visa for temporary stay or an immigrant visa for permanent residence. Crewmember (D) visas are nonimmigrant visas for persons working on board sea vessels or international airlines in the United States, providing services required for normal operation and intending to depart the United States on the same vessel or any other vessel within 29 days. If you travel to the United States to join the vessel you will work on, in addition to a crewmember (D) visa, you also need a transit (C-1) visa or a combination C-1/D visa.
Travel purposes which require Crewmember (D) Visas – Examples:
| You do not qualify for a Crewmember Visa if: | You may be able to apply for the following visa category: |
| Dry Dock: The primary services you will perform are dry dock repairs under warranty while the boat is docked at a U.S. port. | B-1 |
| Fishing Vessel: You are a crewmember on a temporary basis on a fishing vessel that has a home port or operating base in the United States | H-2 |
| Coasting Officer: You are a replacement coasting officer employed when an officer of a foreign vessel is granted home leave, and the vessel does not remain in U.S. waters for more than 29 days. | B-1 |
| Private yacht: You are a crew member on a private yacht sailing out of a foreign port that will be cruising in U.S. waters for more than 29 days. | B-1 |
| Outer Continental Shelf: You are a crewmember going to the Outer Continental Shelf. | B-1 |