US D crewmember visa

Who the D visa is for

The D crewmember visa is intended for foreign nationals who work aboard a commercial vessel or aircraft and provide services required for its normal operation while it is in the United States.

• Deck and engine crew, stewards, and other personnel on commercial ships
• Pilots, flight attendants, and other crew on international aircraft
• Trainees aboard a vessel who provide services essential to its operation
• Crew joining a vessel or aircraft that will depart the United States

Eligibility

Applicants must show that they will serve as genuine crew and intend to leave the United States when their service ends. A consular officer decides, at interview, whether the D category fits the purpose of travel.

A person may be granted a D visa even if not yet employed at the time of application, but the visa cannot be used to enter the United States until the holder is actually employed aboard the vessel or aircraft.

• A purpose of travel that is to serve aboard a sea vessel or aircraft
• Intent to depart the United States, generally within 29 days
• A valid passport and a completed DS-160 confirmation
• Evidence of the crew position or employment where required by the consulate

How to apply

Most applicants apply at a US embassy or consulate abroad. Where a crewmember must transit the United States to reach the ship or aircraft, the transit (C-1) visa is normally applied for at the same time and may be issued as a combined C-1/D visa.

• Complete the DS-160 form online and print the confirmation page
• Pay the $185 visa application (MRV) fee
• Schedule and attend a visa interview at a US embassy or consulate
• Provide fingerprints (biometrics) where required
• Bring a valid passport and any employment or crew documents requested

Conditions and length of stay

The D visa is strictly for crew duties and short stays. A crewmember admitted on a D visa must generally depart within 29 days, and a Customs and Border Protection officer decides the exact period allowed on entry.

• No shore-side employment in the United States
• Cannot be used for tourism, business meetings, or study
• The crewmember must leave when their service aboard the vessel or aircraft ends
• Overstaying or breaching conditions can jeopardise future entry to the United States

The combined C-1/D visa

Crew frequently need both to transit the United States and to serve aboard a vessel or aircraft. When the transit (C-1) visa is applied for alongside the crewmember (D) visa, a combined C-1/D visa may be issued where the applicant's country reciprocity schedule permits and the consular officer agrees.

The transit portion covers travelling through the United States to join the ship or aircraft, and the crew portion covers the crewmember's duties aboard it.