Crewmember (D) Visa for the U.S.

The crewmember is a nonimmigrant visa which is applicable for the persons working on a commercial sea vessel or an international airline except US-based fishing vessel, that will go through the United States. This visa holder allowed for a maximum of 29 days to stay or go through the United States. People can’t leave the dock or airport for that time. To travel to the U.S, the worker needs a different visa which is called combination C1/D, but they have to leave the country within this required time. This visa contains many restrictions like:

• People are not able to extend their visa period.
• People are not able to work for any other company except their vessel or airline.
• People can't enrol in a study program.
• People can't apply for a change in status.
• People must have to enter and leave the U.S in the same airport or dock.
• People are not able to do longshore work.
• People can only apply for the visa after six months to again enter the U.S.
• People are not allowed to apply for a Green Card.

There some criteria for this visa. People who meet up with these criteria can apply for this visa. These criteria are the following:   

• People who work as a flight attendant or pilot on a commercial aeroplane;
• People who work as a captain, deckhand, or engineer on a sea vessel;
• People who work as a lifeguard, waiter, cook, or other supporting staff on cruise ships;
• People who work as a beginner on board of a exercise ship;

If you do the following duties, you can’t get a D visa:

• People who are working on a dry dock to repairs the boat which is stopped on a U.S seaport;
• You are on a fishing ship which has an operating base or homeport in the U.S;
• People who work as a substitute coasting officer;
• People who are working on a private yacht which will be docked in the U.S for more than 29 days;
• People who are a crewmember on a vessel going to the Outer Continental Shelf

People need to get a B1 visa in the case. The people who work on a fishing vessel need to get H-2B permission.

There are some steps to apply for a crewmember visa which is mentioned in the below: 

Step 1: Fill up the Nonimmigrant Visa Electronic Application (DS-160) form: People can’t fill up the visa form online. After submission, they will get a confirmation page, and they have to save it for the future.

Step 2: Pay the visa application fee: People can pay the fees online. These fees include application form fees, visa issuance fees, reciprocity fees, and other applicable fees.

Step 3: Book your appointment for an interview from the concerned website: The meeting is required for the people who are between 14 and 79 years old for nonimmigrant visas. People should schedule an interview in their home country. They will get an interview confirmation letter after they plan a meeting. The confirmation letter will have the date, time, and location of their interview. People must attend the meeting or interview at that specific time. In the interview, they will ask questions about their background and application by an official at the U.S Embassy. They must have all supporting documents along with them for the interview.

Step 4: You need to go to the U.S Embassy or Consulate on the date and time of your visa interview. You must carry with you a printed copy of your appointment letter, your DS-160 application approval page, one photo taken within the last six months in the prescribed format, and your current and all old passports. The application short of all of these items will not be accepted. 

It is strongly suggested that the people should provide original documents over photocopies, and do not bring any papers in a closed cover for the interview. Any supporting documents should not send through fax, email, or mail to the U.S. Embassy or Consulate. People will need these following documents:

• Valid passport for travel to the U.S
• A Photograph that fills up visa requirement
• DS-160 visa application confirmation page
• Visa application fees paid receipt
• The legal confirmation letter of the interview and one copy;
• A valid purpose letter of the trip from company or employer
• Strong evidence of no intention to stay in the U.S longer than 29 days
• A legitimate letter from the employer which must have these details:
• Vessel name
• Period of stay in the U.S
• U.S port of entry and date
• U.S port of exit and date
• Job position and job duties description
• Salary while staying in the U.S.
• Work records copies of the employer from the employer
• A valid Continuous Discharge Certificate (CDC)
• A valid travel authorization from your company
• Qualifications certificates and diplomas
• No criminal records or letter from authorities   

This is not a full list that meets up the requirement. People might ask for an additional document by the U.S Embassy. So, everybody should have prepared for this.

The husband or wife and children of the crewmember need to apply for different visas. The crewmember visa is not for the dependent of this visa holder.