C1/D visas are for airline, cruise or cargo company employees that travel to the United States to join the rest of the crew or that arrive and depart from the United States, in short term trips, as part of their responsibilities as crewmembers.

If you are an airline crewmember and perform onboard duties during international flights arriving or departing from the United States, or if you are a crewmember of a boat or ship that will dock in a United States port, you might qualify for a C1/D type of visa.

The majority of airline and vessel agents have established work contacts with the Visa Section. Crewmembers in need of expedited assistance, should be instructed to apply for a visa through their employer’s office.

If you are taking relatives with you:

A relative that accompanies a crewmember who enters the United States as a non-immigrant, and who’s not performing duties related to the regular functions of the airplane or boat, must apply for a tourist visa, unless the relative’s principal purpose of travel is a different one, in which case he/she will have to apply for another type of visa.

Requirements:

Persons applying for C1/D visas must be currently working for an airline, cruise line or cargo company or be hired by an airline, cruise line or cargo company at the time of their arrival to the United States.

If you are a crewmember traveling to the United States to join your airplane or ship, you will have to apply for a combined C1/D type of visa (transit/crewmember). You will only pay one machine readable visa (MRV) processing fee.

• AIRLINES: You will have to bring to your visa interview a letter from your employer stating that you are currently employed by the company and applying for a crewmember type of visa;

• SAILOR: You will need a valid contract from the ship owners, a letter from the shipping agency, and your seaman’s book;

• CRUISE LINE: You will need a contract with the cruise line and a letter from the hiring company;

• If you are applying for a job that works on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS): You must bring a copy of the United States Coast Guard’s authorization, for the ship working on the OCS. Applicants working on a ship at the OCS will be issued a B1 visa with the appropriate annotation.