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D-1 Visa (Crewmember Visa)
The D-1 Visa is a non-immigrant visa category for persons working aboard commercial sea vessels or international aircraft in the United States, providing services required for normal operation and intending to depart the U.S. on the same or any other vessel or aircraft.
What is a D-1 Visa?
The D-1 Visa allows crewmembers to enter U.S. ports or airports as part of their employment to carry out their duties. This includes a wide range of roles essential to the function and service of the vessel or aircraft.
Common roles requiring a D-1 visa include:
Pilots and flight attendants on commercial airlines.
Captains, engineers, or deckhands on sea vessels.
Service staff on cruise ships, such as lifeguards, cooks, waiters, musicians, and beauticians.
Trainees onboard a training vessel.
Key Features of the D-1 Visa
Combined Status: The D-1 visa is frequently issued in combination with the C-1 Transit Visa as a C-1/D Visa. This combined visa allows a crewmember to transit through the U.S. (C-1) to join their vessel or aircraft, and then work onboard (D-1).
Duration of Stay: The maximum period of stay permitted in the U.S. is generally 29 days per entry. The crewmember must depart the U.S. with their vessel or aircraft.
Employment Restriction: The visa is strictly for performing crewmember duties essential for normal operation. It generally does not permit crewmembers to engage in longshore work in U.S. ports or perform maintenance/dry dock repairs under warranty.
Intent to Depart: The applicant must demonstrate a clear intent to depart the U.S. within the authorized period and strong ties to their home country.
Eligibility Requirements
To qualify for a D-1 Visa, the applicant must demonstrate:
Employment as a Crewmember: They are serving in good faith in a capacity required for the normal operation of a commercial aircraft or vessel.
Employment Evidence: They must provide evidence of their employment, such as a letter or contract from the shipping line or airline.
Intent to Depart: They must prove they intend to depart the U.S. on the same vessel or another vessel/aircraft within the 29-day limit.
Dependents
The D-1 visa category does not allow for dependent visas. Spouses and children of D-1 visa holders who wish to enter the U.S., even for a short visit, must qualify for their own separate non-immigrant visa, typically a B-2 (Visitor for Pleasure) visa.