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D-2 Visa (Crewmember Visa for Departure on a Different Vessel)
The D-2 Visa is a specific type of non-immigrant visa within the broader Crewmember (D) visa category. It is designated for individuals serving as crew on a commercial sea vessel or aircraft who intend to depart the United States on a different vessel or aircraft than the one on which they arrived.
What is a D-2 Visa?
While the D-1 visa is for crew who will depart on the same vessel, the D-2 visa addresses situations where a crew member needs to sign off of their current vessel in the U.S. and leave the country on different transportation.
The D-2 classification is primarily relevant for certain specific circumstances related to a crewmember’s employment, such as:
Crew members whose vessel has entered a dry dock for repairs in the U.S.
Crew members of certain fishing vessels that have a home port or base of operation in the U.S. (often in the Guam region).
Crew members who are signing off and flying home or taking a different ship.
Key Features of the D-2 Visa
Different Departure Carrier: The key distinction of the D-2 is the intent to depart the U.S. on an international flight or another commercial vessel, not the one they arrived on.
Duration of Stay: The maximum stay permitted in the U.S. is generally limited to 29 days per entry. The crewmember must depart within this period.
Combined Status: Like the D-1, the D-2 visa is often issued in combination with the C-1 Transit Visa as a C-1/D Visa, allowing the crewmember to transit through a U.S. port (C-1) and then be granted the necessary crew status (D-2) to exit the country via a different means.
No Shore Leave: While crew are generally granted limited shore leave, the primary purpose is transit and employment duties. The visa does not permit extended stay for tourism.
Eligibility Requirements
To qualify for a D-2 Visa, the applicant must demonstrate:
Crewmember Status: They are employed in good faith as a crewmember required for the normal operation of a vessel or aircraft.
Onward Travel: They must possess a ticket or other arrangements proving their intent to depart the U.S. on a different carrier to a foreign destination within the authorized period.
Strong Ties Abroad: They must demonstrate strong ties to their home country to ensure their departure from the U.S.
Dependents
The D-2 visa category does not allow for dependent visas. Spouses and children of D-2 visa holders are not included in this classification and must qualify for their own separate non-immigrant visa, such as a B-2 (Visitor for Pleasure) visa, if they wish to enter the U.S.