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U.S. CREW VISA

C1/D Visa for Maritime Crew

The most restrictive maritime visa in the world — processed by people who have done it hundreds of times.

WHAT IS THE C1/D VISA?

A Dual-Purpose Visa Designed for Seafarers

The U.S. C1/D Visa (Transit/Crewmember Visa) is a non-immigrant visa that allows maritime crew members to transit through the United States and join or depart vessels calling at U.S. ports. It is one of the most complex and scrutinised maritime visas in the world — issued by U.S. consulates and embassies after a mandatory in-person interview.

For crew joining or departing vessels in ports such as Miami, Houston, New York, Los Angeles, Savannah, or New Orleans, the C1/D Visa is not optional — it is a mandatory entry requirement. Without it, the crew member cannot board their flight to the U.S., regardless of rank or vessel type.

At DOCSUPPORT, our standalone visa unit has handled hundreds of C1/D applications across nationalities with varying complexity. We prepare, guide, and track — so embassies see a flawless file.

STANDARD REQUIREMENTS

  • Valid passport (min. 6 months validity beyond travel)
  • Seaman’s book / Certificate of Competency
  • DS-160 application form (completed online)
  • Confirmed vessel assignment letter
  • Employment contract or Letter of Manning Agent
  • ESTA denial / previous visa history (if applicable)
  • MRV fee payment receipt
  • Interview appointment confirmation

Requirements vary by nationality and consular post. DOCSUPPORT reviews each case individually and advises on nationality-specific additions.

WHO NEEDS A C1/D VISA?

Any Crew Touching U.S. Soil

Joining Crew

Seafarers flying to a U.S. port to join their assigned vessel — regardless of vessel flag or route.

Departing Crew

Crew members signing off in a U.S. port and flying home — or transiting through U.S. airports.

Technicians & Riders

Superintendents, surveyors, and riders attending vessels during U.S. port stays.

Manning Agencies

Agencies with recurring U.S. port operations needing a reliable processing partner for bulk applications.

OUR PROCESS

Four Steps. Zero Surprises.

We manage every stage of the C1/D visa process — from document review to post-interview follow-up.

01

Document Collection

We send a tailored requirements checklist to the crew member or agency. We review every document for completeness and flag issues before submission — not after.

02

DS-160 & Appointment

We complete and review the DS-160 application form, secure the earliest available embassy interview slot, and coordinate the MRV fee payment process.

03

Interview Preparation

We deliver a complete pre-interview file package to the crew member, covering expected questions, supporting documents to bring, and guidance on how to present the purpose of travel.

04

Real-Time Updates

From appointment confirmation through passport return, we notify you at every milestone. Vessel operators and manning agents receive status updates in the format they prefer.

THE DOCSUPPORT DIFFERENCE

Why Operators Trust Us with U.S. Visas

Expedited Appointments

We monitor U.S. Embassy availability across multiple consular posts and target the earliest slot that fits the crew member's schedule and vessel ETD. As a standard service, we request from the embassy expedited appointment.

Interview Guidance

Many C1/D refusals stem from poor interview preparation, not missing documents. We provide crew members with a thorough briefing in advance of their consulate appointment.

Expiry Tracking

For recurring clients, we track visa expiry dates across entire crew pools and proactively flag renewals — before the visa becomes a scheduling problem.

“A C1/D visa refusal does not just delay a crew member — it can strand an entire vessel rotation. Preparation is not optional; it is the service.”

— DOCSUPPORT Visa Unit

Start a C1/D Visa Application

Send us the crew member details and vessel schedule. We will assess the file and respond with a timeline within 24 hours.

DOCSUPPORT

14, Stefanopoulou st. Athens, GR
+30 2130 232748

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