D Visa – Crewmen

U.S. federal immigration law provides for the availability of the D visa for alien crewmen on board vessels. A crewman is a person serving in good faith in any capacity required for normal operating and service on board a vessel. For example, a crewman might be a cook, a technician, or even a drummer.

The D-1 visa is available for crewmen intending to land temporarily and to depart the U.S. on the same or another vessel of the same transportation line. The D-2 visa is for crewmen intending to depart on another transportation line or as a passenger by some other means of transportation.

Whether an alien is a D-1 or D-2 crewman, he/she may not be admitted for more than 29 days.