Last reviewed September 2026
Overview: The D visa is for crew working aboard a vessel or aircraft in U.S. waters or airspace, while C-1 covers transit only. Many crew members actually need both, issued together as a combined C-1/D visa, and the specific combination depends on whether the person is joining or leaving a vessel, working aboard it while in port, or simply connecting through the U.S. between assignments.
What counts as crew under the D visa
D status covers crew members serving aboard a vessel or aircraft calling at a U.S. port or airport, performing duties required for the operation of that vessel or aircraft. It is tied to the crew role itself, not to the traveler having any other reason to be in the United States.
What the C-1 portion of a combined C-1/D visa covers
Where a crew member also needs to transit through the U.S., to join a vessel at a port other than where they entered the country, or to depart after signing off, the C-1 portion covers that transit leg, and the two are issued together as a single C-1/D visa rather than as two separate documents.
Joining or leaving a vessel in the U.S.
A crew member flying in to join a ship already in a U.S. port, or flying out after completing an assignment, generally needs the transit component alongside the crew component, since travel to or from the vessel itself is not, by itself, the crew work the D visa authorizes.
Shore leave rules for crew
Crew members admitted under D status are generally permitted limited shore leave while their vessel is in port, subject to specific time and reporting requirements that differ from an ordinary B-1/B2 or C-1 admission.
Airline crew vs. vessel crew differences
Airline crew on international carriers typically use D status for their operational presence in the U.S. between flights, while vessel crew face additional considerations tied to how long the ship remains in port and whether they are joining or leaving the vessel during that call.
When a crew member needs a different category entirely
A crew member taking on work beyond their operational role aboard the vessel or aircraft, or extending a stay well beyond what shore leave or transit reasonably supports, may need a different visa category rather than relying on C-1/D to cover activity it was not designed for.
Official sources
- U.S. Department of State: crewmember visa
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection: crewman landing permits
Related reading
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