Overview
The U.S. Consulate General, Hamilton, Bermuda can only accept visa appointment requests from Bermudians, Bermuda residents or individuals physically present in our consular district. The provisions of 22 CFR 41.101(a) preclude acceptance or processing of a regular non immigrant visa application when the applicant is neither resident of nor physically present in this consular district at the time of application, including completion and submission of the DS-160.
If you are a crew person and you are physically present in Bermuda you may apply for a visa.
Generally, a citizen of a foreign country who wishes to enter the United States must first obtain a visa, either a nonimmigrant visa for temporary stay, or an immigrant visa for permanent residence. Crew Member (D) visas are nonimmigrant visas for persons working on board commercial sea vessels or international airlines in the United States, providing services required for normal operation and intending to depart the United States on the same vessel or any other vessel within 29 days. If you travel to the United States to join the vessel you will work on, in addition to a crew member (D) visa, you also need a transit (C-1) visa or a combination C-1/D visa.
Applications are accepted from legitimate crewmembers on ships or aircraft traveling on Bermuda routes. All applicants must apply in person. Applications for crew visas must be accompanied by the passport containing the previously issued visa, a copy of the current work contract, and an original signed letter verifying employment from the shipping or airline company.
Non-U.S. citizen crew members and passengers on foreign and U.S. vessels with onward travel to the United States will require entry visas and are advised to obtain them prior to arrival in Bermuda at their countries of origin or where they begin employment with their vessel.
In addition, please note that crew members and passengers from Visa Waiver Countries are not entitled to the visa waiver benefit when arriving aboard private vessels and will need to obtain a visa as well.
Due to the limited capacity of the U.S. Consulate Hamilton, the consular section may not be able to accommodate large numbers of crew members’ visa applicants and they may experience delays in visa processing, which may affect their departure and onward travel.
All yachtsmen/crew members applying for visas must present the following documents:
- A letter from their employer verifying status as crew on the boat/airplane and work responsibilities;
- Details on the vessel, including information on the boat’s registration, its principal port and anticipated ports to be visited, whether it is a private or a commercial vessel, and whether it is available for charter; and
- Anticipated length of time in U.S.
*Crew members are persons working on board vessels (such as airplanes, cruise liners or fishing ships): their employment is required for normal operation and services, such as:
- Captain, engineer, or deckhand of a sea vessel/airplane
- Flight attendant
- Lifeguard, cook, waiter, beautician, or other service staff on a cruise ship
- Trainee on board a training vessel
Additionally passengers should be able to present their travel booking.
For additional information visit the Department of State’s Crew member Visa website.
If you would like to inquire about processing a Crew Member Visa in Bermuda, please email hamiltonconsulate@state.gov.
How to Apply
The U.S. Consulate General, Hamilton, Bermuda can only accept visa appointment requests from Bermudians, Bermuda residents or individuals physically present in our consular district. The provisions of 22 CFR 41.101(a) preclude acceptance or processing of a regular non immigrant visa application when the applicant is neither resident of nor physically present in this consular district at the time of application, including completion and submission of the DS-160.
If you are a crew member and you are physically present in Bermuda, please follow the steps below to apply for a visa.
Please note, we are not accepting out of district visa appointments at this time.
- Check the Validity of Your Passport – Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your period of stay in the United States, unless exempt by country-specific agreements. If more than one person is included in your passport, each person who needs a visa must submit a separate application.
- Complete the Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application, Form DS-160 – Complete Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application, Form DS-160. Please note that you must answer EVERY question on the application form. If the answer to a question is “none,” please write “none”(Do not leave it blank). Incomplete/incorrect forms will be returned and will require you to schedule a new interview appointment.
- Collect Any Supporting Documentation
A valid passport with one clear page to put the visa onto, the DS-160 confirmation page with the uploaded a 2 x 2 inch color photo not older than 6 months – with a light or white background, and the DS-160 form listed in Step 2 are required for the visa interview.
In addition, one week before their interview, applicants or crew agents should submit the following:
- Applications for crew visas must be accompanied by the passport containing the previously issued visa
- Continuous Discharge Certificate
- Join Ship letter
- Equasis check
- Letter of Employment or Letter from Local Agent containing
- Applicant Info:
- Name
- Job Title/Rank
- Passport #
- CDC #
- Vessel Info:
- Name
- IMO#
- Flag/Registry
- Joining Date
- Joining Port
- For D visa (city and country name)
- For C1 or C1/D visa (port and state name in the U.S.)
Additional documents may be requested to establish if you are qualified. If transiting the United States to meet a vessel, be prepared to provide evidence you are transiting to meet the vessel, for example, a letter from your employer or your employer’s agent. Additional requested documents may include evidence of:
- The purpose of your trip;
- Your intent to depart the United States after your trip; and/or
- Your ability to pay all costs of the trip.
- Schedule an Interview Appointment – Click here to book your appointment.
Please make note of your appointment day and time; we are unable to confirm your appointment details. If you miss your appointment, you will be responsible for rescheduling a new appointment.
If you have urgent travel and there are no available appointments that coincide with your desired travel date, please book the next available appointment. After booking the next available appointment, email us at HamiltonConsulate@state.gov outlining the need for an expedited appointment. Please attach a copy of your DS-160 to the email and include the date you would like to travel. If the circumstances warrant, we will do our best to accommodate your request. If we are not able to accommodate your request and you do not see any appointment availabilities, please continue to monitor the appointment schedule as appointments will become available if other applicants cancel as well as when we add additional appointments. please monitor our website for any appointment availabilities.
The following is a list of circumstances that may be considered for expedited appointments:
- an immediate relative’s death, grave illness, or life threatening accident requiring travel to or via the United States. Please include the name, relationship place and description of the situation, and contact information for the attending physician or funeral home;
- urgent medical treatment for the applicant, family member, or their minor child;
- urgent travel to resume employment or studies in the United States.
- Submit Your Passport and Visa Application Forms – Bring the completed DS-160 confirmation sheet with the uploaded 2 x 2 inch color photo not older than 6 months, and a valid passport, to the Consulate on your scheduled interview date.
- Pay the MRV Fee – Payment for visa applications is CASH ONLY, with U.S. or Bermudian currency, or a combination of both, acceptable. Please consult the Department of State’s Fees for Visa Services website and be prepared to pay the appropriate fee, in cash, for the visa you are applying for on the day of your visa interview. Nonimmigrant visa applicants from certain countries may be required to also pay a reciprocity fee at the time of their visa interview which can be paid by cash or credit card.
- Interview for your visa with the Consular Officer – During your visa interview, a consular officer will determine whether you are qualified to receive a visa, and if so, which visa category is appropriate based on your purpose of travel. You will need to establish that you meet the requirements under U.S. law to receive the category of visa for which you are applying.
Ink-free, digital fingerprint scans will be taken as part of your application process. They are usually taken during your interview, but this varies based on location.
- Pay the Visa Issuance Fee – If your visa is approved, you may also have to pay a reciprocity fee, depending on what country you are from.
- Return to Collect Your Passport and Visa – If you are issued the visa, you will be given a date and time to pick up your passport, typically within 5-7 business days.
Case Status
You can check the status of your visa application on ceac.state.gov.
Some visa applications require further administrative processing, which takes additional time after the visa applicant’s interview by a consular officer. Applicants are advised of this requirement when they apply. Most administrative processing is resolved within 60 days of the visa interview. When administrative processing is required, the timing will vary based on the individual circumstances of each case.
If your visa has been denied, you may find useful information on Ineligibilities and Waivers on Travel.State.gov.
Additional Information
- You may apply for a crewmember visa without being employed at the time of your visa application. However, the crewmember visa may only be used for entry to a U.S. port if you are employed on the sea vessel or aircraft on which you arrive.
- We cannot guarantee that you will be issued a visa. Do not make final travel plans or buy tickets until you have a visa.
- Crewmember (D) visa holders must depart the United States on a vessel within 29 days. The United States is defined as including the continental United States, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. You are not considered to have departed the United States until the vessel you are on travels to international waters destined to a foreign port.
- The operating base is where the vessel takes on supplies regularly, where the cargo of the vessel is sold,or where the owner or master of the vessel engages in business transactions.
- Spouse or Children –
- Your spouse and unmarried, minor children may apply for visitor (B) visas to accompany you, if they will not perform services required for normal operation of the vessel.
- If your spouse and/or children plan to enter the United States for another purpose, then they must apply for the visa category required for that purpose of travel. Review all visa categories.
- Unless canceled or revoked, a visa is valid until its expiration date. Therefore, a valid U.S. visa in an expired passport is still valid. If you have a valid visa in your expired passport, do not remove it from your expired passport. You may use your valid visa in your expired passport along with a new valid passport for travel and admission to the United States.