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. Crewmember (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 crewmember (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 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. waters
*Crew members are persons working on board vessels (such as cruise liners or fishing ships): their employment is required for normal operation and services, such as:
- Captain, engineer, or deckhand of a sea vessel
- 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 Crewmember Visa website.
If you would like to inquire about processing a Crewmember Visa in Bermuda, please email hamiltonconsulate@state.gov.
