Consulate of the United States

Types of Visas

Information for Seamen 

Crewing agencies applying at the U.S. Consulate General for C1/D visas for sailors should present to the Consular section their license and registration documents, as well as the names and signatures of the employees handling the visa applications of sailors (on the company’s letterhead).

All seamen should apply at a Pony Express office and submit:

• Seaman’s book with current vessel registration stamp;
• Confirmation page of DS-160 application form. 
• $131 application fee in Rubles.

At the interview all seamen should present:

• An invitation from the vessel owner or crewing agency;
• An original copy of the crew list, which corresponds to the registration stamp in the seaman’s book and is signed by the port-master;
• $100 reciprocity fee for C1/D visa.

Candidates for B1/OCS visas should also apply with a seaman's book and in addition to the above mentioned documents must bring Outer Continental Shelf exemption letter from the U.S. Coast Guard. B1/OCS visas are routinely issued for one year, and are not subject to the reciprocity fee.

We have launched a new interview waiver program for C1/D and B1(OCS) visa applicants.   

A seafarer renewing a C1/D or B1 (OCS) visa issued in Russia on or after 06 November 2007 with an expiration date within the last 12 months, may qualify for a waiver of personal appearance at the Consulate. 

If you think that the seafarer qualifies for the interview waiver, you should inform the employee of Pony Express Company about it as you submit the application.  The following should be presented at Pony Express: 

• A valid seafarer's passport;
• If the said visa is not in the valid passport, then the original seafarer's passport containing the visa;
• Confirmation page of DS-160 application form;
• If the seafarer's previous application was subjected to additional administrative processing (i.e. there was a word "clearance" in the visa annotation), please also submit to Pony Express: an invitation with contact information in the U.S. and explanation of purpose of travel, applicant's resume (CV) in English, application DS-157 in English (regardless of age and gender), and a list of your publications in English (if any);
• $131 application fee in rubles;
• Additional $100 reciprocity fee (in Rubles) for C1/D applicants.

Please note:   Photos must be taken within the last six (6) months. If the applicant submits a photo used in a previous visa, the application will be returned to Pony Express, and the processing of the visa will be delayed. 

If the applicant is eligible for a waiver of personal appearance and does not require additional administrative processing, then you will receive the seafarer's passport and visa through Pony Express within five (5) days of submitting the application.  

If the Consulate determines that an applicant is not eligible for a personal appearance waiver, then we will contact the crewing agent or the applicant and schedule an appointment.  

If you have not received the passport or any notification within ten (10) days, you should contact the Consulate by e-mail: visastpete@state.gov.