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USA crew visa · Kochi, Kerala
USA C1/D Visa for Seafarers and Crew from Kerala
The C1/D visa is for seafarers and airline crew who join a ship or flight in the USA. Kerala has thousands of merchant-navy officers and ratings, and most of them apply through the US Consulate General in Chennai. Visa Xpert, Kochi prepares your DS-160, your document file and your interview – usually against a tight joining date.
Interview at US Consulate Chennai
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USA C1/D visa at a glance
- Government feeUS$185 per person, about ₹18,130. No issuance fee for Indian citizens and no centre fee.
- Processing timeDepends on the interview wait. Crew often get earlier dates than tourists; after approval the passport is back in about 7–10 working days.
- Stay and validityUsually valid up to 5 years, multiple entry. Each entry allows only the time needed for your transit or crew duty – normally up to 29 days.
- Where you apply from KeralaDS-160 online, then fingerprints (OFC) and interview at the US Consulate General, Chennai (or Mumbai if your company prefers).
Quick answer
Yes – seafarers and crew living in Kerala apply for the US C1/D visa through the US Consulate General in Chennai. You need a DS-160, the US$185 fee (about ₹18,130), your CDC (seaman’s book) and a joining or employment letter from your company. The visa is usually issued for up to 5 years with multiple entries. Visa Xpert’s charge is ₹3,000 per person, so the total is about ₹21,130.
USA C1/D visa: key facts
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Official visa | C-1 (transit) and D (crew member) – issued together as a combined C1/D visa for ship and airline crew. |
| Who it is for | Merchant-navy officers and ratings joining a vessel in a US port, cruise-ship staff, and airline crew operating to the USA. Not for working ashore in the USA. |
| Government fee | US$185 = about ₹18,130 at the consulate’s rate (MRV fee). No visa issuance fee for Indian citizens. |
| Centre / VFS fee | None. The US$250 “visa integrity fee” in US law since July 2025 was not being collected as of late October 2026 – we check before you pay. |
| Visa Xpert service charge | ₹3,000 per person DS-160, document file, appointment booking, interview preparation and follow-up until the passport is back. |
| Total per person | About ₹21,130; the rupee amount moves with the exchange rate. |
| Standard processing time | Set by the interview wait at your chosen consulate (check the official wait-time tool). Passport normally returned 7–10 working days after approval. |
| Stay / validity | Visa usually valid up to 5 years, multiple entry (decided by the officer). Each entry: the time needed for your transit or crew duty, normally up to 29 days, set by the border officer. |
| Where you apply from Kerala | Chennai (or Mumbai) · no Kochi option Kerala is under the US Consulate General Chennai: biometrics at the Offsite Facilitation Centre, interview at the Consulate on Anna Salai. Shipping companies sometimes route crew through Mumbai. |
| Form / portal | DS-160 on ceac.state.gov; fee and appointments on the US Visa Scheduling site (ustraveldocs.com). |
| Checked on | 4 November 2026 |
Plain words: CDC is the Continuous Discharge Certificate, your seaman’s book. LOE is the letter of employment or joining letter from your shipping or manning company. OFC is the fingerprint-and-photo appointment.
USA C1/D visa documents required for the interview
Carry originals to Chennai. This is the list our seafarer clients actually use; we confirm it against your contract and company letter.
Required for every crew applicant
- Appointment confirmation and DS-160 confirmation page
- Original valid passport (6+ months validity, 2 blank pages) and all old passports
- Original CDC (seaman’s book) with sea-service entries
- Joining letter / letter of employment from your shipping or manning company stating vessel, port and joining date
- Fee payment receipt (US$185)
Financial and background
- Last 3 months’ payslips or wage slips, if available
- Latest 6 months’ bank statement, stamped and signed by the bank
- Experience certificates and sea-service letters
- Education certificates (pre-sea course, COC / certificate of competency if an officer)
- Aadhaar card
Airline crew
- Airline ID and letter from the airline confirming your position and routes
- Crew list or roster showing US operations
Good to know
- Dates in your DS-160 must match your CDC and passport stamps – mismatches are the most common problem at the window
- Apply as soon as the company confirms the joining; consulates do not hold crew slots
- Renewal means a new DS-160 and a new fee; since the 2025 rule change most crew renewals also attend an interview – we check if any waiver route applies before you book
Step by step: C1/D visa from Kochi
What happens, in order, when your company tells you to get a US visa.
- Send us your documentsPhotos of your passport, CDC and the company letter on WhatsApp. We confirm C1/D is the right category and check your travel history.
- DS-160We complete the form with you – employment, sea service, previous US visits – and give you the confirmation page.
- Pay US$185Fee paid on the US Visa Scheduling site (about ₹18,130); it activates in 1–2 working days.
- Book OFC and interviewWe book the earliest fingerprint and interview slots at Chennai (or Mumbai) that fit your joining date.
- Interview in ChennaiFingerprints and photo first, then a short interview: your company, vessel, route and sea experience. We rehearse the questions with you.
- Passport backIf approved, the passport is sent to the pickup point you chose – there is a VFS pickup point in Kochi – or by courier. Then you fly to join your ship.
How Visa Xpert helps seafarers and crew
The consular officer decides your visa; we cannot change that and never promise an outcome. We make sure the paperwork never delays a joining.
- Fast, correct DS-160We know the crew-specific sections – sea service, company details, previous C1/D visas – and finish the form the same day.
- Checklist matched to your rankOfficer or rating, first contract or renewal: the file is built for your situation and your company’s letter format.
- Earliest appointmentWe watch for earlier slots and compare Chennai and Mumbai waits so you meet the joining date.
- Interview practice and follow-upA practice session for the likely questions, then tracking until the passport is back in Kochi.
2026 notes for crew applicants from Kerala
What to expect this year
- Interviews for most renewals: since September 2025 the interview waiver is limited to tight renewal conditions (same visa class, expired within 12 months, issued at 18 or older). Many crew renewals now attend in person.
- Plan for the wait: Chennai interview waits were long in late 2026. Ask your company for the joining confirmation early and apply immediately.
- Visa integrity fee: the US$250 fee in US law since 4 July 2025 was not being collected as of late October 2026 – we confirm before you pay.
- 29-day rule: a C1/D lets you enter to join or transit; it does not allow shore work or long stays in the USA.
- ESTA is not for crew: Indian citizens are not eligible for visa-free travel anyway, and crew joining a vessel always need the C1/D.
USA C1/D visa: frequently asked questions
What documents are required for the C1/D visa interview?
Appointment confirmation, DS-160 confirmation page, valid passport with any old passports, CDC (seaman’s book), the joining letter or letter of employment from your company, last three months’ payslips if available, six months’ bank statement, experience and education certificates and your Aadhaar card. The full checklist is above.
How much does a C1/D visa cost in India?
The US government fee is US$185 per person, about ₹18,130 at the current exchange rate, with no issuance fee for Indian citizens and no centre fee. Visa Xpert’s service charge is ₹3,000 per person, so the total is about ₹21,130.
What is the C1/D visa validity for Indian citizens?
Usually up to five years with multiple entries, decided by the consular officer. Each entry allows only the time needed for your transit or crew duty, normally up to 29 days.
How does C1/D visa renewal work in India?
Renewal means a new DS-160 and a new fee. Since the 2025 rule change most applicants, including renewals, attend a consulate interview; we confirm whether any interview-waiver route applies to you before you book.
Is there a US visa office in Kochi for seafarers?
No. Fingerprints and the interview take place at the US Consulate General in Chennai (Kerala’s jurisdiction) or, if your company prefers, Mumbai. Kochi only has a VFS pickup and drop-off point used for passports and eligible dropbox renewals.
How quickly can a seafarer get a US visa from Kerala?
It depends on the interview wait at the consulate you choose. We compare Chennai and Mumbai and watch for earlier slots. Once approved, passports normally come back within 7–10 working days.
Can Visa Xpert guarantee my C1/D visa?
No consultant can. The officer decides at the interview. What we guarantee is a complete, consistent file and proper preparation, which is what most crew applicants need.
Is Visa Xpert part of VFS or the US Consulate?
No. Visa Xpert is an independent visa consultancy in Kochi, working with seafarers since 2015. The US Consulate decides your visa; we handle the preparation and follow-up.
Official sources
- US Department of State – Crewmember visa (C1/D)
- US Visa Scheduling (ustraveldocs) – India
- DS-160 online application (CEAC)
- US Department of State – visa fees
- US Department of State – global visa wait times
Last checked: 4 November 2026. Government fees, exchange rates and processing times change; we confirm the latest before you pay anything.
Joining a ship in the USA? Start your C1/D today
WhatsApp your passport, CDC and company letter. We will book the earliest realistic interview and prepare your file the same day.
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