Opinion ID: 804410
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: “C-1/D” Visa

Text: Petitison, a citizen of the Philippines, is an experienced crewman. On January 14, 1997, Petitson went to the U.S. embassy in Bridgetown, Barbados and obtained a “C-1/D” visa for entry into the United States, with an expiration date of January 12, 2002. As recounted later, Petitson then came to the United States and joined the crew of a vessel. An alien crewman traveling to meet a vessel in the United States is issued a “C-1/D” visa, which is a dual “C-1” and “D” visa. A “D” visa is given to a nonimmigrant alien serving aboard a vessel or aircraft “who intends to land temporarily and solely in pursuit of his calling as a crewman and to depart from the United States with the vessel or aircraft on which he arrived or some other 2 Case: 11-16000 Date Filed: 07/13/2012 Page: 3 of 12 vessel or aircraft.” See INA § 101(a)(15)(D)(i), 8 U.S.C. § 1101(a)(15)(D)(i) (emphasis added); 8 C.F.R. § 214.1(a)(2); see also 22 C.F.R. § 41.41 (“An alien is classifiable as a nonimmigrant crewman upon establishing to the satisfaction of the consular officer the qualifications prescribed by INA [§] 101(a)(15)(D)”). A “C-1” visa is given to a nonimmigrant alien in immediate and continuous transit through the United States. INA § 101(a)(15)(C), 8 U.S.C. § 1101(a)(15)(C); 8 C.F.R. § 214.1(a)(1)(ii), (2). As mentioned above, Petitson received a “C-1/D” visa. The “D” symbol on Petitson’s visa indicates that a consular officer gave Petitson “alien crewman” status under the INA. See 22 C.F.R. §§ 41.12, 41.41.