SUBJECT: Crewmen Shore Leave / Passports and C1 Crewmen Transiting the U.S. to join a Vessel
Crewmen on shore leave cannot possess their passport.
This notice is to remind the maritime industry that crewmen who are granted D1 status [Shore Leave] and issued an 1-95 Landing Permit by CBP upon arriving on a commercial vessel cannot, under any circumstances, be in possession of their passport. All crewmen passports must remain secured onboard the ship at all times regardless if a facility requires the crewmen to show a passport to exit the vessel. If a facility/terminal does not allow crewmen to transit their facility without a passport, then the crewmen should not be allowed off the ship. A crewman may possess a photocopy of his passport, but the CBP-granted 1-95 Landing Permit is all that a crewman needs in his possession when temporarily going ashore while his vessel of arrival is in port.
If a crewman has an urgent and bona fide reason to have his passport in his possession when going ashore contact the CBP New Orleans Operations Desk at (504) 670-2270 for guidance.
In-transit crewmen who sign onto [join] their vessel while in the U.S.
When a crewman arrives in the United States via commercial air to join a vessel in the U.S., the crewmen is admitted at the airport of arrival on his C1 Visa (Alien in Transit- direct and continuous travel through the United States) to join a vessel. Once the crewman arrives at the vessel, the C1 status has been satisfied and he no longer has a status in the United States, and therefore cannot leave the vessel while in port. The crewman must depart foreign and return to the U.S. before he may be granted D1 status [Shore Leave] and issued an CBP 1-95 Landing Permit.
Please direct any questions concerns regarding this notice to CBP Chief Kevin Alombro at (504) 670-2050 or via e-mail at kevin.m.alombro@cbp.dhs.gov
