22 March 2004

Crew-list visas to be ended

The following article is excerpted from “The Journal of Commerce” on 19 March 2004.

The [US] State Department said that effective June 16, foreign crewmen on ships in U.S. ports must apply for non-immigrant visa status, submit a valid passport and undergo an interview and background checks. Crew-list visas, in which an entire crew is cleared to come ashore, will be eliminated.

The department is permitting public comment on its proposed rule until May 17. During the 30 days after that date, the department will review the comments and decide whether additional steps, including a possible 90-day delay in the rule, are needed to reduce problems for the shipping
industry….