Embassy of the United States in Manila : Nonimmigrant Visa

The Nonimmigrant Visa Unit (NIV) is open for business Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., except on U.S. and Philippine Holidays and every last business day of the month.

Please click here for complete NIV Contact Information

Seafarer Recruitment Agency Accreditation

The Nonimmigrant Visa Unit of the U.S. Embassy requires that all s eafarer recruitment agencies first be accredited before being able to submit C-1/D visa applications on behalf of Philippine seafarers.

The first step in the accreditation process requires crewing agencies to submit all of the documents requested. Upon receipt of the requested documents, the Embassy will conduct a review whereupon a decision will be made to grant or deny accreditation.

If a decision is made to extend to the agency the privilege of being able to submit visa applications, the agency will be assigned a unique agency code, which must be used on all subsequent correspondence with the Embassy. Agencies with denied accreditation will be informed in writing of our decision.

Accreditation by the Embassy is a privilege, and can be revoked at any time at our discretion.

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION FROM SEAFARER RECRUITMENT AGENCIES

The following information must be immediately returned to the U.S. Embassy, Nonimmigrant Visa Unit, 1201 Roxas Blvd., Ermita, Manila 1012. The letter must be certified and signed by the agency’s authorized representative.

1.	Agency Information. List the company name, address, telephone and fax numbers. Indicate how long the agency has been in operation, and describe any current or past affiliation with any other crewing agencies.

2.	List all the principals for whom the agency recruits seafarers, including each principal’s complete address, fax and phones numbers, and a contact person. For each principal, list the name and type of all vessels for which the agency is authorized by the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA) to recruit seaman. Please update this list as principals and/or vessels are added or deleted from the agency’s roster.

3.	Submit the name, date of birth, position, address, and telephone/fax numbers for a primary contact person for the U.S. Embassy.

4.	Submit the names, dates of birth, sample signatures and positions of persons in the agency who are authorized to sign guarantee letters and other official correspondence. The U.S. Embassy will keep a list of these authorized signatories and will only issue visas to seafarers with guarantee letters signed by authorized signatories.

5.	Submit the names, dates of birth, sample signatures, and photographs for each of the agency’s authorized liaison officers.

6.	For each of the agency’s executive officers, the agency’s primary contact person, and all authorized signatories and liaison officers, please indicate any/all past or current affiliation with any other seafarer recruitment agencies.

7.	Institute security features in the agency’s guarantee letters that will help us identify legitimate seafarers from the agency. List these security features and provide samples. Each guarantee letter must bear a unique serial number, and must be signed by an authorized signatory. When this questionnaire is returned, the agency will be assigned a unique code. This code must also be included on the guarantee letter for each applicant.

8.	Submit evidence to establish that the agency is properly licensed by the POEA.

Note: The agency must provide timely written updates to the U.S. Embassy in the event of any changes. Failure to meet these terms may result in the agency’s loss of accreditation and ability to present applications for visas at the U.S. Embassy.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS FOR SEAFARER C-1/D VISA APPLICATIONS

1.	Application Forms (DS-156, DS-157): The U.S. Department of State now offers an Electronic Visa Application Form (EVAF) DS-156. Starting 07 January 2004, s eafarer recruitment agencies are required to use the EVAF for all visa applications. Applicant who shows up at the Embassy without EVAF will not be accommodated and must book for a new appointment. Agencies and applicants must comply with the documentary requirements as specified in crewmembers (C-1/D) page.

2.	Contract and Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC) approved by the Philippines Overseas Employment Agency (POEA), and a Seafarer’s Registration Certificate (SRC): The seafarer must submit originals but will be returned after the application is processed. The Embassy will not process a visa when any of these documents shows signs of tampering or alteration. The contract and OEC should be stapled together inside the back cover of the Seaman’s Identification and Record Book (SIRB)- the SRC should be attached to the inside of the front cover of the SIRB. Do not attach any document other than the ones requested.

3.	Seaman’s Identification and Record Book (SIRB) issued by the Department of Transportation and Communications’ Maritime Authority(MARINA): Must be valid beyond the expiration date of the employment contract. Seafarers should also submit all SIRB’s valid for the past ten years, and any additional seaman’s book or passport which contains a U.S. visa. Seafarers should submit affidavits of loss if they are unable to submit all of these documents.

4.	Guarantee letter from the s eafarer recruitment agency: All guarantee letters should be submitted in the format described in the attached instructions. Guarantee letters which are not in the correct format, or which do not include all required information, will not be accepted. Each seafarer must be issued an individual guarantee letter with each application. Photocopies or carbon copies of guarantee letters will not be accepted.

5.	Guarantee letter from the s eafarer recruitment agency: All guarantee letters should be submitted in the format described in the attached instructions. Guarantee letters which are not in the correct format, or which do not include all required information, will not be accepted. Each seafarer must be issued an individual guarantee letter with each application. Photocopies or carbon copies of guarantee letters will not be accepted.

6.	.Ship’s itinerary: All seafarer applicants are required to submit with each application a complete itinerary for the vessel they will be joining or a ship clearance letter if one has been issued. This includes dates for all ports visited in the past twelve months, and projected dates for all ports to be visited in the next six months. The country of each port must be listed. In the event the vessel is a new ship with no sailing history or a ship without a fixed future schedule due to “tramping” that should be noted.

7.	Job descriptions: Forseafarers taking unusual or uncommon seafaring positions, s eafarer recruitment agencies should provide a complete job description, and should also indicate whether the position is a temporary or permanent component of the ship’s crew.

HOW TO APPLY

Please click here for crewmember (C-1/D) visa application procedures for seafarers.

GUARANTEE LETTER

All s eafarer recruitment agency guarantee letters must be submitted in a standardized format. For a complete explanation of the required format, please click on the following links:

Guarantee Letter Format
Guarantee Letter Example
Guarantee Letter Explanation Of Fields

U.S. AND PHILIPPINE HOLIDAYS

The embassy will be closed for U.S. and Philippine holidays. Please make note of these closings and plan accordingly. This holiday schedule is subject to change in the event of holidays declared by Malacañang Palace.

CONTACT INFORMATION

All matters relating to seafarer recruitment agencies and seafarers must be addressed to MnlNIVSea@state.gov.

Last Update :: 05/05/2008

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