Ms

[Boiler 45,733]

Apart from everything else we do not know the type of yacht.

[JeanneAdil 6,581]

TRAVELING TO THE US is the phrase here that is needed as u need B1/B2 to get off the vessel 

but those ships leaving the US need D visa

as u state above

 Those who will provide services on board a commercial vessel and who meet the requirements under INA 101(a)(15)(D)(i) above are classifiable D. 

Coming to US on B visa to board and work would be commercial vessels not licensed in the US like the Norwegian cruise ships which a crewmember would be working not under US visa but the country of the vessel license 

[davidvs 354]

23 minutes ago, JeanneAdil said:

TRAVELING TO THE US is the phrase here that is needed as u need B1/B2 to get off the vessel 

but those ships leaving the US need D visa

as u state above

 Those who will provide services on board a commercial vessel and who meet the requirements under INA 101(a)(15)(D)(i) above are classifiable D. 

Coming to US on B visa to board and work would be commercial vessels not licensed in the US like the Norwegian cruise ships which a crewmember would be working not under US visa but the country of the vessel license 

No, the key phrase is the defined difference between a private "recreational" yacht and a commercial yacht. Recreational yachts cannot be chartered in US waters with B1 crew aboard. 

 

See link to the Foreign Affairs Manual.

 

9 FAM 402.2-5(C)(5)  (U) Yacht Crewmen

(CT:VISA-1730;   03-10-2023)

(U)   Yacht crew who will provide services on board a recreational vessel who are able to establish that they have a residence abroad which they do not intend to abandon, regardless of the nationality of the yacht, are classifiable B-1. You should be aware that privately owned yachts may be chartered while abroad but used for personal use while in U.S. territorial waters. Websites related to the charter business may not reflect this. See 9 FAM 402.8-3(A)(1). 

https://fam.state.gov/fam/09fam/09fam040202.html

 

There is a clear definition between Bill Gate's yacht and a NCL ship (my wife worked for NCL by the way  )

 

 

Edited February 23 by davidvs