Entry in us as tourist and exit as crew ?

[kunaldubey]

Hey,

I am going on a vacation and an taking a cruise from Southampton , UK to NY. I have a valid b1/b2 so entry is no problem.

My airline allows me to go as an Additional crew member from US to india which saves me a lot money on the ticket.

Now , I DO NOT have a crew visa , should I have any problem exiting the country on the General Declaration ?

From what I've heard from my collegues is that while exiting , they just scan the passport and cross check the names in the General Declaration and not look at the visa.

Thanks for the replies ...

[oceancrosser]

In 26 years of flying to the US, no-one has ever looked at my passport on departure as crew, and as passenger only at check-in for identification purposes and to remove entry card (white) if on visa.
Just make sure you leave the entry stamped card as you depart.

In some countries (basically from the Middle-East to the Pacific) it is an issue if you arrive as pax and depart as crew or vice versa. Better hang onto a copy of gen.dec which is a holy document in some places. :ugh:

[L'aviateur]

You are not supposed to change visa status whilst in the country on a non-immigrant visa. That being said, I'd agree with the previous poster that since you don't submit your passport to border control on departure so how would anyone know. Although you would need to submit you I-94 to show you have departed (this can also be done by post after leaving the country).

The opposite way round, entering on a C1-D and then desiring to remain in country for upto 6 months on the basis of your B1/B2 can be a lot more problematic and is most easily resolved by a trip across the border and back.

[kunaldubey]

Thanks for your replies .

I called up the department of state in the US to ask about the case. They told me its upto the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol. I've shot them an email. Still awaiting an answer.

My colleagues who fly to and from the US gave me a similar advice. There is no problem exiting the country . Just the name has to be on the GD and passport for identification where they swipe it.

The I - 94 has to be submitted before departure . I think they normally collect them at the check-in counters or worst case , i could post it back to them .