Flight Crew Visa for USA

[Defenestrator]

Company has just asked us to obtain Crew C-1/D Visas for flight in the USA. I've had a good bo-peep at the US Embassy website for Syd and Canberra but it leaves a lot to be desired. Can anyone thats jumped through the hoops give me a bit of a heads up as to what to do.

Many Thanks.

[rsull]

C1/D Visa

Firstly you have to have your credit card ready to make an appointment. When I did it the first appointments were 3-4 weeks away. You will need documentation from your employer stating that you will be crew on an aircraft into America. The only place to interview on the east coast is Sydney.
If you can wait for the interview date and travel to Sydney its pretty easy.

What I did was added an overnight stop in Suva, Fiji. We called the US Embassy there and scheduled an appointment there for the next day. When we got there we were in uniform and jumped to the front of the cue. We were out of Fiji before 12 and arrived in Hawaii that night. I was pressed for time and able to make the stop and it worked well for me.

This was 2 years ago now. I dont know if its the same.

rsull

[Defenestrator]

Thanks Mate. Appreciate that. Kinda hoping that someone that's done it more recently can help. Biggest drama is getting through to someone in the US Embassy in Sydney to talk to. At least they could explain the process to me.
D

[Henry Winkler]

Don't know if you'll have much luck here. The Qf boys get it organized for them. So if your on your own, they are probably of little use. Maybe a Cathay person or something. Although I would have thought they would get it organised for them as well. Doesn't your Company do it for you?

[Defenestrator]

Unfortunately no. We get it organised and then expense it. Tis a hassle.

[rsull]

its all on the website.

make the booking.
take all your licences and the letter from your company.

its easy.

[prm1]

Us Visa

Just went down this road 3 weeks ago...First thing is get on line to http://aus.us-visaservices.com .. There you will be asked to give them your visa number to obtain a booking some two weeks ahead... Fill out the online application, pay your $130 fee at a post office and keep your reciept. Some very important notes,

1 You must provide two photo's of yourself in VISA size. Not passport size.. I saw the guy in front of me get kicked out of embassey for this.. Most photo shops have the correct format and know the drill..

2 If you are flying into the US you will also require the B1 B2 Visa. This allows you to train, and or coduct certain business within the states.. They will ask you at the embassey if you want a one year ( free) or a five year visa for an extra $30 bills ( Big decision ) You are NOT allowed to train within the USA if on a tourist waiver.

3 There is only on space on the "live application form" to select which type of visa, on Visa Pro. Go the B2 and ask for the C1 visa combination at your interview.

4 Make sure you have a letter from your employer explaining why you need the visa.

5 Don't bother applying if you have even the smallest of criminal convictions.. They queried me on a conviction I had in 1980 for "Riding a unlicenced trail bike in a national park"

6 Be prepared to allow half a day out of your life. They aren't very friendly there either.. Specially that big black guy Hope this helps

[zlin77]

Most initial things can be done on the U.S. Consulate website, the booking for the "interview" is also done on line. Make sure your visa photos are the correct size, I think 40 X 40 mm. from memory, not normal passport size. You will have to pay the fee at The Australia Post shop below the MLC building before you go to The Consulate.(About $130.00 approx.) Allow plenty of time, at least one hour before your scheduled interview time, due to security checks and the number of applicants flooding the facility. Normally the interview is brief and your shiny new visa entry in your passport should be ready on the next working day.
Good luck ZLIN.

[Defenestrator]

Many Thanks fellas. That's exactly what I was after. Very greatly appreciated. As an aside, is it possible to have all this done in one day,ie leave with the visa in your passport, or will it take an overnight to get it all snagged away?

[ausflyer]

This has to be one of the most informative threads posted in recent times. Great work and thanks to all.

Aus'

prm1, pls check your pm's

[404 Titan]

Henry Winkler

I work for CX but I'm pretty sure QF is the same. CX organises all our visa's for us except the US. The company tells us what the procedure is but we must do it all our selves as the company isn't allowed to organise even the interview.

I renewed my visa in Sydney in February while on holidays. I had to book the interview online about 3 weeks before hand and the web sight explained everything I had to do. Follow it to the letter. The biggest hassle I had was the photo. It must be from memory 5cm x 5cm and must be a real photo. Absolutely no digital photos are allowed. Trying to find some place that still takes real film photos is hard enough but to find someone that can do them to the exact specs the Yanks want is almost imposible. I managed to find a dude at Warringah Mall in Sydney that new exactly what was required but charged AU$50.00 for the two photos. Luckily the company re-imbursed me.

Lastly allow plenty of time to get to your appointment. There is two levels of security you must get through. One on the (from memory) 10th floor of the MLC Building and one on the 59th where the consulate is. If you have a mobile phone make sure you turn it off and if it has a camera on it they will take the phone off you until you leave. Once you have completed the interview you will have to return the next day and collect your passport. They can't/won't do it on the spot or any earlier.

Hope this helps.

[Defenestrator]

Thanks Titan and others for contributions. Crisis over.

[Henry Winkler]

404 Titan

Thanks mate. I stand Corrected. Sounds a bit like the immigration documents when arriving in the US. If you fill it out wrong, they send you to the back of the line.

Henry.

[NZLeardriver]

I got mine in Japan. They told me a crew visa is a bit special, and you do not need to make an appointment, just show up with the required documents when they normally do interviews. You only need an appointment if there are more than 10 of your from the same company at the same time.
They processed it and sent it to me the next day.

[farrari]

What visa do you need to attend a type rating in the US, is a B1/B2 ok or do you need a M student visa

[404 Titan]

NZLeardriver

It may be the case that every US consulate is different but I can tell you a booking is most definitely required in Sydney and for that matter Hong Kong. They will not even admit you to the building without one. So all be warned.

[engine out]

I have read, and re-read all the details on the website regarding the application process but cannot find anywhere that it mentions photo's cannot be digital. Is it written down somewhere or we expected to be psychic to enter the US as well as everything else.

[404 Titan]

I stand corrected. The Visa photo requirement has changed. They now allow digital photos.

US Non-Immigrant Visa photo requirements

[123567]

If you are operating on a private operation you only require a B1/B2 visa.

Don't forget that all your passengers will require visas as well....