Why you need a B1/B2 visa if you’re planning to work on a yacht which does the famous Caribbean season?

The Caribbean yachting itinerary very likely includes cruising in U.S waters (at some point) so it is necessary for all crew to be legally entering the country on the correct visas. If the crew don’t have the right visa it can lead to logistical issues for the yacht.

As we all know yachting offers a very transient lifestyle, however, there has been no specific visa created for yacht crew entering the US on boats or looking for work onboard. The B1B2 is a multi-entry visa that is considered the most appropriate visa for superyacht crew by the US embassy.

This is where it gets confusing!  According to the US Department of State, the B1B2 is classified as a visitor visa. This means that it is a non-immigrant visa for people wishing to enter the United States temporarily. There is a B1 visa for those who wish to enter for business purposes and a B2 visa for those coming for pleasure or tourism, a B1B2 is a combination of the two. This visa is not equivalent to a Green Card, you cannot work on land in the US or American flagged vessels. It is also different from a C1/D visa which is primarily intended for airline personnel. To the American embassy, the yachting sector is considered a private industry therefore the C1/D visa is not always applicable. 

So how do you get a b1/b2 visa?

There are two ways.

Scenario 1: You get a job on a yacht travelling to the US or Caribbean. You will use the boat papers to go hand in hand with your Visa application to the US embassy.  This proves you are working on a ‘private vessel’ that needs to temporarily enter US waters. We never mention anything about the c-word to the embassy- CHARTER! As I mentioned before the industry is considered private. 

Scenario 2: You apply to the US embassy for your visa appointment even though you don’t have a job on a yacht yet, or any boat papers. You have some money in your bank account and basically, cross your fingers and hope the embassy officer has had his morning cup of coffee. As I learned the hard way the biggest chance of being refused is if you are not able to prove strong ties to your home, whether they are familial, social, or economic. This proof can come in the form of bank or mortgage statements, house bills, photos of your wife or children back home… anything that will make them believe you are not planning on abandoning your home and planning to stay long-term in the USA. I don’t recommend doing it this way as it caused me so much frustration and hassle at the start of my yachting career with the US embassy. 

Here are some other things to consider:

• There are rumours around different US embassies in various countries that they are easier to obtain the B1/B2 visa from. One year it could be Paris the next could be Milan, you’ll probably see in the yacht crew Facebook pages about the best one to book your appointment with however I wouldn’t rely on this method.
• The length of your visa is also dependent on your nationality 

Can I still look for yachting work outside the US if I can’t get this specific visa?

Yes! The UAE, Maldives, Seychelles and South Pacific are destinations that DO NOT require crew to have a B1 visa. So there is the potential to land a job at the end of the Med season in Antibes, on a yacht that is destined for these places in the winter period.

I recommend if you’re planning to jump on the tail end of the Med season and hoping to snap up one of these job opportunities…

Get
There in
September. ​
​
By the end of October, Antibes can be a ghost town with few yachts in sight. Not good for job hunting prospects.

This is also a good time to upskill and perfect that yachting CV because… let’s be real it can be fierce out there! 🔥🔥🔥

Here’s some useful links which could help point you in the right direction
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• ​7 Ways To Nail Your First 7 Days As A Yacht Stew ​
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• ​How to write a yachting CV
  
  
• The Yachting CV Toolkit – includes, 3 CV Templates to choose from, a full CV Review, access to The Worldwide List Of Yacht Crew Agencies + more. Click the link for more information.
  
  
• The Yachting Kickstarter Guide – This go-to guide for green crew gives you access to tools, guides and proven success strategies for landing your first yachting job. It’s your best chance at securing work!