Carnival captain a new US citizen

[DRS/NC]

One of Carnival's captains became a US citizen about 2 hrs. ago. His native land is Italy. (I'm not stating his name for privacy.)

 

2-3 times a month, I represent the League of Women Voters at the naturalization ceremony at the Charlotte Field Office of USCIS. I explain the voter registration procedure for NC. As a bonus, I get to meet hundreds of new citizens each year.

 

Today the USCIS officer-in-charge explained that on Tues. she got a call from an applicant, asking if she could expedite his previously scheduled interview/test because he'd just been assigned a 4 mos. tour of duty on a cruise ship. Yes, USCIS could do that. He took the interview/test yesterday & was naturalized today. (The Charlotte office is one of the most efficient in the country.)

 

The captain & I chatted after the ceremony about how he can now join the "short line" at immigration/customs and other mutual cruise experiences. He & his family were very happy.:)

[sail7seas]

Nice story. Thanks for sharing with us. :)

Best wishes to the Captain and his family.

 

[chengkp75]

Many of NCL's Norwegian deck and engine officers are either US citizens or Green Card Aliens. I think this is pretty common for lots of lines, particularly for deck and engine officers.

[DRS/NC]

Nice story. Thanks for sharing with us. :)

Best wishes to the Captain and his family.

 

Thanks! It's nice when my "hobbies" (cruising, voter registration & citizenship classes) come together!

[fishywood]

Many of NCL's Norwegian deck and engine officers are either US citizens or Green Card Aliens. I think this is pretty common for lots of lines, particularly for deck and engine officers.

 

Yes at the very least the ship's officers will have a multi-entry US Visa if they haven't earned their Green Card yet. Would be pretty undignified if an officer had to be escorted by security direct from the ship to the airport and watched that they do not leave the international terminal before boarding their flight just as the ordinary crew members are when their contract ends with their ship in a US port.

[chengkp75]

Yes at the very least the ship's officers will have a multi-entry US Visa if they haven't earned their Green Card yet. Would be pretty undignified if an officer had to be escorted by security direct from the ship to the airport and watched that they do not leave the international terminal before boarding their flight just as the ordinary crew members are when their contract ends with their ship in a US port.

 

Actually, the Captain is treated no different from any other crew member when it comes to Immigration. They will have a B1 crew visa. Heck, even US officers and crew that arrive on a US ship, and leave the ship before the ship clears US Immigrations, will need to be transported by bonded agents to the airport. The international cruise ship crew are not escorted by security, but by a bonded employee of the ship's agency.

 

This is actually why the "cruise to nowhere" disappeared, because the officers and crew are on B1 visas, not H1 work visas.

Edited October 29, 2015 by chengkp75

[sail7seas]

Actually, the Captain is treated no different from any other crew member when it comes to Immigration. They will have a B1 crew visa. Heck, even US officers and crew that arrive on a US ship, and leave the ship before the ship clears US Immigrations, will need to be transported by bonded agents to the airport. The international cruise ship crew are not escorted by security, but by a bonded employee of the ship's agency.

 

This is actually why the "cruise to nowhere" disappeared, because the officers and crew are on B1 visas, not H1 work visas.

 

Welcome back, Chengkp.

Hope you had a good contract. You were missed. :)

 

[Keith1010]

Thanks for sharing.

 

Keith

[Bonnie J.]

Is his ship the Fantasy? I ask because Charleston is the Fantasy's home port. WE have been on the Fantasy many times and know some of her captains.

[ShipFish]

the officers and crew are on B1 visas, not H1 work visas.

 

Actually, at least the lines I'm familiar with, most officers and crew are on C1/D visas (seafarers transit visa), there's only a limited number working on B1 visa which tend to be technical, corporate or entertainment staff.

Edited October 30, 2015 by ShipFish