Document #1309047
IRB – Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (Author)
An official at the visa section of the
Embassy of the United States of America in Ottawa stated that C-1/D
visas are transit visas issued to foreign crew members who must
cross the territory of the United States in order to reach their
ship or aircraft (31 May 1994). The official stated that a C-1/D
visa would, for example, allow a Norwegian ship's purser to fly to
New York, take a connecting flight to Miami and travel to the
city's port in order to board his ship (ibid.).
The official stated that C-1/D visas are
issued at US missions worldwide and that they can be issued to
individuals of any nationality (ibid.). She added that C-1 transit
visas are issued to ordinary foreign nationals travelling across
the United States, while C-1/D transit visas are issued only to
foreign crew members (ibid.).
This response was prepared after
researching publicly accessible information currently available to
the DIRB within time constraints. This response is not, and does
not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular
claim to refugee status or asylum.
Embassy of the United States of America,
Ottawa. 31 May 1994. Telephone interview with official in visa
section.