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US AUTHORITIES IMPOSE SECURITY GUARDS FOR CREW WITHOUT VISAS – EVEN IF NOT DISEMBARKING
Published: 1 August 2019
We have recently been advised that some Members have been charged USD3,600 for security guards in respect of crew members not holding current US visas, even though they were not disembarking. According to our US correspondents, Lamorte Burns, the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and US Coast Guard (USCG) have discretion under local regulations to order, at the ship owners’ cost, security guards to “reduce potential opportunities” for crew members without the appropriate visa to abscond – i.e. leave the ship without permission. In order to avoid such charges, all crew should have valid visas prior to arrival at US ports.