How to obtain Police clearance while working in a US based Cruise Liner.

[Nurhia]

Hi,

I have applied for Immigration to Canada under Federal Skilled Worker Class. I live in India with my Daughter and my Husband is working for a USA based Cruise liner. Each contract is for 8months. Once he completes his contract, he is sent on a two months vacation to India. He returns back to work after his vacation.

As the ship enters various ports in different states and countries, can you please provide the procedure to obtain Police clearance.

 

[Pippin]

I wondered about this issue of PCCs, too. "These documents are to be provided for each country other than Canada, in which you have lived for six consecutive months or longer since reaching the age of 18."

You said that your husband's ship was US based (Princess Cruises Ltd?), but that flies the flag of the Bahamas. There are interesting Maritime Laws, and flying a "flag of convenience" saves companies a lot of money. One of the issues is that a foreign ship cannot sail an entire cruise between US ports. It must sail into at least the port of ONE foreign country. This is why the Alaska cruises stop in Vancouver or Victoria, the Hawaiian cruises stop briefly in Ensenada, Mex before returning to LA, etc. THIS is what makes me think that a PCC from the US would not be required, as your husband's time "in??" the US would not be considered CONTINUOUS. The only glitch I can think of is that his passport would not be stamped each time he entered/departed that foreign country. It will be interesting to see what others have found out about this.

http://www.commercialdiplomacy.org/ma_projects/magee3.htm
E.2 Foreign Competitive Advantage in Operating Ships
There are several competitive advantages to being a foreign flagged cruise ship, they are:

No citizenship requirements for ownership, or crew
No corporate income tax, as required for U.S. flagged operators
Ship construction costs approximately ½ to 2/3 the cost of U.S. built ships.
Crew costs approximately ½ the costs of a U.S. crew.
The main disadvantage is that in order to operate in U.S. waters, all foreign flagged ships must make a trip to a foreign port, which makes planning itineraries tricky.

 

[Nurhia]

Hi Pippin,

Thank you for the reply. The name of the Cruise company is Royal Caribbean. Right now the ship is cruising from San-Francisco to Alaska. Please let me know the procedure to obtain the PCC 'coz I do not want to waste time as I was told that, to obtain PCC from USA, it takes two months.

Also please advise on how to approach the Indian Embassy in USA to obtain a attested authorization letter for my husband's PCC from Chennai as we live in Chennai when he is back on vacation.

 

[dreamcanada]

pippin is right , i also used to work in cruiselier. so when u apply write a note stating that he is working on ship and that ship sails in international waters, although his office is in USA but he is always on transit . while working on ship u get C1/d visa whch itself is multiple entry transit visa. so just give the pcc from india for that time duration.
u can apply to police commissioner office in Chennai for his PCC as getting from Indian High Commission is long process and he has to submit his passport also,which is not possible while working on ship if i am not wrong.

 

[Nurhia]

Thank you dreamcanada. So, can I go ahead and apply for PCC for my Husband at Chennai without my Husbands passport, stating that he is working for the Cruise and can not show the original passport as the passport is held with the employer.

 

[dreamcanada]

u dont need to show ur passport when u apply for pcc from local SP city office..so just apply and u will get it

 

[Nurhia]

Thank you dreamcanada

 

[fioanna]

Thank you dreamcanada

Hi, I am from India and am in the similar situation as you were a few years ago. I was wondering if you managed to move and would you be willing to help me out. I too have an 8 year old daughter and my husband is a sailor on RCCL.

Thanks in advance