If you don’t know what you’re doing, getting a MARAD waiver might be complicated. MARAD waivers enable some not qualified people under the Merchant Marine Act of 1936 (known as the Jones Act) to receive a mariner’s license via a Maritime Administration (MARAD) waiver. One-stop shop for all things maritime: Merchant Mariner’s Authorization Database.
Employers and job seekers alike will turn to MARAD for help in identifying qualified seafarers. Other databases do not offer the option to request a waiver as MARAD does. An individual’s prior marijuana-related crime does not prevent them from receiving the same advantages as non-individuals. You may ask for a waiver if you fulfill specific requirements. You may save money on your license application fees if your state allows for qualifying exemptions, which you can learn about further down the page.
Check Your Eligibility for MARAD Waiver
When filing for a MARAD waiver, the first step is to determine if you and your firm are entitled to do so. The MARAD’s eligibility requirements are straightforward: you must meet the following criteria. You must be a single parent of one or more dependent children and have no other sources of income to be eligible for a waiver. Apart from that, you must not own/lease your property or be actively occupying it. Ensure not to reside in an area adversely impacted by increased vessel traffic and business activity resulting from commercial development, such as oil rigs and ports.
Determine Which Waiver Applies to You
It might be challenging to understand how to apply for a MARAD waiver. Take a look at your existing situation and establish whether the waiver applies to you before you begin. When a medical condition prevents a person from using public transportation to and from a medical institution, MARAD may assist them in paying for transportation to and from the facility. Parking, car maintenance fees, fuel prices, and other expenses are all covered by MARAD.
It is possible to get two different sorts of exemptions. Each waiver offers an extra level of protection, and each waiver has its own set of restrictions. Which regulations will you be using to submit your application: the “documented vessel” rules or the “documented/documented auxiliary” rules? Or will it be covered by the “incidental, occasional, or emergency usage rule” as it now stands? However, even though each of these waivers is unique, they all provide exemptions from citizenship requirements that would otherwise prevent non-citizen mariners from working in a U.S. job aboard a vessel registered in the United States of America.
Gather All Necessary Supporting Documents
To complete your application, you’ll be required to provide several supporting papers, according to americanboating.org. The specifics may vary depending on your situation, but each shipping and transportation company must provide the following documents. The waiver is available to those who can demonstrate a permanent and complete incapacity via independent medical evaluation.
Anyone interested in applying must also provide evidence of income, defined by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as a gross household income (HHI) at or below the nonfarm poverty levels. It is also necessary to keep track of all of your expenditures. Your spouse’s W-2s and any business-related paperwork like a Schedule C should also be ready to submit. Other sources of income may also be requested, so be prepared to provide proof. Keep in mind that MARAD may request additional documents, so be prepared!
Complete And Submit the Application Form
Do you believe you fulfill the qualifying requirements? Good! When applying for a MARAD waiver, the following step has absolutely nothing to do with your application or boat. Every aspect of the process revolves on completing the appropriate application form. It is necessary to meet two prerequisites before even beginning the application process.
Before you have spent many hours (and countless money) studying and preparing your yacht for its journey, the MARAD waiver application form is straightforward to complete. However, bear in mind that the information included inside it is crucial to the processing of your inquiry. You should submit a waiver application form that is filled out and consists of all of the needed papers. This information contains your contact information, vessel use history, income sources, and other pertinent information.
Wait For a Response From MARAD
Once you’ve completed the processes outlined above, including submitting the permission request to the appropriate agency and attaching any extra supporting documentation, you may sit back and wait for a response. When submitting your waiver request to MARAD, you must estimate how long you anticipate waiting for a reply. It might take anything from 6-8 weeks to a month, and it could take even longer if you are requesting something from another country. Don’t forget that if you make your request during the Christmas season, the length of time it takes to get a response may be shortened for your convenience.
MARAD waivers are an excellent benefit for the proper candidate. At least two of the three qualifying conditions have to be met; revenue is significant, and there is room for improvement in the complicated billing system. To find out whether you fall into this category, speak with one of our experts. They’ll consult with you as part of their service to determine which exemptions are most suited to your scenario and your needs. To get started, give us a call at 1-800-535-8570 or email us.