# USCG License with Green Card **URL:** \ **Category:** Professional Mariner Forum\ **Created:** [November 23, 2013, 2:36pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/uscg-license-with-green-card/11512 "2013-11-23T14:36:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jeroen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Jeroen](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Jeroen)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2013, 2:36pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/uscg-license-with-green-card/11512/1 "2013-11-23T14:36:51Z")
Good day everyone, I’m new to this forum so I hope I’m posting this in the right place. I’m a Dutch Engineer with Dutch 2nd Engineer unlim. III/2 license. Last year I married to my American wife and moved to the States, and obtained my US Green Card. I would like to participate in the US Economy and workforce and work on a US flagged ship. [B]Is is possible to obtain a USCG 3rd Engineer license with a Green Card or do I have to wait until I’m a US citizen? [/B]Thanks for your help. Regards, Jeroen ---
**Author:** ![Jemplayer](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/jemplayer/32/523_2.png) [@Jemplayer](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Jemplayer)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2013, 8:44pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/uscg-license-with-green-card/11512/2 "2013-11-23T20:44:46Z")
Have to wait till your a citizen,and I think you have to start all over again as the only thing you can carry over is your sea time since the CG does not recognize foreign issues license’s. ---
**Author:** ![powerabout](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/43a26b/32.png) [@powerabout](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/powerabout)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2013, 7:14am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/uscg-license-with-green-card/11512/3 "2013-11-24T07:14:50Z")
[QUOTE=Jemplayer;124962]Have to wait till your a citizen,and I think you have to start all over again as the only thing you can carry over is your sea time since the CG does not recognize foreign issues license’s.[/QUOTE] then how does a foreign ship arrive at a US port if they are all unlicensed? ---
**Author:** ![z-drive](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c37758/32.png) [@z-drive](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/z-drive)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2013, 7:42am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/uscg-license-with-green-card/11512/4 "2013-11-24T07:42:07Z")
You can work legally with the necessary paperwork as a resident alien but you need to be a citizen to get a license, (officer endorsement) but I don’t see why you couldn’t become one and work as a qmed in the meantime? There are plenty of foreigners that have become citizens and have licenses out there. Probably a situation where a license consultant with experience in these cases would be worthwhile! ---
**Author:** ![Hawespiper5](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/hawespiper5/32/37029_2.png) [@Hawespiper5](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Hawespiper5)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2013, 8:27am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/uscg-license-with-green-card/11512/5 "2013-11-24T08:27:19Z")
[QUOTE=“powerabout;124984”] then how does a foreign ship arrive at a US port if they are all unlicensed?[/QUOTE] Your kidding, right? ---
**Author:** ![Tugs](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/tugs/32/158_2.png) [@Tugs](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Tugs)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2013, 8:36am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/uscg-license-with-green-card/11512/6 "2013-11-24T08:36:19Z")
[QUOTE=Hawespiper5;124990]Your kidding, right?[/QUOTE] I’m thinking he is. ---
**Author:** ![powerabout](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/43a26b/32.png) [@powerabout](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/powerabout)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2013, 2:57pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/uscg-license-with-green-card/11512/7 "2013-11-24T14:57:14Z")
ya a joke at the quote ‘the USCG doesnt recognise foreign licenses’ ---
**Author:** ![z-drive](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c37758/32.png) [@z-drive](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/z-drive)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2013, 3:35pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/uscg-license-with-green-card/11512/8 "2013-11-24T15:35:35Z")
Just a few items of discussion: > 46 U.S.C. 8103(a) states that only a citizen of the United States may serve as master, chief engineer, radio officer, or officer in charge of a deck watch or engineering watch on a vessel documented in the United States. Section 8103(b) further states that each unlicensed seaman must be a citizen of the United States or an alien lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence, and not more than 25 per cent of the total number of unlicensed seamen on the vessel may be permanent resident aliens. 43 U.S.C. 1356 also imposes U.S. citizenship requirements on U.S. vessels and certain foreign vessels engaged in Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) activities on waters above our OCS. > Foreign Sea Service. Experience or service acquired on foreign vessels is creditable, subject to evaluation by the OCMI. It must be a fair and reasonable equivalent to service acquired on merchant vessels of the United States with respect to grade, tonnage, horsepower, waters and operating conditions. An applicant who has obtained qualifying experience on foreign vessels shall submit satisfactory documentary evidence of such service (including any necessary translation into English) in a form that satisfies the OCMI as to the authenticity of the service. An original license or certificate of registry shall not be issued to any naturalized citizen on less experience in any grade of capacity than would have been required of a United States citizen by birth. Also, a U.S. license will not be issued in a grade higher than that upon which he or she has actually served while acting under the authority of a foreign license or in a higher grade than the foreign license the applicant holds. > The Coast Guard will not approve any course taught outside the territory of the United States, either by schools or institutions incorporated in a foreign country or by U.S. owned/operated schools or institutions. However, training courses offered in schools whose states are on the “white list” maintained by the IMO, will be accepted to satisfy STCW training requirements provided training does not lead to certification or licensing. A U.S. owned or operated training institution desiring to offer training outside the United States, must obtain the approval of that country’s administration. ] ---
**Author:** ![catherder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e56c9b/32.png) [@catherder](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/catherder)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2013, 5:05pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/uscg-license-with-green-card/11512/9 "2013-11-24T17:05:17Z")
[QUOTE=Tugs;124991]I’m thinking he is.[/QUOTE] Not to worry. I think Ron White and Dave Chappelle’s careers are safe. ---
**Author:** ![flyboy14295](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47c2d/32.png) [@flyboy14295](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/flyboy14295)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2013, 5:36pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/uscg-license-with-green-card/11512/10 "2013-11-24T17:36:02Z")
[QUOTE=“z-drive;125010”]Just a few items of discussion: [/QUOTE] So this basically answers the question. He can get a license, as long as the CG approves all of his sea service, and he gets citizenship first. ---
**Author:** ![Seancro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@Seancro](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Seancro)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2013, 7:13pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/uscg-license-with-green-card/11512/11 "2013-11-24T19:13:55Z")
[QUOTE=z-drive;125010][I]The Coast Guard will not approve any course taught outside the territory of the United States, either by schools or institutions incorporated in a foreign country or by U.S. owned/operated schools or institutions. However, training courses offered in schools whose states are on the “white list” maintained by the IMO, will be accepted to satisfy STCW training requirements provided training does not lead to certification or licensing. A U.S. owned or operated training institution desiring to offer training outside the United States, must obtain the approval of that country’s administration. ][/I]:[/QUOTE] I’ll be in a similar situation once my visa gets approved to marry my fiance and move to the US. I’ll have my transport Canada 150gt Master certificate along with the necessary STCW BST, SC and AFF. I’ve known all I can get with a green card is AB, but this writing about STCW is news to me, and a little confusing. Canada is white list, so would I be able to credit my BST and SC towards my AB? For those who don’t know, once on a greencard one must wait 3 years before getting full citizenship and therefore an actual licensed rating.