F Visa Blog Entries

Business or Employment Related Travel to the USA During Ban - National Interest Exception NIE

The travel bans necessitated by the COVID pandemic have created much flux and uncertainty. Synthesizing the information now finally available from various US government sources, it is clearer now that many intending travelers can seek and obtain an exemption from the ban under a series of provisions for a National Interest Exception (NIE).

 

Do you Qualify for an NIE?

 

You should be able to apply for an NIE to overcome the ban on travel to the USA if you meet any one or more of the following categories:
 

Third Party Site Placements for F-1 STEM OPT Extensions

 
On 17 August 2018, DHS purported to "clarify" that subject to certain conditions, placement of students engaging in two-year extension of their practical training (STEM OPT extension) at third-party sites may be acceptable if appropriate conditions are met.

A careful review of these appropriate conditions leads to the inescapable conclusion that very little has really changed.