National Interest Exception - NIE

Exception from travel ban

Travelled to India on H-1B status, stamping done through NIE, job contract ended: What are the chances to get back to the U.S.?

2 years ago By Chief Editor

Question details

My friend had traveled to India in an emergency situation in April this year. Since the consulates were closed for so long, he could get his H-1 visa stamping done by an emergency appointment last month (through NIE) only. Now, his job contract ended here. What are his chances to come back to the U.S.? - Does he need to have a job with an offer letter before traveling back to the U.S. back?

FAQ Transcript

Unless you have a specific job in hand, the one that has been described in the H-1B you should not come back.

Note: Where transcribed from audio/video, this is a verbatim transcript of the referenced audio/video media delivered as oral communication, and, therefore, may not conform to written grammatical or syntactical form.

Success in requesting a National Interest Exception for a client with a valid H-1 visa

2 years ago By Chief Editor

In this case we assisted a client whose employee, with a valid H-1 visa stamped in this passport, traveled outside the U.S. and was unable to return due to the COVID 19 travel restrictions. We prepared a comprehensive letter with details about the petitioning employer, the specific project that the employee would be assigned to, and the urgency of the employee’s presence in the U.S., to the consulate requesting consideration under the National Interest Exception (NIE) for business travel to the U.S. for vital support of the U.S.

Nonimmigrant Visas

H-1B Visa

Immigration Law

J-1 exchange visitors and NIE (National Interest Exception)

3 years ago By Chief Editor

Question details

I am a Slovenian citizen, and I plan to do a 3-month student internship in the USA in December. I have everything arranged with my employer. The only question I have is, can I travel from the Schengen area on my J-1 visa? And if not, how can I come to the USA for my internship?

J-1 exchange visitors will be able to travel only if the visa is approved and they qualify for a national interest exception (NIE).

FAQ Transcript

H-1B visa and applying for National Interest Exception

3 years ago By Chief Editor

Question details

I am presently in the U.S. and will be visiting India to get my H-1B Visa stamped. As there are travel restrictions for passengers from India to the US, will I be allowed to enter the U.S. on an H-1B visa? Presently I am staying in the U.S. on OPT.

Unless you are covered by an exemption, you will have to apply for a national interest exception. Also, getting appointments for visa stamping is not particularly easy at the moment.

FAQ Transcript

Frequently Asked Questions on US Travel Ban

3 years ago By Rajiv S. Khanna

Note: For the NRI readers, The Economic Times has started an immigration helpdesk. A team of experts which includes Rajiv S. Khanna addresses the most pressing issues. Please see the link below.

F-1 Student Traveling Through Mexico to Avoid The India Travel Ban

3 years ago By Rajiv S. Khanna

Please find below my experience traveling on F-1 as a student from India to the US under covid-related travel restrictions.

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

3 years ago By Rajiv S. Khanna

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:

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