National Interest Exceptions (NIE) Valid For 12 Months And Multiple Entries

On July 6, 2021, the  U.S. State Department  announced that National Interest Exceptions (NIEs) to Presidential Proclamations 9984 (China), 9992 (Iran), 10143 (Brazil, South Africa, the Schengen area, the United Kingdom, & Ireland), and 10199 (India) issued by the State Department will be valid for 12 months from the date of approval and for multiple entries. This announcement also applies to “similar subsequent” Presidential Proclamations that may be issued in the future in connection to COVID-19 travel restrictions.

Previously, the NIEs were only valid for 30 days and for a single entry. Further, the State Department confirmed that the “12 month and multiple entry extension applies retroactively to all existing National Interest Exceptions approved in the last 12 months.” This means that individuals who have already obtained a NIE within the last 12 months should no longer need to reapply for a new NIE “if the purpose of travel is the same as the purpose for which