National Interest Exemption for EU/Schengen -> USA

[wulffman89 4]

I renewed my O1b visa last June and have been patiently waiting until visa appointments open up at the American Consulate in Amsterdam to get my passport stamped. Finally, I'm able to visit the consulate on April 14!!! So I am thrilled to fly back to the Netherlands to renew (and see my mom after two years)...

 

Due to the Schengen-ban, I cannot fly back to the US once I'm in Europe, due to my status (temporary worker, O1B)

 

I requested a National Interest Exemption at the Consulate, to see if they can make sure to allow me entrance to the US again after renewing. This is what I received:

 

Quote

The NIE is processed at the time of the visa interview. There is no separate process.

Always such a nice and friendly response from government workers :-)))

 

Does anyone have experience with this process? I don't want to get stuck in the EU and be unable to fly back to my LA home.

 

Thank you!

[SalishSea 17,928]

1 hour ago, wulffman89 said:

I renewed my O1b visa last June and have been patiently waiting until visa appointments open up at the American Consulate in Amsterdam to get my passport stamped. Finally, I'm able to visit the consulate on April 14!!! So I am thrilled to fly back to the Netherlands to renew (and see my mom after two years)...

 

Due to the Schengen-ban, I cannot fly back to the US once I'm in Europe, due to my status (temporary worker, O1B)

 

I requested a National Interest Exemption at the Consulate, to see if they can make sure to allow me entrance to the US again after renewing. This is what I received:

 

Always such a nice and friendly response from government workers :-)))

 

Does anyone have experience with this process? I don't want to get stuck in the EU and be unable to fly back to my LA home.

 

Thank you!

Looks like you'll just have to apply at the time of the interview and hope for the best, but consider having a plan B to quarantine in some other country for two weeks if necessary.