"NIE," the German word for "never," is an abbreviation for the National Interest Exception. Applicants must prove and justify that their entry into the United States is a matter of national interest in order to be exempted from the U.S. entry bans and get a waiver. It requires a 1 - 1.5 page letter, which should include the following points:

• Existing Agreement between with U.S. company
• U.S. company is part of critical infrastructure sectors or critical infrastructure-linked supply chain. This includes chemical, communications, dams, defense industrial base, emergency services, energy, financial services, food and agriculture, government facilities, healthcare and public health, information technology, nuclear reactors, transportation, and water systems
• Traveler must seek to provide vital support for this company, which can be supported by possible loss of profit leading to existential threats to company or employees.
• You need to provide a detailed description of the work. From the consular guidelines: “your letter should describe how technical experts and specialists are required to install, service, maintain, or receive training for vessels, machinery and other specialized equipment used by u.s. and foreign firms with a substantial investment in the united states."


• You must show why the work cannot be done remotely (e.g. by telephone or videocall).
• Provide an estimate of the time you need to spent in the U.S.

The application should be submitted to the U.S. Consulate General, which normally processes it within a couple of days.

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