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You can apply for NIE in the public health category if your purpose of travel is to curb the Novel Coronavirus pandemic or to continue the research for considerable public health benefit (e.g., cancer or a communicable disease). You can apply for NIE as a medical escort, legal guardian, or any other escort if you are required by an airline or a foreign medical or law enforcement entity to accompany a US citizen (minor or adult) from India to the US.
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This comes under the ‘humanitarian travel’ category. You can seek NIE approval if your purpose of travel is to provide care for a US citizen, lawful permanent resident, or a non-immigrant in lawful status (who must be a close family member). In this category, close family members accompanying the principal applicant are also eligible for NIE. You can apply for NIE approval on grounds of seeking lifesaving medical treatment in the United States. Those who want to travel to the US for one of the following purposes: Many individuals, among H1B, H4, L1 and L2 visa holders, working in any of the 16 critical infrastructure sectors (listed by the Department of State) have been granted an NIE to travel back to the US. We actively monitor ongoing updates for global consulates and immigration issues.However, the Department of State provides the National Interest Exception (NIE), a special entry permit, allowing those stuck or stranded in India to fly back to America, given their humanitarian activities or service in critical infrastructure sectors including national security, public health care, and information technology. If you have questions about a drop box appointment or any immigration-related issue, contact us at ILBSG. The list of locations is available online. Once you determine if you are eligible, schedule an appointment for the document drop-off. To determine eligibility, please check with your local embassy or consulate, or on the Travel Doc website for India. The Drop Box appointments are available for a limited number of renewals of H, L, C1/D, O, I, F, M, and J visas at designated Visa Application Centers. With the removal of the ‘coming soon’ statement, it is possible that additional appointments are now available. Originally, appointment availability was announced in January 2022 and stated that they would become available in Spring 2022. Embassy site removed the ‘coming soon’ statement from the Indian embassy webpage regarding the 20,000 Drop Box appointments.
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