Biden Administration Action: Modified

Updates to National Interest Exceptions for Regional COVID Proclamations

This Biden administration action modifies the Trump-era policy identified in this entry.

On April 8, 2021, the State Department announced that immigrants, fiancé(e) visa holders, certain exchange visitors, and pilots and aircrew traveling to the United States for training or aircraft pickup, delivery, or maintenance are eligible for National Interest Exceptions to the geographic COVID Presidential Proclamations (9984, 9992, and 10143).

Biden Administration Action: Modified

Extension of Validity for NIEs for Travelers

This Biden administration policy modifies the Trump-era policy identified in this entry.

On July 6, 2021, the State Department announced the expansion of its national interest exceptions to a 12-month, multiple-entry validity, effective immediately.  Previously, these exceptions were valid for 30 days and a single entry. The policy change affects exceptions issued under all of the existing COVID-19 regional travel bans.

This new policy is effective immediately and also applies to exceptions issued in the last 12 months as long as the foreign national’s purpose of travel remains the same as when the exception was initially issued.

Biden Administration Action: Modified

A Proclamation on Advancing the Safe Resumption of Global Travel During the COVID-⁠19 Pandemic

This Biden administration policy modifies the Trump-era policy identified in this entry.

On October 25, 2021, the Biden administration issued executive order 10294, which removes country-by-country exceptions to the COVID-19 vaccination requirements for entry, and instead establishes exceptions based on the nonimmigrant's visa, whether vaccines are widely available in their country of origin, their membership in the armed forces or as vessel crew, whether they are old enough to receive a vaccine, whether they have medical reasons not to be vaccinated, or whether they are participating in a clinical trial. The executive order also carves out an exception for humanitarian reasons, decided by the CDC Director.

Biden Administration Action: Modified

National Interest Exception from Presidential Proclamation 10294

This Biden administration policy modifies the Trump-era policy identified in this entry.

On February 15, 2022, the Biden administration extended the national interest exception to include Ukrainian nationals who are 1.) traveling with a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident; 2.) physically present in Ukraine as of February 10, 2022, and 3.) otherwise possess valid travel documents for entry into the United States. This was extended to April 30, 2022.