National Interest Exception Application Information
Updated Travel Information Regarding U.S. Travel Restrictions to IAAPA EXPO (10/18/2021)
Limitations on international travel for IAAPA Expo participants attending the events on November 15-19, 2021 in Orlando, Florida will be lifted as of November 8, 2021. More information on which vaccines are accepted and how to communicate such information will be shared as soon as it becomes available in the IAAPA Expo Details & Logistics page. We encourage members to make their travel plans ASAP due to limited flight availability.
Any member who is arriving prior to Nov. 8 from an affected region will need to apply for a National Interest Exception (NIE) with your local consulate. The information below will walk you step-by-step through what specific documentation and information you need to submit a valid and effective NIE application.
If you have previously contacted IAAPA for help in this process, more information will be shared with you directly via email.
Step 1: Documentation Requirements
You must have the following scanned documentation to submit an NIE application:
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Current visa or ESTA authorization
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Current passport photo page
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Current proof of vaccination
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Proposed travel dates and/or a copy of your current flight itinerary
Step 2: Exception Conditions and Categories
The exception is for, “those traveling to provide vital support or executive direction for significant economic activity in the United States.” Therefore, your application must include how your organization’s participation in the IAAPA Expo specifically contributes to that goal in one or more of the following ways:
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You must explain and provide specific examples about how your organization positively contributes to the U.S. economy, and how your attendance at IAAPA Expo is essential to accomplishing that goal (Click Here For Guidance and Examples To Use)
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You must explain and provide examples of how your organization directly contributes to the health, safety, and protection of attractions industry facilities, workers, and consumers and how your attendance at IAAPA Expo is essential to accomplishing that goal (Click Here For Guidance and Examples To Use)
We urge you to use the examples provided above when writing your application. Additionally, as stated in Step 1 above, you must also include an IAAPA Expo Invitation and NIE Request Letter with your application.
Step 3: Submit Your Application
The process to apply for an NIE varies by country. We encourage international members to visit their home country’s consulate to fully understand the steps required and to submit applications to the appropriate office.
Resources
To help members with this process, we have several resources available:
