Originally Posted by
Union Jack
...who tried valiantly by telephone to persuade the resident US Homeland Security team that they should be allowed to travel, but to no avail. The Homeland Security team did, however, take the trouble to pass on via the BA supervisor a preferred email contact in the US Embassy to whom they said formal application should be made for a visa waiver or a National Interest Exception (NIE) in the hope that that approach might prove more fruitful.
They apparently struck whilst the iron was hot by submitting such an application on Sunday, but have now heard through a genuinely fairly personal and courteous email that they regrettably still do not come up to the bar, which is quite interesting since I had felt that they had a reasonably strong case. ...
Regrettably, no response was received as to whether they could or should reapply for a new ESTA.....
In summary, the original ESTA emails were indeed kosher, the bar for the award of a visa waiver or an NIE is and remains very high but, like so many things in life, it can be worth a try.
Not sure, what do you see as a strong case? Dying close relatives are a sad one, more usual for NIE is dealing with investments of at least 7 figure sums in the US, some military ... and I know of an owner of several houses that needed major repairs who was granted an NIE to his surprise. Another one, wanting to build a pool for 20,000 USD was not eligible.
It sounds like a fairly tough undertaking to provide the intensive paperwork for an NIE on the spot at the airport.