During this time, CBP is accepting I-193 waiver of visa applications for urgent travel to the U.S. for travelers affected by the technical difficulties preventing visa issuance. Applicants who urgently need to travel will be required to contact the post where they would have applied for the visa, or the post where the application is pending in cases where the interview has already taken place, and explain why they need to urgently travel without the visa. If the post agrees that the reason for travel is sufficiently urgent and the applicant is eligible (no criminal, immigration issues, etc.), the post will issue a travel letter, which then must be presented to CBP with the I-193 application. While business cases will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis, the Department of State (DOS) is prioritizing humanitarian cases.

It is important to note that anyone who has an application pending and requests his or her passport returned in order to travel to the U.S. using the I-193 waiver of visa, or to travel to a destination other than the U.S., will have the visa application refused under INA §221(g). DOS has advised that the refusal will be treated as overcome once the visa is issued; however, the applicant will always be required to disclose the previous INA §221(g) refusal on all subsequent visa applications and on any future ESTA applications. DOS has also advised that the INA §221(g) refusal should not preclude ESTA travel when appropriate in future; however, this will be up to CBP to review when adjudicating the ESTA application. So be mindful of this consequence.