My sense is that the travel bans and bans on the issuance of H-1B and L-1 visas will go away soon after Biden takes office (although they might be replaced by q

My sense is that the travel bans and bans on the issuance of H-1B and L-1 visas will go away soon after Biden takes office (although they might be replaced by quarantine requirements in the US). Regarding the NIEs, I agree, the process is very frustrating because the information is hard to come by and varies from Consulate to Consulate but based on my experience, NIEs to the ban on travel have been freely granted if one is returning to the same company and position in the US.