Extending ESTA/Visa Waiver Participants’ Periods of Admission
Individuals admitted under the VWP/ESTA program who find themselves unable to depart the U.S, before their current period of admission will end because of COVID-19 related issues who were admitted to the U.S. through John F. Kennedy International Airport, NY (JFK) and Newark Liberty International Airport, NJ (EWR) only can contact the Deferred Inspections office at JFK, starting Monday, March 16, 2020, Monday – Friday, 9am to 4pm ET and request Satisfactory Departure for up to 30 days. Individuals or their attorneys will need to provide the affected individual’s name, Date of Birth (DOB) and passport information at the time of the request. Individuals and their attorneys may be asked to provide the original departure flight itinerary along with the new flight itinerary.
Individuals and their attorneys are permitted to request Satisfactory Departure if the individual’s period of stay will expire in 14 days or less from the day he or she contacts JFK Deferred Inspections. If their period of VWP/ESTA admission has expired, the decision to grant satisfactory will be considered on a case by case basis.
To contact JFK Deferred Inspection to make the Satisfactory Departure Request use the numbers below:
(718) 553-3683 or (718) 553-3684 Monday – Friday, 9am to 4pm ET
Please see additional regulatory information about Satisfactory Departure below. The CBP Liaison Committee is reaching out to CBP HQ to request all ports of entry implement a similar process to JFK and we will provide updated information about additional ports as soon it is available.