ESTA travelers in the United States may request to remain in the US for an additional 30 days if they are unable to leave the US because of the coronavirus pandemic.
To do this, travelers must request Satisfactory Departure from USCIS, which allows for a 30 day extension of a traveler's US immigration status due to emergency situations. This will prevent travelers from accruing unlawful presence in the United States, which can prevent them from using ESTA or obtaining another US visa in the future.
If your ESTA is expiring and you cannot leave the US, please follow the following steps to request Satisfactory Departure:
Contact USCIS at I-800-375-5283 and speak with a customer service agent regarding your intent to request Satisfactory Departure
USCIS will provide you with an email address to contact with your name, contact information, intended travel dates, the reasoning behind your request, and a copy of your passport biographical page
USCIS will forward this email to the controlling USCIS Field Office, which will then review and email you a decision regarding your request
If you need to request Satisfactory Departure, or have already requested Satisfactory Departure and have additional questions, please feel free to Ayla Kremen Adomat, Esq. at ayla@adomatimmigration.com