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For Foreign Visitors Who Are Unable to Depart the U.S. due to COVID-19
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A problem striking many foreign visitors during the current COVID-19 pandemic is the inability to depart the U.S. before the expiration of their authorized period of stay. Upon entry to the U.S. as a visitor for tourism or for business, the Customs and Border Protection Officers generally grant an authorized stay of 90 days, for those entering on the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), or 6 months, for those using a B-1/B-2 visa. The exact expiration date of the authorized period of stay can vary, and it is the responsibility of the visitor to be compliant. If the visitor overstays this authorized period, they could be subject to strict consequences, including difficulty with future visa applications and be barred from entry for up to 10 years. The visitor can and should always check the details of their authorized stay here, by pulling their most recent Form I-94.
However, departing the U.S. in compliance with these requirements can be difficult if not impossible under this pandemic. Many flights are cancelled.  Some borders here and abroad are closed. Moreover, the health risks of traveling with other potentially contagious members of the public are substantial.
For visitors who entered the U.S. on ESTA, Customs and Border Protection and the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services have issued guidance clarifying that individuals who are unable to depart the U.S. due to the pandemic can request a form of relief called Satisfactory Departure. This request extends the visitor’s authorized period of stay in 30-day increments beyond their original expiration date. For visitors who entered the U.S. using a B-1/B-2 visa, an official application may be filed with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, requesting an extension of stay up to six months in duration.
Ensuring that the required extension is filed prior to the visitor’s expiration of authorized stay is key to maintaining a lawful immigration status and avoiding future immigration and travel problems. Our offices are currently open, and we offer video conference and teleconference consultations. If you have any questions about extending your stay in the U.S. as a visitor on ESTA or B-1/B-2, please do not hesitate to reach out and make an appointment.
What Our Clients Say
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Brittni has been very helpful throughout the process.
They are extremely professional and help properly. They applied my parents waiver i601 and we are hoping we soon get result in our favour. Thank you
Awesome and great work from Kevin and Aleksandra.
Justin is an exceptional immigration lawyer, and his staff runs the law firm with professionalism. I am a very satisfied client, and thanks to Justin's commitment and expertise, my son successfully won his case. I am truly grateful for everything he has done for my son. Highly recommended
I saw Justin Burton today and I was impressed with his professionalism and ability to get me to feel positive, after several other attorneys made me feel negative and got me to believe it will never be possible to get my Greencard. Looking forward to getting the results I was told!!
I met with attorney Matthew and he was great, we didn't feel rushed and he explained everything in detail, parking wasn't the best I parked in a parking garage for an hour $39.00 definitely better to take public transportation.
When I first came to Kevin, my case had been stuck in limbo for over 12 long years. I had previously worked with other attorneys who were unable to make any real progress. I was feeling frustrated and hopeless. But Kevin immediately put me at ease with his calm, professional demeanor and confident grasp of the legal issues. He worked diligently to untangle the complex details of my case and…
Best immigration attorney around!!
I had an outstanding experience with Kriezelman Burton & Associates (particularly Brittni), whose expertise and dedication made my immigration process seamless and stress-free. Their deep knowledge of immigration law, combined with personalized attention to my case, ensured a smooth journey from start to finish. I highly recommend Kriezelman Burton & Associates to anyone seeking reliable and professional immigration assistance.
The first time I saw Attorney Rivera was in March 2019. I went to her office 3 times and I was able to send most of the documents via email. We started the process of my case, and I had the opportunity to make the payment in installments which was very helpful 🙏🏼 As time passed, COVID came and things got a little complicated, even so I always received information…
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