DHS & DOS Case Processing & Travel Updates

Please note the following immigration benefit case processing and travel updates released by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of State (DOS):

• Effective March 16^th U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) allows ESTA/Visa Waiver Participants (VWP) who were admitted into the U.S. through John F. Kennedy International Airport, NY (JFK) or Newark Liberty International Airport, NJ (EWR), and who are unable to depart before their authorized 90-day period of stay ends due to COVID-19, to request “Satisfactory Departure.” Normally U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) reviews these request, however, CBP is authorized to adjudicate Satisfactory Departure requests in an emergency. 
  • Under Satisfactory Departure, a traveler may be granted 30 additional days of authorized stay in the U.S. if there is an emergency situation that prevents departure within the initial 90-day period of authorized stay. As long as a traveler leaves the U.S. within the additional 30-day period for Satisfactory Departure, then he or she will not be considered to have violated U.S. immigration laws by overstaying the initial 90-day authorized period. 
  • At this time eligible ESTA/VWP travelers who have periods of admission expiring within 14 days may apply for Satisfactory Departure by contacting the CBP Deferred Inspections office at the airport. Travelers should be prepared to provide their names, dates of birth, and passport information, and also provide flight itineraries showing original and updated flight information. 

• Effective March 18^th USCIS suspended routine in-person services until at least April 1, its staff will continue to perform duties, and emergency appointments may be provided for limited services through the USCIS Contact Center.
• Effective March 20^th, DHS suspended expedited premium processing for all I-129 non-immigrant visa petitions and for all I-140 immigrant visa petitions until further notice. Petitions already accepted for premium processing may be adjudicated within the 15-calendar day period, although, if no agency action occurs, USCIS will refund the expedited processing fee.  Petitions not yet accepted for premium processing will be rejected and returned, even if they were mailed before March 20^th.     
• Effective March 20^th, DOS suspended routine visa services at all U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide and will cancel all routine visa appointments. 
• Effective March 21^st, DHS is restricting all non-essential travel across both the U.S.-Canada and U.S.-Mexico land borders for a period of 30 days.

Given that this is a rapidly changing situation, please also refer to the following online resources, and be sure to review the “last updated” date:

• World Health Organization, Health Topics: Coronavirus
• U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Coronavirus Disease 2019
• U.S. Department of State: COVID-19 Country-Specific Information
• U.S. Department of Homeland Security: Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update
• U.S. Department of Labor: Coronavirus Resources