{
  "id": "visa/esta-extension-visa-waiver",
  "signature": "AI tells a traveler on the US Visa Waiver Program (ESTA) that they can extend their 90-day stay by simply applying for a B-2 visa extension",
  "signature_zh": "AI 告诉持有美国免签计划（ESTA）的旅行者，他们可以通过申请 B-2 签证延期来延长 90 天停留",
  "regex": "(?i)(ESTA|Visa Waiver Program|VWP).*?(extend|extension|B-2|adjustment of status)",
  "domain": "visa",
  "category": "immigration_risk",
  "subcategory": null,
  "root_cause": "The US Visa Waiver Program (ESTA) allows a maximum 90-day stay with no extensions; applying for a B-2 visa extension while on ESTA is invalid because ESTA is not a visa, and any overstay or attempt to adjust status violates the program's terms, leading to a ban.",
  "root_cause_type": "generic",
  "root_cause_zh": "美国免签计划（ESTA）允许最长 90 天停留，且不可延期；在 ESTA 状态下申请 B-2 签证延期无效，因为 ESTA 不是签证，任何逾期居留或试图调整身份的行为都违反计划条款，会导致禁令。",
  "versions": [
    {
      "version": "ESTA",
      "introduced": null,
      "deprecated": null,
      "removed": null,
      "behavior_change": null,
      "status": "active"
    },
    {
      "version": "B-2 visitor visa",
      "introduced": null,
      "deprecated": null,
      "removed": null,
      "behavior_change": null,
      "status": "active"
    },
    {
      "version": "I-539",
      "introduced": null,
      "deprecated": null,
      "removed": null,
      "behavior_change": null,
      "status": "active"
    }
  ],
  "os_specific": {},
  "dead_ends": [
    {
      "action": "File Form I-539 (Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status) to extend the stay",
      "why_fails": "I-539 is only for visa holders (e.g., B-1/B-2), not for ESTA travelers; ESTA is a waiver of visa, and filing I-539 will be rejected, and the traveler may be considered to have violated status, leading to a ban.",
      "fail_rate": 0.95,
      "condition": "",
      "sources": []
    },
    {
      "action": "Leave the US for a day to Canada or Mexico and re-enter to reset the 90-day clock",
      "why_fails": "The US CBP considers this 'visa runs' as an attempt to circumvent the 90-day limit; re-entry may be denied, and the traveler's ESTA may be revoked.",
      "fail_rate": 0.85,
      "condition": "",
      "sources": []
    }
  ],
  "workarounds": [
    {
      "action": "Leave the US before the 90-day ESTA stay expires. If you need a longer stay, apply for a B-2 visitor visa from a US embassy before travel; B-2 allows up to 6 months and can be extended via I-539.",
      "success_rate": 0.9,
      "how": "Leave the US before the 90-day ESTA stay expires. If you need a longer stay, apply for a B-2 visitor visa from a US embassy before travel; B-2 allows up to 6 months and can be extended via I-539.",
      "condition": "",
      "sources": []
    },
    {
      "action": "If you have an emergency, contact CBP at the port of entry before the 90-day period ends; they may grant a one-time extension in rare cases, but this is not guaranteed.",
      "success_rate": 0.5,
      "how": "If you have an emergency, contact CBP at the port of entry before the 90-day period ends; they may grant a one-time extension in rare cases, but this is not guaranteed.",
      "condition": "",
      "sources": []
    }
  ],
  "workarounds_zh": [
    "在 ESTA 90 天停留期到期前离开美国。如果需要更长停留，请在旅行前从美国大使馆申请 B-2 访客签证；B-2 允许最长 6 个月停留，并可通过 I-539 延期。",
    "如果有紧急情况，在 90 天期限结束前联系入境口岸的 CBP；他们可能在极少数情况下批准一次性延期，但不保证。"
  ],
  "transition_graph": {
    "leads_to": [],
    "preceded_by": [],
    "frequently_confused_with": []
  },
  "official_doc_url": "https://www.cbp.gov/travel/international-visitors/visa-waiver-program",
  "official_doc_section": null,
  "error_code": "US_ESTA_EXTENSION",
  "verification_tier": "ai_generated",
  "confidence": 0.87,
  "fix_success_rate": 0.85,
  "resolvable": "true",
  "first_seen": "2024-02-10",
  "last_confirmed": "2024-06-01",
  "last_updated": "2024-06-01",
  "evidence_count": 1,
  "tags": [],
  "locale": "en",
  "aliases": []
}