Sailing from California to New Zealand

[mcarthur]

If your journey effectively means you've been in quarantine for 14 days (ie. sailing/motoring away from the rest of the world), then the hardest thing will be to overcome bureaucracy (assuming you're a NZ citizen or related). The rules about shutting borders don't take into account that it can take a long time - away from others - to get to a place. They generally are about someone flying in or cruise-shipping in (NZ), walking or driving (non-island countries). I doubt you'd find anyone at the moment willing to listen to reason, which would be that you've already been in quarantine for 2 weeks. Part of that reason is that NZ would be morally and (somewhat) internationally responsible to look after you if you did get sick (if non-citizen).

[Tillsbury]

Don’t even think about trying to sail to NZ now, or any of the pacific islands, unless you are citizens or permanent residents already. It’s not going to happen, probably for several months. If you try to sneak in you will not be treated compassionately either.

The islands in particular have some cases and very little medical capacity to deal with them.

[Island Time O25]

To OP:

From USCIS site:
"Satisfactory departure is a form of relief which exists only with respect to individuals admitted under the Visa Waiver Program. (See 8 CFR 217.3(a).)

Under 8 CFR 217.3(a) , a Visa Waiver Program (VWP) alien, who obtains a grant of satisfactory departure from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and who leaves during the satisfactory departure period, is deemed to not have violated his or her VWP admission. Thus, unlawful presence will not accrue during the satisfactory departure period, if the alien departs as required."

You'd have to call USCIS toll free #800-375-5283 and speak to an officer. If the 1st level officer can't or won't resolve/answer your specific concerns ask to speak to the 2nd level officer who usually can. Lately, even before this shutdown, they operated with a call back mode i.e. you leave your tel.# and the officer calls you back, usually within hours or by next day. This situation IMO qualifies as emergency on par with hospitalization, natural disaster, etc.

This section of the law is made specifically for VWP travelers.

Once you get a hold of USCIS officer he/she should be able to walk your through what you need to do at this point of your stay. Normally you would've made an INFOPASS appointment and deal with the emergency issue at the USCIS office face to face with an officer. Not sure how it would be done under the lockdown.

This section of the law is made specifically for VWP travelers.

Good luck and stay safe.

[Montanan]

A very short video with the simplest of guidance, please take it to heart as it is a truly heartfelt expression:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/coronavir...133550276.html