ESTA authorization still pending manual review 90 hours after phone escalation

United States (B1/B2)
1

Hi everyone, logic check required. I applied for my ESTA four days ago using a newly issued passport. The initial status was “Authorization Pending,” which I understand is standard for the 72-hour window.

However, that window has passed. I called the CBP information line yesterday, and the agent stated they had “escalated the case to a supervisor for manual review.”

I need to be in San Francisco for a launch in 48 hours. Does anyone know the actual timeline for a decision after a phone escalation? Is the “escalation” real, or just a script? I need to decide whether to cancel my flight or keep waiting.

2

Realizing this is not about a standard pending status but a post-escalation scenario, here is the situation.

3

I was subjected to a comparable administrative hold during my last travel documentation process.

4

This does happen, especially with newly issued passports. Once an ESTA goes past the 72-hour window, it usually means it’s been flagged for manual review, and unfortunately phone “escalations” don’t come with a guaranteed or predictable timeline.

The escalation itself is real in the sense that a human will look at it, but it doesn’t speed things up in a measurable way. Decisions can still come through suddenly — hours or days later — or not before travel.

Practically speaking: if your ESTA isn’t approved before check-in, the airline won’t board you. If the trip is critical, it’s wise to have a backup plan ready. Waiting isn’t wrong, but it’s not something you can reliably plan around.