I applied for an ESTA 2 weeks ago, wanting to travel to the USA for Christmas, to see my American spouse. It was approved, but today, one day before my flight leaves, I get an email saying that the status of my application has changed. When I log in to https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/ and click on "check ESTA status", the website says "Application expired". No explanation, no nothing........ It is supposed to last for 2 years. I suspect it is covid related, but can't find anything about tighter travel restrictions when googling. It does not say "cancelled" or "revoked", but only "application expired". On the webpage it says "the 3 possible responses to an ESTA applications are: "authorization approve", travel not "authorized" and "authorization pending"". It says nothing about "expired". I tried calling the US embassy, but they are closed on weekends......My plane leaves tomorrow morning. Should I get on it? Will they let me board? Help! : )

Edit:
On https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/faq?lang=en
It says "Details entered to retrieve an application must exactly match the information entered in the ESTA application. Any discrepancy between information entered to retrieve an application and the information entered in the application itself will result in a No Application Found or Application Expired message."
I am positive I am using the same numbers though (tried both the application number and the passport dates), and in any case, this does not explain why I got an email about a change of status.

Is there not a help line number you can call?

Edit: You may call the CBP Info Center at (202) 325-8000 or 1-877-227-5511. The CBP Info Center will only be able to answer general questions regarding ESTA.

(Also read something that said if you’ve used the same email address for a previous ESTA, you might get an email saying that has expired. Could that be the case?).

Thanks!

I called the number you suggested and they said that although the ESTA was cancelled (not sure why it was approved in the first place), I still have the right to enter as the spouse of a US citizen. I would have to talk to the airline at check-in and have them approve it with the US authorities, to be allowed to board. It may take some time though, and I risk not making the flight, so it was recommended that I talk to the airline beforehand, and get them to call the RCLG to get approval before the flight. The airlines had no idea what I was talking about though (both KLM, that I booked with, and Swiss, that ended up flying the first leg), and refused to do anything over the phone or email. Going to the airport early tomorrow morning, hoping for the best.

Take documents. Copy of marriage certificate and copy of your spouse's American passport.

Did they let you fly?