Thursday 29 July 1971 | St Thomas, US Virgin Islands → New York City
On 29 July 1971, John Lennon and Yoko Ono flew from St Thomas in the US Virgin Islands to New York City. The trip followed a custody hearing on 27 July for Ono’s eight-year-old daughter Kyoko Chan Cox, the child of Ono’s previous marriage to American film-maker Anthony Cox.
Lennon had previously informed US immigration officers that his plans were to fly on to New York “to promote American Business Interests and for Humanitarian reasons” — a formulation that reflected both the legal care required around his US immigration status and the breadth of his activities in America at this time.
The Kyoko Custody Battle
The custody of Kyoko Chan Cox was one of the most painful and protracted episodes of Yoko Ono’s life. Kyoko had been born in 1963 to Ono and her second husband, Anthony Cox. Following Ono’s relationship with Lennon and their marriage in 1969, Cox had taken Kyoko and effectively disappeared with her, moving between countries and evading court orders. Ono and Lennon pursued custody through the courts across multiple jurisdictions throughout the early 1970s.
The 27 July 1971 hearing in St Thomas was one episode in this long legal struggle. Despite the court proceedings, Cox continued to evade the orders, and Ono would not be reunited with Kyoko until the 1990s, when Kyoko — by then an adult — made contact with her mother of her own accord.
Lennon’s US Immigration Status
Lennon’s reference to “promoting American Business Interests and Humanitarian reasons” when speaking to immigration officers was not merely diplomatic language — it reflected the genuine complexity of his situation. Lennon had arrived in the United States in August 1971 and would apply for permanent residency, but his 1968 UK conviction for cannabis possession made him vulnerable to deportation under US immigration law.
The Nixon administration, alarmed by Lennon’s anti-war activism and his association with radical political figures, would initiate deportation proceedings against him in 1972. The resulting legal battle — which Lennon fought with the help of immigration attorney Leon Wildes — lasted until 1976, when Lennon was finally granted his green card. The careful language used with immigration officers in July 1971 was an early sign of the legal tightrope Lennon was walking.
New York in 1971
New York City was becoming the centre of Lennon’s world in 1971. He and Ono had first visited in late 1971 and would settle permanently in the city, eventually making their home at the Dakota Building on Central Park West. New York suited Lennon: it was a city where he could walk the streets with relative anonymity, engage with artists and activists, and pursue the political and creative work that defined his post-Beatles life.
The summer of 1971 was also the period in which Lennon recorded and released the Imagine album — one of the most celebrated solo records of the rock era. The album was recorded at Lennon’s Tittenhurst Park estate in England in May and June 1971 and released in September 1971, with the title track becoming one of the most recognised songs ever written.
Key Facts: 29 July 1971
| Date | Thursday 29 July 1971 |
| Route | St Thomas, US Virgin Islands → New York City |
| Travellers | John Lennon and Yoko Ono |
| Reason for St Thomas | Custody hearing for Kyoko Chan Cox, 27 July 1971 |
| Stated purpose to immigration | “To promote American Business Interests and for Humanitarian reasons” |
| Imagine album released | September 1971 |
St Thomas, US Virgin Islands — where John Lennon and Yoko Ono attended a custody hearing on 27 July 1971 before flying to New York City on 29 July.
John Lennon: Imagine Peace
The message that defined his New York years. Officially licensed John Lennon merch.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was John Lennon in St Thomas in July 1971?
John Lennon and Yoko Ono were in St Thomas in the US Virgin Islands for a custody hearing on 27 July 1971 relating to Ono’s daughter Kyoko Chan Cox, the child of her previous marriage to Anthony Cox. They flew to New York City on 29 July.
Who was Kyoko Chan Cox?
Kyoko Chan Cox was Yoko Ono’s daughter from her marriage to film-maker Anthony Cox, born in 1963. Following Ono’s relationship with John Lennon, Cox took Kyoko and evaded court custody orders for years. Ono was not reunited with Kyoko until the 1990s, when Kyoko — by then an adult — made contact with her mother.
Why did John Lennon face deportation from the United States?
Lennon’s 1968 UK conviction for cannabis possession made him vulnerable to deportation under US immigration law. The Nixon administration, alarmed by his anti-war activism, initiated deportation proceedings in 1972. Lennon fought the case with immigration attorney Leon Wildes and was finally granted his green card in 1976.
When did John Lennon move to New York?
John Lennon and Yoko Ono settled permanently in New York City in 1971, eventually making their home at the Dakota Building on Central Park West. Lennon was drawn to New York for its relative anonymity and its vibrant artistic and political culture.
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