Thanks for the replies, everyone. A few more items:
1. Of course there are many offset approaches. I just used the one at JFK because I've flown it; and the question of "when to break it off" has actually come up.
2. Can anyone cite the reference for the answer "...Past the Final Approach Fix and runway in sight." It sounds reasonable.
3. An answer I've heard elsewhere is "...Arriving at Traffic Pattern Altitude." This would be at about 1500' agl for a jet.
4. I'm fairly certain at JFK the approach is for noise and not obstacles.
5. I know it's "only" a 9 degree offset, but especially with any crosswind, lining up with the runway at only a few hundred feet agl is quite challenging--and in VMC--unnecessary. Hence, I was hoping for an "official" answer letting us line up sooner.
Thanks again,
Mike