Hundreds of Scotland fans have discovered that their Visa waivers have been cancelled by US immigration officials with no explanation, with many only realising the issue after reading media reports. The Daily Record has been flooded with messages from frantic supporters who are now at risk of missing the World Cup.
Fans in Panic as ESTAs Revoked
John Paul McShane’s family of seven are all likely to miss out on the holiday of a lifetime after his Esta was blocked. He said: "We are a Family of seven travelling to multiple cities in America for the World Cup, then a cruise that departs from Miami. All booked following approval. No criminal record. I don’t post on SM and have never travelled to any banned countries. Now the family won’t travel without me. It’s absolutely criminal."
Chris Cunningham added: "Mine changed to pending last week and changed to travel not authorised last night. Was meant to fly out tomorrow morning and don’t have time to sort a visa." Andrew Hamilton said: "Checking mine hourly in case it gets changed. If it changes now, I won’t be flying out on Thursday and will lose a fortune."
Visa Application Delays
Some fans arranged visa application interviews in Belfast and London, only to be told they would need ACRO criminal record checks before any new visa can be issued. Those checks can take weeks, by which time the World Cup will be finished. Brandon Coghill only found out he had been blocked on Monday. He said: "Earliest they could give me was Friday am, despite only changing my status yesterday at 4pm and my flight out was meant to be tomorrow afternoon. I’m getting absolutely nowhere with anyone I’ve tried to engage with."
Security Firm Boss Speaks Out
Kenny Smith, a security firm boss from Inverness, told the Record on Monday how he was not given enough notice to organise a new visa before his flight on Thursday. He said: "I don’t get the rigmarole people have to go through, and it’s not just me, there are hundreds of others. I’ve taken phone calls from people who are pulling their hair out. A family in Dumfries, their son is 15-years-old and going through leukaemia, and the mother has had her ESTA revoked. It’s horrendous. We need to shout this up to the very top of the US government. Donald Trump, Keir Starmer and John Swinney - this needs to change, you need to take action. King Charles we’re looking at you as well, if you can sort out the whisky tariffs, then you can sort this out as well."
Political Response
The scandalous treatment of Scotland fans led to John Swinney issuing a plea to the US Embassy in London to allow the Tartan Army to travel. Speaking at Holyrood, Swinney said: "I am aware that the United States embassy has issued advice to individuals affected by ESTA refusals, indicating that they may apply for a visa through the Fifa pass system, and I have asked officials to convey our hope that they can resolve this so that Scotland’s fans do not miss out. I have asked for specific representations and engagement to be taken forward with the Consul General of the United States in Scotland and that has been undertaken, and we will do all that we can to help out to resolve these issues."
The US embassy in London has been contacted for comment.
