Cancelled Esta

Westin

I understand from a close friend that there are representatives from the US Department of Homeland Security stationed at LHR.

OP - forgive the blunt question but do you have a criminal conviction, or even an arrest. One that you did not declare on your ESTA application?

TELLIT01

Hopefully, once the OP does get clarification from the US Embassy assuming they are willing to discuss the situation, they will come back with an update.

People can be denied entry to the USA on the whim of the Immigration Officer at the arrival airport.  A friend of mine had a number of friends and relatives in the USA and visited frequently without problems.  Then he was turned around at the US airport because the Immigration Officer decided he'd been back and forth too often so couldn't be a genuine tourist.

DullGreyGuy

TELLIT01 said:

Hopefully, once the OP does get clarification from the US Embassy assuming they are willing to discuss the situation, they will come back with an update.

People can be denied entry to the USA on the whim of the Immigration Officer at the arrival airport.  A friend of mine had a number of friends and relatives in the USA and visited frequently without problems.  Then he was turned around at the US airport because the Immigration Officer decided he'd been back and forth too often so couldn't be a genuine tourist.

I've had two colleagues that have had challenges... one shared the name and dob of a prolific criminal, he used to carry a laminated copy of a newspaper that stated the criminal was jailed for 3 consecutive life sentences (or such). The other was more like your friend as he was the global "head of" for an American company so was frequently visiting his direct reports in the US. He ended up getting a second UK passport (one of the few countries that allow it) but then got stick from an immigration officer who recognised him but then was confused by a passport with no US entry stamps

FlorayG

Hm interesting...I've found reports of two other people recently having the exact same experience - denied boarding after receiving boarding passes. Both were Muslim and it seems the reason was 'we don't like the look of you'. Is the OP Muslim? Or some other 'perceived suspicious' ethnicity?
If this is so, would the unreasonable racism be covered by insurance?

noitsnotme

FlorayG said:

it seems the reason was 'we don't like the look of you'. 

What was the official reason given by the US Embassy?

FlorayG

"UK ministers are to demand an explanation from the US authorities as to why the British Muslim family was refused permission to fly to Los Angeles to visit Disneyland"
No official explanation supplied - same as for OP here

noitsnotme

FlorayG said:

No official explanation supplied - same as for OP here

We don't know if the OP has been to the embassy to find out the official reason yet.

The incident you're referring to appears to be from 9 years ago.

https://www.google.com/search?q=UK+ministers+are+to+demand+an+explanation+from+the+US+authorities+as+to+why+the+British+Muslim+family+was+refused+permission+to+fly+to+Los+Angeles+to+visit+Disneyland&oq=UK+ministers+are+to+demand+an+explanation+from+the+US+authorities+as+to+why+the+British+Muslim+family+was+refused+permission+to+fly+to+Los+Angeles+to+visit+Disneyland&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIGCAEQRRhA0gEIMTAwOGowajmoAgCwAgE&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

And there appears to have been more to it than "just being mulsim"...

"However, it has since emerged that a Facebook page claiming links to radical Islamist groups was set up by someone who has lived at the family's postal address, according to ITV News."

"It has also been suggested the move by US authorities could be due to Mr Mahmood's brother having been refused entry to Israel eight years ago, but no official explanation has been given by the US Embassy."

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3371472/David-Cameron-look-Muslim-family-banned-visiting-Disneyland-California-U-S-officials.html

FlorayG

My point was that it's not unique to have your ESTA rescinded in between check-in and boarding; there MUST be something transmitted to USA in between the two that flags up, although why that wouldn't be picked up on applying int he first place I can't imagine

400ixl

Just to close one point, there has been US Homeland security people in Heathrow and Manchester (and probably Gatwick) for years. This is not for immigration pre-clearance but for other purposes.

The other year going through Manchester they were stationed between UK security and the gates checking peoples ESTA status. They then stuck a sticker on your passport that was checked by the staff at the gate for boarding.

There could be multiple reasons for why an ESTA gets cancelled at various times, but unusual to be this late. Name matching to the no fly list could be one reason, but thats just speculation without the facts.

Travel insurance typically has exclusions for not having a valid visa for travel, likewise for travel companies and airlines. Appreciate you had everything in order that you could, so maybe you can get some sort of concession from someone. Very stressful, wish you all the best in getting some good will from the supply chain and that you can get a full visa and an explanation as to what happened.

DullGreyGuy

noitsnotme said:

FlorayG said:

No official explanation supplied - same as for OP here

We don't know if the OP has been to the embassy to find out the official reason yet.

Not sure what class of appointment it will be considered but the current wait time for a visitor visa is 110 days in London