Scotland fan Ivan Ralph was told how his Esta was revoked at the last minute – despite him travelling to the USA three times in the last year.
Ivan, 57, was devastated to discover that the crucial visas waiver to get him to Boston and beyond was cancelled – despite him enjoying a trip to Boston last summer, where he enjoyed a pint in his Scotland jersey.
The lawyer, from Edinburgh, also enjoyed visits to the Ryder Cup and then the Masters in April this year, all with no hitch at immigration.
Ivan is stunned at the way his presence in the States has suddenly been viewed so negatively now he’s a member of the Tartan Army travelling support.
He is one of many Tartan Army foot soldiers who are now trying to desperately salvage what they can from the once-in-a-lifetime World Cup trips that have cost them tens of thousands of pounds.
View 5 ImagesIvan Ralph at the Ryder Cup – no problem getting through customs on same Esta last summer
Ivan said: “I would have to say I was pretty upset when I saw that my Esta status was suddenly changed to ‘not authorised, given the fact I’ve travelled to America three times in a the past year. It makes no sense.
“I’m 57-years-old and I recall speaking to friends who said Scotland’s last World Cup in France 28 years ago was the best trip of their lives.
“So I made a big commitment for this one to enjoy it with my son and daughter and friends I’ll meet over there. This has been a massive setback but I do aim to salvage as much as I can and I’ve been very busy trying to overcome all the hurdles that have been put before me at the last minute.”
Ivan suspects a historic motoring offence may lie behind the last gasp change of status and wonders if the World Cup has simply brought a higher level of screening.
View 5 ImagesIvan Ralph with wife Katy in New York in October 2025 – he travelled on same Esta that has now been revoked
He has managed to arrange a visa interview in Belfast on Friday, by which time he hopes to have received a crucial ACRO criminal background check.
If the visa is granted on Friday he then has to work out if it is best for him to travel back to Belfast to collect the passport or to await it arriving by post.
Ivan will lose thousands of pounds spent on business class flights to the USA and will have to arrange fresh flights as soon as he knows he has a rock solid visa in place.
He is supposed to be hosting a table at a charity event in Boston at the weekend – which he will now miss out on.
Son Archie, 21, and daughter Katy, 32, will head out to Boston ahead of him and hope he gets there eventually.
He said: “I did not even consider simply turning up to board my original flight, as the Esta status on the immigration portal was quite emphatic.
“I’ve just got down to concentrating on all the things I have to make this trip happen and to make the most of what I have left. I have ‘follow my team’ tickets, so I will be three to the end and I’ll be hoping Scotland keep the dream going as long as possible.”
View 5 ImagesPresident Donald Trump last week(Image: Mandel NGAN / AFP via Getty Images)
Other Tartan Army members have reported similar “nightmares” hitting their dream trips, despite having no criminal record. It has been claimed that Donald Trump’s tightening of borders may have brought about tighter checks, with no quarter given for those coming to the World Cup.
US immigration rules require travellers seeking Estas to declare any previous convictions that caused “harm to persons or property.
Visa applications refer to and actions of “moral turpitude” – which might have called into question honesty.
For the many Scots whose status has been changed to “pending” or “not authorised” it is likely that manual checks have been taking place on their criminal past.
Fans thrown into crisis have not been given any explanation by US embassy officials. They have simply been told to apply for a visa interview, with this prompt coming too late to save the travel plans for many.
View 5 ImagesKenny Smith fears his World Cup will be torpedoes by last minute Esta cancellation
Among those to share Ivan’s despair is security firm boss Kenny Smith, from Inverness, who was on the brink of giving up after the visa was withdrawn at too late a stage for him to make his flight on Thursday.
Like Ivan, Kenny has travelled to the USA on the same Esta previously – and he cannot understand why he is now being told he can’t travel.
Article continues below
The Daily Record has asked the US Embassy for comment but we have heard nothing back.
Get Daily Record Premium for just £1 per month in exclusive offer to celebrate the world cup. Click HERE.