Tartan Army stalwarts caught up in a red-tape visa wrangle have been told they need to get new criminal background checks done – that can take weeks to complete. Now Scotland fans have begged Donald Trump to step in and help them get to the World Cup.
The Daily Record revealed last week that hundreds of Scotland fans hoping to head to the US have had their electronic system for travel authorisation (Esta) waivers revoked by the US government. Now fans have been told that they will need to provide a new criminal background check called an ACRO – supplied by the Association of Chief Police Officers Criminal Records Office.
But they can’t get these background checks completed until well after Scotland’s game against Haiti – with thousands of pounds already spent on flights to the US. Last night Scotland fan Kenny Smith told of his anger at being told he now needs a new background check.
View 6 ImagesAn ESTA determines the eligibility of visitors to travel to the US under the Visa Waiver Program.(Image: Getty Images)
And he appealed to US President Donald Trump – whose mum was Scottish – to step in to help stranded Tartan Army footsoldiers. Kenny said: “I would appeal directly to Donald Trump to make an intervention.
“I can’t think for the life of me that Trump – who is very proud of his Scottish roots – would want the Tartan Army to be treated like this. We have a situation where so many Scots seem to be barred for the World Cup for no reason and no-one has heard of a single England fan facing this visa hell.
“This is also puzzling, as the Tartan Army is renowned for bringing so much fun and positivity to the proceedings.”
View 6 ImagesScotland team is already stationed in the USA and making final preparations for match with Haiti
He added: “The glaring solution to all this is to allow people who were given last minute Esta revocations the chance to apply for them again. Someone in US immigration – or Donald himself – should surely be able to give the go-ahead for this.”
Security firm boss Kenny, 45, secured an emergency appointment at the US Embassy in London after his ESTA was revoked at the last minute, for no reason, last week. Musician Kenny, from Inverness, has no prior convictions and has undergone enhanced background checks with the MOD and Disclosure Scotland due to the nature of his job.
But Kenny – a member of popular folk rock band Torridon – was told by US embassy officials he needs an ACRO record check with no possibility of getting this done before his flight is due to fly to Boston on Thursday, ahead of the crunch match against Haiti on Sunday morning. Like many other Scotland fans, Kenny has been left high and dry because the Esta he was granted many months ago allowed travel to the USA without any ACRO checks.
View 6 ImagesKenny Smith(yellow shirt) with friends Iain(L) and Caroline and Ruaraidh Campbell World Cup ESTA row –
Kenny said: “The whole thing has been like a bad dream, where I’ve been made powerless to speak to anyone who can make a decision that helps me. How could I ever think there would be a problem with the Esta. I travelled to New York in November with my wife and we had no trouble at all.
“It now seems that my Esta was cancelled and hers is still showing as perfectly valid.”
To rub salt in the wounds, Kenny has been told that trips that are cancelled due to visa problems are not covered by insurance. He said: “The trip has cost me around £15,000 before all the extra cost of emergency flights to London.
“I’ve been left holding my passport, which I’d need to hand over the US Embassy to have the visa added. I’ve been in limbo, desperate to get to the States after making all the big plans yet not knowing what on earth I can do to sort it out.”
Kenny has wondered if his membership of a band might have been caused the Esta problem. He said: “I’ve racked my brain and wondered if they thought I might be going to the USA to work but that’s not even on the agenda.
“All I’m after is someone to come up with a common sense, human response. I have proof that I have no criminal record and I could not be regarded as a threat to US security. But the computer seems to be saying no and I really hope someone can overrule it.”
The ACRO check is supplied by the Association of Chief Police Officers Criminal Records Office. The US Embassy insists on this for UK citizens who seek full visas.
View 6 ImagesWorld Cup ESTA row – Kenny Smith (middle) with Ally McCoist at Euro Championships in Germany
Most trips do not need full visas, as the ESTA visa waiver is designed to make travel between the UK and USA easier. Kenny has also passed Disclosure and Barring Service checks, which are required for any companies that may work with the MOD in the UK.
Kenny’s nightmare began when he discovered his Esta had been revoked last week. He applied for a visa but was initially offered an appointment on June 26 – the day after his flight home.
After his meeting was re-arranged for Monday, he hoped he’d be breathing a sigh of relief by the end of it. But his hopes were rocked again by the rigid attitude of immigration officials who interviewed him.
The White House announced in December that it was planning to include social media checks in the travel authorisation process. It is not known if this happened.
View 6 ImagesDonald Trump(Image: Getty)
The Daily Record has contacted the US Embassy in relation to Kenny’s case and other Tartan Army members. We reported last week how dozens of supporters have said on social media that their Estas unexpectedly changed from “approved” to “travel not authorised”, with no explanation provided.
Lauren Bis, the acting assistant secretary for the US Department of Homeland Security, said: “The Trump administration is enforcing immigration laws. Under the visa waiver programme, all Esta applications are continuously vetted against law enforcement and security databases.
“Travellers must provide complete and truthful information, including all criminal history. Failure to disclose arrests or convictions constitutes misrepresentation and can lead to Esta denial, revocation, or a permanent bar from entering the United States. An approved Esta does not guarantee admission.”
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