Refused entry despite B1

[sanfairyanne 0]

I was refused entry to the States back in March 2020. I attempted to board a plane at Manchester Airport in the UK but was told I could not board. No explanation was given. I have never broken any law or over-stayed a visa in any country. At the time I intended to enter the States for travel, not for business, though my reason for travel wasn't questioned at the airport. I would be happy just to be able to visit the States with an Esta but I cannot do this because one of the questions asks if I've ever been refused entry. I need to know where I go from here. Do I need to apply for an interview and if so am I to apply for a new visa despite only wanting an ESTA. This issue is a big concern for me because many e-visas for other countries ask if you've ever been refused entry to a country. I just simply have no idea what to do.

Many thanks in advance. 

[Boiler 45,907]

B1 is for Business

 

I take it you have been refused ESTA

 

Your only option is to apply for a B.

 

You were refused entry

[JeanneAdil 6,606]

1 hour ago, sanfairyanne said:

I was refused entry to the States back in March 2020. I attempted to board a plane at Manchester Airport in the UK but was told I could not board. No explanation was given. I have never broken any law or over-stayed a visa in any country. At the time I intended to enter the States for travel, not for business, though my reason for travel wasn't questioned at the airport. I would be happy just to be able to visit the States with an Esta but I cannot do this because one of the questions asks if I've ever been refused entry. I need to know where I go from here. Do I need to apply for an interview and if so am I to apply for a new visa despite only wanting an ESTA. This issue is a big concern for me because many e-visas for other countries ask if you've ever been refused entry to a country. I just simply have no idea what to do.

Many thanks in advance. 

Refused entry at a  USA port of entry ?

OR

not allowed to board the plane in Manchester?

 

Do u have the covid vaccine?

did u show a negative covid test?

 

 

 

 

[Mike E 11,742]

2 hours ago, sanfairyanne said:

 

I was refused entry to the States back in March 2020. I attempted to board a plane at Manchester Airport in the UK but was told I could not board. No explanation was given. I have never broken any law or over-stayed a visa in any country. At the time I intended to enter the States for travel, not for business, though my reason for travel wasn't questioned at the airport. I would be happy just to be able to visit the States with an Esta but I cannot do this because one of the questions asks if I've ever been refused entry.

 

Based on your description you weren’t denied entry because you never made it to a CBP check point.  Unless you encountered a CBP employee in a Manchester (*)  if the esta question is literally asking if you were denied entry then you were not.  
 

This said, don’t be surprised if your esta is denied. 
 

Until you were denied boarding, had you stayed in the USA more than a month continuously or traveled there 3 or more times in the previous year?

 

* (this is possible; sometimes at  some airports in the UK and Europe, CBP has people who work with the airlines to clarify whether someone can board or not instead of phoning CBP in the USA)

Edited April 25, 2022 by Mike E

[Redro 4,611]

5 hours ago, sanfairyanne said:

I was refused entry to the States back in March 2020. I attempted to board a plane at Manchester Airport in the UK but was told I could not board. No explanation was given. I have never broken any law or over-stayed a visa in any country. At the time I intended to enter the States for travel, not for business, though my reason for travel wasn't questioned at the airport. I would be happy just to be able to visit the States with an Esta but I cannot do this because one of the questions asks if I've ever been refused entry. I need to know where I go from here. Do I need to apply for an interview and if so am I to apply for a new visa despite only wanting an ESTA. This issue is a big concern for me because many e-visas for other countries ask if you've ever been refused entry to a country. I just simply have no idea what to do.

Many thanks in advance. 

Does your visa say B1/B2 or only B1. 

Why did you apply for a B1 if you have access to ESTA?

What is your travel history to the US like? 

Did they cancel your B1 when you were refused boarding (is your B1 still valid)?

And when in March 2020 were you refused boarding... that was at the start of COVID-19... 

You might still have a valid B1/B2... not enough information given. 

 

 

[SusieQQQ 11,587]

On 4/24/2022 at 2:35 PM, sanfairyanne said:

I attempted to board a plane at Manchester Airport in the UK but was told I could not board. No explanation was given.

So an airline employee refused to let you board… and you didn’t think to ask them why? really?

Well, that doesn’t count as being refused entry to the US as it has to be a US CBP official refusing you entry. However seeing as you apparently didn’t think to question why the airline refused you boarding, you have no idea what the issue was. It could have been as simple as passport expiry too soon or some kind of covid restriction in place at the time, which has no bearing on any future application for entry,  or somehow a directive from CBP, which does affect your chances of future entry. Only one way to find out … so apply for ESTA, all you have to lose is a nominal fee.

 

 

Edited April 28, 2022 by SusieQQQ

[sanfairyanne 0]

On 4/24/2022 at 11:04 PM, Boiler said:

B1 is for Business

 

I take it you have been refused ESTA

 

Your only option is to apply for a B.

 

You were refused entry

Sorry for the late reply. Yes I know B1 is for business. I applied through my work on a private yacht. I actually hoped to get a B1/B2 but I only got the B1. Because I had a B1 I didn't have an ESTA.  After conversing with other people I believe technically I wasn't refused entry, I was refused entry onto the plane. The lady at the check in gate in the UK obviously isn't a U.S immigration official, however, it was my understanding that she called the U.S embassy or some branch of the embassy to confirm I wasn't to board. My guess (because she wouldn't tell me anything more) is that my passport was red flagged. 

[sanfairyanne 0]

On 4/25/2022 at 4:29 AM, ROK2USA said:

Does your visa say B1/B2 or only B1. 

Why did you apply for a B1 if you have access to ESTA?

What is your travel history to the US like? 

Did they cancel your B1 when you were refused boarding (is your B1 still valid)?

And when in March 2020 were you refused boarding... that was at the start of COVID-19... 

You might still have a valid B1/B2... not enough information given. 

 

 

My visa says B1 only, the application was made through my work on a private yacht. I've had a B1B2 before which ran out after 10 years so I'm familiar with their use. My travel history in the U.S has always been within the rules, i.e. never over staying and never breaking any laws there.

The lady at check wouldn't give me any more information, she just said I was not allowed to board the plane and that I'd have to go to the U.S embassy in London to find out why. 
March 2020 was indeed around the start of the Covid outbreak, however, I was within the time period before entry to the U.S was stopped for all European citizens. 
My B1 may be valid, but I have no way of finding out one way or another because the embassy doesn't receive phone calls, answer emails or letters. 

[sanfairyanne 0]

On 4/25/2022 at 1:06 AM, Mike E said:

Based on your description you weren’t denied entry because you never made it to a CBP check point.  Unless you encountered a CBP employee in a Manchester (*)  if the esta question is literally asking if you were denied entry then you were not.  
 

This said, don’t be surprised if your esta is denied. 
 

Until you were denied boarding, had you stayed in the USA more than a month continuously or traveled there 3 or more times in the previous year?

 

* (this is possible; sometimes at  some airports in the UK and Europe, CBP has people who work with the airlines to clarify whether someone can board or not instead of phoning CBP in the USA)

Forgive me for the late reply. I do see the difference, I was not allowed to board the plane, technically I was not denied entry. This being said it's my understanding that the lady at the check-in desk in the UK did make a call to the U.S embassy or some branch of the embassy. My visa/passport was clearly red flagged. She refused to say anything else and essentially treated me as a criminal. 
Prior to attempting to board the plane I hadn't been to the States in 6 years, neither had I ever used this particular B1 visa before. I have used a B1/B2 visa before but that one ran out after 10 years. So just to clarify, the B1 was a replacement for an old B1/B2. Both my visas were applied for via my work on a private yacht. Since losing my visa I have now lost my job. 

[sanfairyanne 0]

On 4/24/2022 at 11:56 PM, JeanneAdil said:

Refused entry at a  USA port of entry ?

OR

not allowed to board the plane in Manchester?

 

Do u have the covid vaccine?

did u show a negative covid test?

 

 

 

 

Not allowed to board the plane in Manchester, so technically I was refused entry onto the plane, not refused entry into the country. Having said this the lady at check-in did make a phone call. It was my understanding that she called the U.S embassy or some branch of the embassy. 
My flight date was before Covid vaccines were even available. I attempted to board the plane just before European citizens were denied entry to the States. 

[sanfairyanne 0]

On 4/24/2022 at 11:04 PM, Boiler said:

B1 is for Business

 

I take it you have been refused ESTA

 

Your only option is to apply for a B.

 

You were refused entry

I have a B1 which was obtained through my job as a crew member on a private yacht. It was with this visa that I attempted to enter the U.S Having conversed with other people I now believe technically I was refused entry onto the plane because I didn't leave my own country. It was only the girl at check-in that refused to let me board. This wasn't because I was drunk or anything, my passport was clearly red flagged. I believe she called the embassy or a branch of the embassy. Once it was confirmed I couldn't board she became quite rude and would tell me nothing else. I've since lost my job and for the past two years I've been living on savings. 

[Boiler 45,907]

Did you apply for ESTA?

[JeanneAdil 6,606]

March 2020???

we left Paris March 17th CDG airport

i should have asked "what date in march did u try to board the plane?"

March 11th only USC and LPR were allowed to the USA and after that ban the covid ban went into full force

so,  it wasn't u 

 

Mar 21, 2020 — On March 11, 2020, the U.S. enforced a 30-day ban on travelers from the Schengen Area, a free-travel zone consisting of 26 countries in Europe.

[jan22 3,056]

It perhaps should be noted that the likely reason you were denied boarding was because you did not have a visa that matched the main purpose of your trip.  If you were going for a personal trip/visit, a B1 visa cannot be used for that.  You would need a B2 or B1/B2.

[Boiler 45,907]

It seems she was not asked the purpose of her trip

 

Not sure how it works with a B but assume you are asked that at the PoE?