Joan Capdevila, left-back on Spain’s 2010 championship team, was due to fly to New York this weekend as a VIP guest of the Royal Spanish Football Federation. Instead, the 46-year-old discovered that the U.S. Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) had rejected his application because he once played a charity match in Tehran. Under U.S. rules tightened in 2016, anyone who has visited Iran, Iraq, Syria, North Korea, Sudan, Libya, Somalia or Yemen after March 2011 is ineligible for visa-free entry and must apply for a full B-visa at a consulate. The policy often surprises Spanish nationals, who generally enjoy hassle-free ESTA approvals. Capdevila’s public appeal on social media—in which he tagged President Donald Trump—has gone viral, but experts warn there is little chance of an exception before Sunday’s World-Cup final. The case serves as a cautionary tale for Spanish executives, athletes and film crews with past travel to sanctioned countries. Travel-management companies recommend that anyone who has visited Iran or similar destinations ensure they obtain a U.S. visa well in advance of assignments. The standard B-1/B-2 process currently requires an interview wait time of 60–90 days at the U.S. Embassy in Madrid, plus potential administrative processing.
Source: El Español
