Factory owner Paul Kenyon, 62, had planned to fly his family to Florida, US, for a holiday to his villa in Orlando, but made the mistake on the Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) form his grandson Harvey Kenyon-Cairn needed to get into the country.
Rather than ticking no when asked "Do you seek to engage in or have you ever engaged in terrorist activities, espionage, sabotage, or genocide?," Kenyon ticked yes, The Telegraph reported.
Kenyon travelled down with his daughter and Harvey's mother, Faye, from his home in Poynton, Cheshirein England to the embassy just three days before their flight, but the visa failed to arrive in time.
He admitted the whole affair cost him an extra 3,000 pounds as he had to pay for extra flights so that Faye, 27, her partner John Cairns, 31, and Harvey could still come with them.
"I had filled in the first five forms all correctly, but it was taking some time. I had no idea I had made a mistake on the baby's form until Harvey's travel was refused to the US. I couldn't believe that they couldn't see it was a genuine mistake and that a three-month-old baby would be no harm to anyone. Harvey was even summoned down for an interview to the US Embassy. I really couldn't believe it," Kenyon said.
All eligible international travellers who wish to go to the United States under the Visa Waiver programme must apply for authorisation under the ESTA.
Disclaimer: No Business Standard Journalist was involved in creation of this content
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors


Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share


Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor


Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements


Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app
