Øystein Pettersen denied US entry due to previous humanitarian trip to Somalia

Former cross-country skier and NRK presenter Øystein Pettersen has been denied entry to the United States via the ESTA visa program. The denial stems from a 2017 humanitarian mission to Somalia with the Red Cross.

Pettersen discovered the issue while applying for travel to participate in the New York City Marathon. Under current regulations, travelers who have visited certain countries—including Somalia, North Korea, Iran, Iraq, Sudan, Syria, Libya, Yemen, or Cuba—after specific dates are ineligible for automated ESTA approval and must instead apply for a formal visa.

While Pettersen’s wife received immediate approval, his application was rejected. Experts note that the ESTA process is typically automated, but visits to countries with which the U.S. has security concerns trigger a requirement for manual visa processing.