A disabled Nottingham woman said she was left on the brink of missing out on a £7,000 cruise to America due to confusing wording on an application. Claire Ward, who suffers from tetraplegia, is due to visit New York on September 24 as part of a "holiday of a lifetime".
However, the 48-year-old was left devastated after the US Department of Homeland Security refused her Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) application, which is required to enter the country. Speaking to Nottinghamshire Live at the time of the rejection, she said: "I put my details in and never in a million years did I think it would be refused.
"It's a trip of a lifetime. Because of my disability it's most likely the last chance I'll get to go on holiday with my husband again." Ms Ward, who lives in Rise Park, assumed her application was turned down because she was disabled, as she had ticked 'yes' to the question that reads: "Do you have a physical or mental disorder; or are you a drug abuser or addict; or do you have any of the following [communicable] diseases."
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Tetraplegia is a term which describes the inability to voluntarily move the upper and lower parts of the body. Areas of impaired mobility typically include the fingers, hands, arms, chest, legs, feet and toes.
ESTAs can also be turned down if an applicant has a criminal record or has travelled to a countries including Libya, North Korea and Iraq. Ms Ward says she qualifies for neither.
But after speaking to a representative from Princess Cruises, the company she is travelling with, she was told that she should not have ticked the 'physical and mental disorder' box. And, after refilling the ESTA form, she was granted approval.
Ms Ward, who uses a wheelchair, wants to raise awareness about the "confusing" wording. She said: "The ordeal has caused me a lot of upset. I read the question to the letter - I have a physical disorder. I thought I was going to lose £7,000."
Her partner and carer, Pete Klauzer, whose application was instantly accepted, said the ESTA process was not fit for purpose. "You click one box and you are rejected," said the 55-year-old. "The stress that comes from that - it was pretty bad. We paid a lot of money for the cruise and insurance.
"It's awful how much stress, upset and anxiety it caused. The wording on the website is obtuse, it doesn't reflect what they are really asking you. Basically, if you admit to having a disability, America will not let you in." The US Department of Homeland Security was unable to provide a comment.
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