Icelandic musician barred from going to USA cancels her trip
Júlía on stage with her band, Oyama. Photo: Iceland Monitor//Eggert
Iceland Monitor reported earlier this week that the Icelandic singer of rock/shoegaze band Oyama, Júlía Hermannsdóttir will not be allowed to enter the United States. The USA Embassy in Iceland made an inquiry and now it is clear that her ESTA application will not be granted.
The band was intending to play a few dates in Pitsburgh, Philadelphia, New York and Boston.
Hermannsdóttir had a meeting with the USA Embassy earlier today. According to her the Embassy‘s staff were all helpful, but did however not have access to the information on why she was denied access to the country. Hermannsdóttir says she's never been in any trouble in the US or broken any laws, and she has no criminal record. Neither has she travelled to the seven countries which Donald Trump put a travel ban on earlier this year.
Studied in New York
Hermannsdóttir studied in New York between 2005 and 2011 and has travelled to and from USA regularly without any problems until now. She intended to go ahead of her band to visit friends and family in the USA, but that will not happen.
Can apply for a visa
“I won’t get to know the reason for why I’m flagged,” says Hermansdóttir. “I can apply for a visa instead of ESTA but that takes much longer to process, so for now my trip has been cancelled.
When asked if she has been criticizing Donald Trump, the president of the United States, she laughs and responds that she hasn’t done more of that than anyone else. “What I know is that this seems to be happening to more after Trump got into office. Perhaps this is some remnants of the travel ban, even though it has been lifted.
