Brits may be denied entry to USA if they've been to one of nine countries

Planning on visiting the States anytime soon? You might want to double check you haven't been to any of the following counties, as your American adventure may be over very quickly.

It's no secret that the USA has notoriously strict border policies for travellers, which came into effect after the September 11 attacks.

Anyone who's made the trip across the Atlantic will be very familiar with the enhanced security checks ahead of entering America, which include being grilled in the airport check-in line about your travel plans and taking your shoes off to go through security.

But surely it's plain sailing once you've made it to the departure gate, right?

Travelling to America is notoriously complicated (Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Well, not entirely.

Not only are the Americans pretty strict about what you bring over in your bags, but they also like to delve a little into your travel history as well - and there's nine specific countries which could complicate your plans to go ice-skating at the Rockefeller Centre or on a road trip down the West Coast.

Which countries could see me denied entry to the USA?

According to guidance from the UK Government, in order to enter the United States for travel or to catch a connecting flight you need to obtain an ESTA visa waiver.

Applying for an ESTA is usually straightforward and costs around $21 (£16.77), however there are certain criteria which can make you ineligible for the visa.

And certain travel destinations could further complicate your American dream (Getty Stock Images)

Guidance states that you can not normally apply for an ESTA visa if you have travelled to the following eight countries on or after March 2011:

• Iran
• Iraq
• Libya
• North Korea
• Somalia
• Sudan
• Syria
• Yemen

Additionally, you cannot apply for an ESTA if you travelled to Cuba on or after 12 January 2021.

Anyone who is not eligible for an ESTA must instead apply for US visa, which is a more lengthy process and may require you to visit the US Embassy in London.

This isn't to say for definite that you would be denied entry if you've visited any of the above countries, but it certainly could complicate your travel plans.

Having a criminal record could also complicate your travel plans (Getty Stock Images)

It's also worth remembering that Donald Trump's re-election could see changes to entry requirements, as the former president previously imposed a controversial travel ban for visitors from Chad, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria and Yemen during his first term in office.

What else could make me ineligible for an ESTA?

As well as visiting certain counties, anyone who has been arrested, has a criminal record, overstayed on a previous ESTA, has been denied entry or deported from the US is also unable to apply.

For more information on obtaining a US visa, visit the State Department website.