Swedish Dota 2 Legend Denied Entry to U.S. for The International 7
A well-known Dota 2 player from Sweden, Henrik “AdmiralBulldog” Ahnberg, has been denied entry into the U.S., effectively ending his participation in The International 7 tournament.
Just one day before the start of the group stage, Ahnberg was held for seven hours by U.S. immigration at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and was later put on a flight back to Sweden.
According to Ahnberg, he was informed of the decision by U.S. immigration, who cited the fact that he had only applied for a B1/B2 visa (tourist/business), not a work visa, as the reason for his denial. Ahnberg claims that both Valve and PGL, the organizers of The International 7, had assured him that his visa would be sufficient.
“They [Valve, PGL] asked me for passport and visa information which I provided,” Ahnberg stated. “I have a B1/B2 visa. It’s for tourism and business, which I didn’t think much of. I’m kinda there to do business, right?”
Despite the setback, Ahnberg remains optimistic. He believes that Valve should ensure that all talent brought in to work for them have the appropriate work visas, as stated by the immigration officers. Visa issues have plagued The International in the past, particularly for individuals from Russia and Eastern Europe, as well as players from China and Southeast Asia.
As of now, it is unclear whether Valve will find a replacement for Ahnberg prior to the start of the tournament.
Swedish Dota 2 legend, denied access, The International, Ahnberg, U.S. immigration, work visa, Valve, PGL, B1/B2 visa, tourism, business, talent, Visa issues, Russia, Eastern Europe, China, Southeast Asia, replacement, tournament.