US waives visa bonds for eligible FIFA World Cup fans

Washington imposed refundable $5,000-$15,000 visa deposits on citizens of 50 countries to curb overstays

WASHINGTON: The Trump administration will temporarily waive visa bond requirements for eligible World Cup ticket-holders from countries covered under a controversial US travel deposit scheme, a State Department official said.

Under the policy introduced last year, citizens of 50 countries have been required to pay refundable deposits ranging from $5,000 to $15,000 to obtain US tourist visas. Washington said the measure was aimed at preventing visa overstays, with the funds returned once visitors leave the country within the permitted period.

Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs Mora Namdar said the bond requirement would now be lifted for qualifying football fans attending this summer’s FIFA World Cup.

The waiver also applies to eligible players, coaches and team staff from the affected countries. Five nations subject to the visa bond rules qualified for the World Cup: Algeria, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, Senegal and Tunisia.

However, separate Trump administration restrictions remain in place for some countries, including Haiti and Iran, whose citizens face broader entry bans under US immigration directives.

“We remain committed to strengthening US national security priorities while facilitating legitimate travel for the upcoming World Cup tournament,” Namdar said in a statement.

The FIFA World Cup will take place in June and July across the United States, Canada and Mexico. The tournament opens on June 11 in Mexico, while the first match in the United States is scheduled for June 12 in Inglewood, California. The final will be played on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

The US launched the FIFA PASS system in January to speed up visa processing for ticket-holders. To qualify for the waiver, fans from affected countries had to register through the programme by April 15.

The administration’s immigration crackdown has drawn scrutiny ahead of the tournament, including concerns over the presence of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers at venues.

Human Rights Watch last month urged FIFA to seek an “ICE Truce” during the tournament, including guarantees against immigration enforcement operations at stadiums and related sites.

The Department of Homeland Security said international visitors attending the games “have nothing to worry about” if they hold legal immigration status.