Trump administration suspends visa bonds for foreigners with World Cup tickets

Last year, the administration introduced a policy requiring travelers from a dozen countries, such as Cambodia, Ethiopia, Mongolia, Nicaragua, and Tunisia, to post visa bonds of up to $15,000. The deposits were designed to deter visa overstays and were refundable if travelers complied with visa rules or if their applications were denied.

“The visa bond will also be waived for nationals of competing countries who by April 15 purchased FIFA World Cup tickets and opted in to the FIFA Priority Appointment Scheduling System through the FIFA website, and who demonstrate that they are otherwise fully eligible for a U.S. visitor visa,” a State Department official told the Washington Examiner.

The official added that every visa applicant must still complete a rigorous screening and vetting process with the consul before the visa is issued to comply with U.S. law.

In total, travelers from 50 nations were subject to the bond program. Five countries that qualified for this year’s World Cup were among those affected: Algeria, Cabo Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, and Tunisia.

Until Wednesday, only players, coaches and select team staff were exempt from the bond requirement as the administration prioritized visa processing for the tournament. Regular fans with confirmed tickets still faced the additional financial hurdle.

The World Cup begins June 11 and will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. U.S. officials believe relatively few fans were directly impacted by the bond policy, with roughly 250 people as of early April impacted.