The exemption is a rare relaxation of immigration requirements and will ease the travel burden for at least some visitors to the United States for the World Cup.
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration is suspending requirements for foreign visitors from certain countries to pay bonds of up to $15,000 if they confirm they hold World Cup tickets, the State Department told The Associated Press on Wednesday.
department Imposing margin requirements last year about the country it says about High rate of visa overstays and other security issues, as part of the Republican administration’s broader crackdown on immigration. Requests for travelers from 50 countries/regions traveling to the United States Pay new bonds, five countries Qualified for the World Cup – Algeria, Cape Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal and Tunisia.
“The United States is excited to host the largest and best FIFA World Cup in history,” said Mora Namdar, Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs. “For qualified fans who purchase World Cup tickets, we will waive the visa deposit” and opt in FIFA Pass System Expedited visa appointments are available starting April 15th.
The exemption is a rare relaxation of immigration requirements by the government and will Reduce travel burden At least for some visitors to the United States for the World Cup, which starts on June 11 and is co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
World Cup team players, coaches and some staff have been exempted from bond requirements as part of a government order to prioritize World Cup visas. Regular fans, even if they have confirmed tickets, are not exempt until Wednesday.
The government has taken significant steps to restrict immigration Critics say it’s incongruous Global sporting events such as the World Cup should convey a unified message.
For example, the government banned travelers from Iran and Haiti, except for World Cup players, coaches and other support staff. Under the expanded version of the travel ban, travelers from Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal, also World Cup qualifying nations, will face some restrictions.
foreign tourists also Facing new requirements submit their social media history while the government has deployed U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Recently, agents at airports suffered when TSA agents didn’t get paid.
these measures Amnesty International and dozens of U.S. civil and human rights groups issued a “World Cup Travel Advisory” warning travelers about the U.S. climate
In a report this month, the main advocacy group for U.S. hotels blamed visa barriers and other geopolitical issues for “severely depressing international demand,” leading to hotel bookings for the soccer tournament being well below initial expectations.
The American Hotel & Lodging Association said travelers are concerned about possible long visa wait times, increased fees and uncertainty about the process of entering the United States.
this Bond requirements are part of the government Step up efforts to crack down on immigrants who come to the U.S. on temporary visas but overstay their visas. Visa applicants from affected countries are required to pay a security deposit of US$5,000, US$10,000 or US$15,000, which will be refunded if the traveler complies with the terms of the visa or if the visa application is rejected.
As of early April, the number of World Cup fans affected by the bond requirements was believed to be relatively small, perhaps around 250, according to U.S. officials who were not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity. But they say that number is changing rapidly as more people buy tickets and some ticket holders choose not to travel.
FIFA has requested the exemption, which must be approved by the State and Homeland Security departments, and has been the subject of multiple meetings at the White House and elsewhere in Washington, officials said.
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