Trump administration waives $15,000 deposit for fans with World Cup tickets
By OnzeActu · · 2 min read
The United States announced the suspension of the $15,000 deposit requirement for fans from 50 countries, provided they have tickets to the World Cup co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The Trump administration announced it is waiving the $15,000 bond requirement for visitors from 50 countries, provided they are traveling to the United States to attend World Cup matches and have valid tickets. Among these countries are five nations already qualified for the tournament: Algeria, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, Senegal and Tunisia.
“We are waiving deposits for qualified fans who have purchased World Cup tickets,” Mora Namdar, assistant secretary of state for consular affairs, said in a statement cited by the BBC. The measure comes as the World Cup will be held on June 11 in a trio of hosts: the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The filing requirement, introduced last year as part of a 12-month pilot program launched in August, was intended by the State Department to reduce visa overstays or cases where screening information was deemed insufficient. The amount was to be refunded at the end of the visitor's stay.
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Until now, players and coaches were already exempt from this deposit for their tournament-related travel; the novelty is the extension of the exemption to ordinary supporters with tickets, announced on Wednesday.
FIFA welcomed the decision, saying it illustrates the "continued collaboration with the White House to deliver a successful, record-breaking and unforgettable global event" and thanked the administration for the partnership.
However, certain restrictions remain: travelers from Iran and Haiti remain excluded, even if, here again, players and staff from these countries are exempt for their travel linked to the World Cup. Furthermore, Ivory Coast and Senegal, although qualified, face partial restrictions under an expanded version of the travel ban.
Finally, last year, the American government also announced that tourists from dozens of countries could be asked for a five-year history of their social networks as a condition of entry — an additional measure that could concern visitors to the World Cup. Rights groups have warned of the risks of entry denials, arrests, expanded travel restrictions, social media filtering, racial profiling and increased surveillance.