State Department Waives Visa Bonds for World Cup Fans from Five African Nations

Citizens from a handful of countries who bought tickets to this summer's World Cup matches in the U.S. no longer need to post visa bonds worth thousands of dollars to enter the country for the tournament.

The State Department confirmed Wednesday that the Trump administration is waiving a previous requirement for visitors from Algeria, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, Senegal and Tunisia to provide bonds of up to $15,000 for U.S. entry.

The department put the bond rule in place last year for nations with high visa overstay rates and other security issues amid a wider immigration push. Travelers from at least 50 countries face the requirement, but teams from those five nations qualified for this year's World Cup.

World Cup players, coaches and some staff had already been exempt under administration orders to speed up visas for the event.

"The United States is excited to organize the biggest and best FIFA World Cup in history," Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs Mora Namdar said. "We are waiving visa bonds for qualified fans who bought World Cup tickets" and signed up for the FIFA Pass system, which offers faster visa appointments starting April 15.

FIFA welcomed the news in a statement, calling it proof of "our ongoing collaboration with the U.S. government and the White House task force for the FIFA World Cup to deliver a successful, record-breaking and unforgettable global event." The group thanked the administration for its partnership.

Travelers from Iran and Haiti remain barred, though players, coaches and support staff are exempt. Ivory Coast and Senegal visitors face partial limits from an expanded travel ban, despite the bond waiver.

The World Cup starts June 11 and will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Amnesty International and dozens of U.S. civil and human rights groups issued a "World Cup travel advisory" citing the administration's policies and the U.S. climate for visitors.

A report this month from the main U.S. hotel advocacy group pointed to visa hurdles and geopolitical factors for "significantly suppressing international demand," with bookings well below early projections.

U.S. officials, speaking anonymously because they lacked public comment authorization, estimated early April that only about 250 World Cup fans faced the bond rule. That figure was shifting quickly with ticket sales and some buyers opting out of travel.

FIFA had sought the waiver, which needed approval from the State Department and Department of Homeland Security, the officials said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.