On Wednesday the United States said that the system of demanding bond payments of visa applicants will be eased for certain fans seeking to come for the World Cup.
As the Trump administration is cracking down on migration, the United States have begun asking people from 50 developing countries to hand over anywhere from around $5000 to $15000 for a US visa. It will be refundable once they return home.
According to the state department the bonds will be waived for the team members competing in the World Cup matches in the United States. The bonds will also be waived for fans coming from competing countries who have already bought the tickets.
The assistant secretary of state for consular affairs, Mora Namdar, said, “We remain committed to strengthening US national security priorities while facilitating legitimate travel for the upcoming World Cup tournament.”
A FIFA spokesperson said in a statement, “Today’s announcement from the US State Department further demonstrates our ongoing collaboration with the US Government and the White House Task Force for the FIFA World Cup to deliver a successful, record-breaking and unforgettable global event.”
About five countries have qualified for the World Cup whose nationals are required to pay visa bonds to enter the US. They included Cape Verde, Algeria, Senegal, Ivory Coast and Tunisia.
Two other countries that have qualified for the World Cup have seen nearly total bans on entry into the United States under Trump.
The two nations are Haiti the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere and Iran.
Scrutiny has also been expanded by the Trump administration for friendly Western countries. To enter the country, it will be required by the visitors to provide access to the US government to their social media postings.
Also read: FIFA invites Iran for key talks ahead of World Cup
