Nigerians with world cup tickets exempted from paying $15,000 US visa bond

…. Fans and ticket holders from Nigeria can apply for a US visa without the bond fee

The Trump administration has announced that football fans from 50 countries, previously subject to a $15,000 visa deposit, will be exempt from the requirement if they hold valid World Cup match tickets.

Nigeria was among the affected countries listed to pay the bond. With this new announcement, ticket holders and football fans can now apply for a US visa provided they meet all requirements, including a good five-year social media history

The bond requirement was introduced last year as a pilot programme to discourage visitors from overstaying their visas. While players and coaches were already exempt, the policy was only extended to ticket-holding fans on Wednesday.

The event is scheduled to be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, beginning on June 11.

Mora Namdar, assistant secretary of state for Consular Affairs, stated:
“We are waiving visa bonds for qualified fans who bought World Cup tickets.”

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According to the State Department, the 12-month initiative was designed to address visa overstays and instances where “screening and vetting information is considered deficient.”

Under the original terms, the bond was to be refunded at the conclusion of the visitor’s stay.

FIFA had welcomed the decision, noting that it reflects a close collaboration with the White House.

“The announcement demonstrates the ongoing collaboration with the White House to deliver a successful, record-breaking and unforgettable global event. We are grateful to the Administration for the ongoing partnership”, it said.

Despite this waiver, travel restrictions remain in place for certain nations.

Travellers from Iran and Haiti are still barred from entry, though an exception has been made for their players and coaches to travel for tournament-related purposes. Fans from the Ivory Coast and Senegal also face partial restrictions due to an expanded version of the current travel ban.

Also, visitors may still be subject to other stringent immigration policies, such as the requirement to provide a five-year social media history. Rights groups have cautioned that such measures could lead to increased surveillance, racial profiling, and a higher risk of denied entry.

Ngozi Ekugo

Ngozi Ekugo is a Senior Correspondent at BusinessDay. She holds a Masters in management from the University of Lagos, an undergraduate from University of Lagos, and is in an alumni of Queen's College. Shes currently an associate member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM). She has a brief experience at Goldman sachs, London in its Human Capital Management division. She is interested in human capital development and is leveraging her varied experience across sectors to report labour and global mobility trends for stakeholders to make informed decisions.