The Trump administration has paused a rule that made some foreign visitors pay large visa bonds. The State Department told The Associated Press on Wednesday that the pause applies to confirmed FIFA World Cup ticket holders.

The change may reduce costs for some fans travelling to the United States for the tournament, starting June 11.

The waiver covers qualified fans who bought tickets and joined the FIFA Pass system. The system allows faster visa appointments from April 15. The State Department said the earlier rule applied to visitors from 50 countries. Five of those countries qualified for the World Cup: Algeria, Cabo Verde, Cote dIvoire, Senegal and Tunisia.

World Cup visa bonds waived for qualified ticket holders

“The United States is excited to organise 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 opted in to the FIFA Pass system that allows expedited visa appointments as of April 15.” The waiver marks a rare easing under the administration.

The World Cup is co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. Under earlier orders, team players, coaches and some staff were already excluded. Ordinary supporters were still covered by the bond rule until Wednesday. The shift lowers travel hurdles for at least some visitors planning to attend matches.

World Cup visa bonds linked to immigration crackdown

The bond rule started last year and targeted countries with high visa overstay rates. Officials also cited other security concerns. The bonds were set at USD 5,000, USD 10,000 or USD 15,000. Money would be refunded if the traveller followed visa terms. It also would be refunded if the visa request was rejected.

US officials said the number of affected World Cup fans was small in early April. The estimate was about 250 people. The officials were not authorised to speak publicly and asked for anonymity. The officials added that figures were shifting as more tickets were sold. Some ticket holders were also choosing not to travel.

World Cup visa bonds debated amid travel restrictions

The administration has tightened immigration controls in other ways. Critics said those moves clash with the unifying tone of global sport. The administration barred travellers from Iran and Haiti, with exemptions for teams and support staff. Travellers from Côte dIvoire and Senegal faced partial limits under an expanded version of the travel ban.

Foreign travellers also faced new rules to provide social media histories. The administration deployed US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents at airports. This happened when Transportation Security Administration personnel were not being paid. Amnesty International and dozens of US civil and human rights groups issued a World Cup travel advisory. The advisory warned travellers about the US climate.

A report this month pointed to weaker tourism demand for the tournament. The main US hotel advocacy group cited visa hurdles and geopolitical factors. The American Hotel & Lodging Association said bookings were far below early expectations. The group said travellers feared long visa waits and higher fees. It also cited uncertainty about entry processing.

FIFA asked for the waiver and sought approval from key US agencies. Officials said it needed sign-off from the State Department and Department of Homeland Security. The issue was discussed for months in Washington. Meetings took place at the White House and other locations. The waiver now removes bonds for certain ticketed fans using FIFA Pass.

With inputs from AP