World Cup Fans Get a Reprieve: No More $15,000 Entry Bonds

Good news for anyone planning to cheer on their national team at the upcoming World Cup, provided their national team is from one of five specific countries: The U.S. is temporarily dropping a rule that demanded a hefty bond — up to $15,000 — just to get through customs.

Because nothing says "welcome to the party" quite like a five-figure security deposit.

Kicking Off the Welcome Mat

Last year, the State Department decided some visitors from countries with higher rates of visa overstays or other vague "security concerns" needed to put down serious cash. This was all part of a larger move to, shall we say, tighten things up at the borders. Fifty countries were on the list, and five of them — Algeria, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, Senegal, and Tunisia — just happen to have teams playing in the World Cup.

Now, if you're a citizen of one of those five nations and you've got a World Cup ticket from FIFA, you're off the hook. Players, coaches, and staff were already exempt, because apparently, they're less of a flight risk than a superfan with a vuvuzela. The U.S. is, according to Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs Mora Namdar, "excited to host the World Cup," which is a sentiment that sometimes needs a little policy adjustment to match.

This waiver is a rare moment of loosening immigration rules from an administration generally known for, well, the opposite. It should make travel a bit smoother for some of the fans arriving for the tournament, which kicks off June 11 and is co-hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.

Of course, the broader immigration picture remains a bit…complicated. Critics have pointed out that some of the existing policies feel a little out of step with the whole "global unity through sport" vibe. For instance, travelers from Iran and Haiti are still banned (though World Cup personnel are exempt, naturally), and even with the bond exemption, Ivory Coast and Senegal travelers still face some restrictions under an expanded travel ban.

There were also plans for foreign travelers to hand over their social media history, a policy that thankfully never saw the light of day. And let's not forget the time Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents were deployed at airports during a partial federal shutdown, while TSA staff weren't even getting paid. It's the kind of thing that makes Amnesty International issue a "World Cup travel advisory," warning people about the general climate in the U.S.

The American Hotel & Lodging Association has already noted that "visa barriers and other global issues" have "significantly suppressed international demand," leading to fewer hotel bookings than anticipated. Apparently, long visa wait times, higher fees, and a general air of uncertainty aren't great for tourism.

These bond requirements, which range from $5,000 to $15,000, are meant to address those who overstay temporary visas. The money gets refunded if you follow the rules or if your application is denied. Officials, who spoke anonymously (because of course they did), estimated about 250 World Cup fans were affected by the bond requirement in early April, though that number was, understandably, a moving target.

FIFA had to specifically ask for this waiver, which then required approval from both the State Department and the Department of Homeland Security. Apparently, there were many, many meetings over several months at the White House and around Washington to decide if a few hundred soccer fans could skip the five-figure deposit. Because that's where priorities live now.