US waives steep visa bonds for select World Cup ticket holders

The State Department says it will waive visa bond requirements of up to $15,000 for qualified World Cup fans who hold tickets and opt into the FIFA Pass system for expedited visa appointments, a relief limited to five countries involved in this year’s World Cup as ordinary fans without exemptions continue to face visa hurdles amid broader U.S. immigration crackdowns and travel concerns ahead of the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico.