World Cup Highlights US Visa Woes

Iranian Team Relocate to Mexico

Over the past week, several participants in the football tournament have experienced difficulties navigating the US immigration system. 

The most high-profile case involves the Iranian national team and their support staff, who have faced uncertainty about their ability to secure US visas. 

For a number of months, the team have been negotiating with US immigration officials and FIFA to secure permission to be permitted to train and play in the US during the tournament.

However, the Iranian football federation has now decided that the team should move its training base from Arizona, US, to Tijuana, Mexico, to limit its presence in the US and avoid the risk of being barred completely from entering the US. 

It is understood that 15 Iranian support staff have already been denied permission, although the players and coaches have been granted short-term visas. The conditions of these visas mean the team will have to enter and leave the US on the same day as their matches.

Match Official Forced to Leave US Before Kick Off

As well as the players, a referee selected to manage the action on the pitch also made headlines in the first week of the competition. 

Somali referee Omar Artan was denied entry to the United States because of his “association with suspected members of terror organisations”, according to US officials.

The African referee of the year travelled to the US with a diplomatic passport and a single-entry US visa, but the Florida border rejected his request to enter the country. 

Artan has denied that he has connections to the Somali militant group Al Shabab. 

“I had the right papers and everything. I had the right visa,” said Artan, who has now returned to Somalia. 

“I’m just simply a referee who’s trying to live his dream, the biggest dream of my life, to come to the World Cup.”

New US Immigration Rules Impact Players’ Families

There have also been difficulties for players’ families hoping to see their loved one in action. 

The minority leader of the US House of Representatives has called on Secretary of State Marco Rubio to allow the mother of Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha to see her son play in his next match after his team secured an epic draw with favourites Spain.

Cape Verde was recently added to a list of countries that require visitors to post significant bonds when coming to the US, meaning many people are unable to afford the trip.

How Can IAS Help?

While it may be too late to secure tickets for this World Cup, the ongoing immigration situation in the US underscores the need to ensure you have the right visa if you are planning a trip to America.

Reach out to the IAS team to learn more about visiting, working, and living in the US, and how we can help with a US visa application. Contact us at +44 (0)333 414 9244 or online to find out more.