The United States Congress is investing US$50 million (R940 million) to reduce visa wait times for international visitors ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
US President Joe Biden signed the package, dedicating a portion of the money to reducing visa wait times and passport backlogs after 300 travel industry professionals lobbied for the government to act regarding the lengthy visa application process. The group said the average wait time for a first-time visitor’s visa was currently around 400 days.
The Bill does not specify any specific countries whose wait times will be reduced and does not restrict visa categories for business, leisure or education. How the funds will be allocated will be left to the discretion of the state department.
Tori Emerson Barnes, US Travel’s Executive Vice-President of Public Affairs and Policy, said further measures still needed to be taken. According to Barnes, the visa application process needed to be modernised before welcoming an influx of tourists for some of the upcoming major international events over the next decade.
Aside from the FIFA World Cup, the US will host the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
