State Dept readies 'FIFA Pass' priority visas
Ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the State Department says it is preparing a 'FIFA Pass' priority visa initiative announced last month and has surged resources to handle increased demand while keeping vetting strict. Matt Pierce, a senior Consular Affairs official, said wait times are now under 60 days in 80% of countries and more than 400 additional consular officers have been deployed, underscoring the Trump administration’s security focus as the U.S. hosts most matches beginning in June 2026.
📌 Key Facts
- White House launched a World Cup task force with security as a central focus; 'FIFA Pass' expected to launch early next year
- State Department says global visa appointment wait times are under 60 days in 80% of countries
- Over 400 additional consular officers have been dispatched to key posts to process World Cup travelers while maintaining rigorous vetting
📊 Relevant Data
Approximately 195,000 Afghan immigrants reside in the United States, constituting about 0.06% of the total US population of around 330 million.
Afghan Immigrants in the United States — Migration Policy Institute
Since 2021, 5,005 Afghan migrants have been flagged on national security grounds out of approximately 190,000 resettled, representing about 2.6% of resettled Afghans, compared to the overall US immigrant population where such flags are not specified at this rate.
Over 5K Afghan migrants flagged on 'national security' grounds since 2021, document reveals — New York Post
Afghanistan has a B visa overstay rate of 9.7 percent, which is higher than the overall suspected in-country overstay rate of 2.05 percent for non-Visa Waiver Program countries in Fiscal Year 2024.
Supersize the Entry Ban — Center for Immigration Studies
In November 2025, an Afghan national shot and killed one National Guard member and injured another, prompting the US government to implement additional national security measures including the halt on Afghan visas.