U.S. Warns Influencers of Deportation Risks During World Cup

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the Department of Homeland Security issued a warning to foreign social media influencers regarding the potential risk of deportation if they engage in content creation for income while in the United States on a tourist visa.

The agencies clarified that the B-2 tourist visa allows entry for leisure, family visits, or medical treatment but does not authorize paid work or income-generating activities. Violating these conditions could result in immediate visa cancellation and future travel restrictions.

Influencers are cautioned that while they may face legal challenges for monetizing content registered in their home countries, they must adhere to U.S. visa regulations. The warning comes ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by the U.S., Mexico, and Canada, which is expected to attract a large number of independent content creators.

Concerns have been raised about unjust visa restrictions, particularly following incidents involving individuals like Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan and TikTok creator Khabi Lame.