Looking ahead to the 2026 World Cup, US immigration authorities have warned that all “influencers” who travel to the country with a tourist visa and who create audiovisual content, They risk receiving sanctions, including expulsion from American territory.
The information was revealed by the Customs and Border Protection Office (CBP), which stressed that foreigners who enter the country with tourist visas (B-2), They are prohibited from working or creating content that could generate economic benefit.
“Persons who enter the United States under a visitor (tourism) program and receive income from a U.S. source would be violating the conditions of their admission status,” CBP said.
The agency added that generally working for a media outlet or visiting the country for the sole purpose of creating content (as an influencer) —thus generating income from the US during their stay.a—it is considered work and requires the corresponding visa.
Immigration lawyer Alex Galvez told EFE that foreigners who do not comply with the demands of the US government They risk losing their tourist visa.
However, he warned that influencers and content creators could fight a legal battle if social media accounts are created in their countries of origin and receive payments outside the US
The World Cup has been surrounded by the immigration debate, last week the International Association of Sports Journalists (AIPS) expressed its concern about the “unfair” visa restrictions that the Government of US President Donald Trump has imposed on some members, who are “denied” entry to the country.
Last year, the Senegalese-Italian Khaby Lame, one of the most popular ‘tiktokers’ in the world, He was detained by the United States Immigration Service (ICE) and self-deported.
Lame, who has accumulated 162 million followers on TikTok thanks to his humor videos, was arrested on June 6, 2025 at the Las Vegas international airport. “for staying longer than established in the terms of your visa”the authorities indicated.
Also read: How the new rule to obtain the Green Card could even affect legal migration in the US.