US Considers AI and Extended Consular Services to Address World Cup Visa Demand
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US may bolster consular services, employ AI to meet World Cup visa demand, says Rubio
WASHINGTON, May 21 (Reuters) - The Trump administration is considering putting consular officers on double shifts and employing artificial intelligence to surge processing of visas ahead of the World Cup next year, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told lawmakers on Wednesday. Travel groups have raised concerns that wait times mean fans from some of the 48 nations set to compete will not be able to secure a U.S. visa before the FIFA tournament, co-hosted by the U.S., Mexico and Canada, kicks off in June 2026. Trump's immigration stance has further sparked fears of travel problems for those hoping to attend the soccer tournament, who could include nationals of U.S. adversaries like Iran, one of a handful of countries to already qualify. The U.S. is also hosting a soccer Club World Cup starting next month and Los Angeles will host the 2028 Olympics. Asked how the State Department would meet demand for visas amid cuts to its budget, Rubio said during a House Committee on Foreign Affairs hearing that the consular affairs bureau that processes visas may in fact be expanded. Foreign service officers could be reassigned so that some embassies and consulates could operate 24 hours to process more visas, Rubio added. "If you haven't applied for a visa from Colombia already, you probably won't get here in time for the World Cup, unless we go to double shifts," Rubio said. The wait time for Colombians to get a U.S. tourist visa is currently 398 days, according to the Bogota embassy's website. Rubio added they were looking at ways of using AI and technology to speed up processing, particularly for people who have had visas in the past. FIFA President Gianni Infantino, an ally of Trump, has promised that international fans will be welcome at the World Cup, although U.S. Vice President JD Vance has warned that visitors must "go home" after attending matches. Andrew Giuliani, son of former New York City Mayor and Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani, will serve as executive director of the presidential task force for the 2026 World Cup. Reporting by Simon Lewis and Patricia Zengerle; Editing by Alexandra Hudson Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab Suggested Topics:Soccer Patricia Zengerle Thomson Reuters Patricia Zengerle has reported from more than 20 countries, including Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and China. An award-winning Washington-based national security and foreign policy reporter who also has worked as an editor, Patricia has appeared on NPR, C-Span and other programs, spoken at the National Press Club and attended the Hoover Institution Media Roundtable. She is a recipient of the Edwin M. Hood Award for Diplomatic Correspondence.
[2]
US may bolster consular services, employ AI to meet World Cup visa demand, says Rubio
Red Card: Trump's immigration play might bench America's World Cup tourismThe Trump administration is considering putting consular officers on double shifts and employing artificial intelligence to surge processing of visas ahead of the World Cup next year, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told lawmakers on Wednesday. Travel groups have raised concerns that wait times mean fans from some of the 48 nations set to compete will not be able to secure a U.S. visa before the FIFA tournament, co-hosted by the U.S., Mexico and Canada, kicks off in June 2026. Trump's immigration stance has further sparked fears of travel problems for those hoping to attend the soccer tournament, who could include nationals of U.S. adversaries like Iran, one of a handful of countries to already qualify. The U.S. is also hosting a soccer Club World Cup starting next month and Los Angeles will host the 2028 Olympics. Asked how the State Department would meet demand for visas amid cuts to its budget, Rubio said during a House Committee on Foreign Affairs hearing that the consular affairs bureau that processes visas may in fact be expanded. (Join our ETNRI WhatsApp channel for all the latest updates) Foreign service officers could be reassigned so that some embassies and consulates could operate 24 hours to process more visas, Rubio added. "If you haven't applied for a visa from Colombia already, you probably won't get here in time for the World Cup, unless we go to double shifts," Rubio said. The wait time for Colombians to get a U.S. tourist visa is currently 398 days, according to the Bogota embassy's website. Rubio added they were looking at ways of using AI and technology to speed up processing, particularly for people who have had visas in the past. FIFA President Gianni Infantino, an ally of Trump, has promised that international fans will be welcome at the World Cup, although U.S. Vice President JD Vance has warned that visitors must "go home" after attending matches. Andrew Giuliani, son of former New York City Mayor and Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani, will serve as executive director of the presidential task force for the 2026 World Cup.
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The Trump administration is exploring options to boost visa processing capacity for the 2026 World Cup, including AI implementation and extended consular services, amidst concerns over long wait times and immigration policies.
US Considers AI and Extended Consular Services for World Cup Visa Processing
The Trump administration is exploring innovative solutions to address the anticipated surge in visa applications for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio revealed plans to potentially employ artificial intelligence and extend consular services to meet the expected demand 1.
Source: Reuters
Concerns Over Visa Wait Times
Travel groups have expressed worries about the current lengthy visa processing times, which could prevent fans from some of the 48 participating nations from obtaining U.S. visas in time for the tournament. The FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada, is scheduled to begin in June 2026 1.
Source: Economic Times
Rubio highlighted the severity of the situation, stating, "If you haven't applied for a visa from Colombia already, you probably won't get here in time for the World Cup, unless we go to double shifts." The current wait time for Colombian citizens to obtain a U.S. tourist visa stands at 398 days, according to the Bogota embassy's website 2.
Proposed Solutions
To address these challenges, the State Department is considering several measures:
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Extended Consular Services: Foreign service officers may be reassigned to allow some embassies and consulates to operate 24 hours a day for increased visa processing 1.
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Artificial Intelligence: The administration is exploring ways to leverage AI and technology to expedite processing, particularly for individuals who have previously held visas 2.
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Expansion of Consular Affairs: Despite budget cuts, Rubio indicated that the consular affairs bureau responsible for visa processing might be expanded 1.
Political Tensions and Immigration Concerns
The Trump administration's stance on immigration has raised additional concerns about potential travel issues for World Cup attendees. This is particularly relevant for nationals of countries considered U.S. adversaries, such as Iran, which has already qualified for the tournament 1.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino, known to be an ally of Trump, has assured that international fans will be welcomed at the World Cup. However, U.S. Vice President JD Vance has issued a warning that visitors must "go home" after attending matches, highlighting the tension between the administration's immigration policies and the global nature of the event 2.
Preparation for Future Sporting Events
The visa processing challenge extends beyond the 2026 World Cup. The United States is set to host a soccer Club World Cup starting next month, and Los Angeles will be the venue for the 2028 Olympics. These events underscore the need for a long-term solution to efficiently manage visa applications for international sporting events 1.
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