The United States government has warned foreign content creators and social media influencers. They risk deportation if they make money from content while on a tourist visa. This warning comes just before the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
In an email to Spanish news agency EFE on Wednesday, the US Customs and Border Protection and the Department of Homeland Security said foreign nationals on a tourist visa cannot earn income from US sources. Doing so breaks the rules of their entry status.
βHaving the sole purpose of the visit be content creation (as an influencer), thereby generating income from U.S. sources while in the country, is considered work and requires the appropriate visa,β they said.
The agency explained that the B-2 tourist visa allows entry for leisure, vacations, family visits, or medical treatment. It does not allow paid work or income from activities done in the US.
Visa holders must also leave before their allowed time is up. Breaking any of these rules can lead to immediate visa cancellation, deportation, and future travel bans to the US.
This warning affects creators making money on platforms like YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook. CBP added that working for a media outlet while on a tourist visa is also not allowed under these rules.
Immigration lawyer Alex Galvez told EFE that foreign nationals who break the rules can lose their tourist visa completely. He mentioned that influencers might challenge this if their social media accounts are registered in their home countries and they receive payments from outside the US.
The warning comes as the World Cup is set to take place from June 11 to July 19. The tournament is co-hosted by the US, Mexico, and Canada. Many independent content creators are expected to come to document the tournament for their audiences.
The immigration debate is getting bigger than just influencers. The International Sports Press Association shared its worries last week about unfair visa restrictions set by the Trump administration. They said some of their members have been denied entry into the US.
The US also denied entry to Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan before the tournament. The enforcement atmosphere has a history. In June 2025, Senegalese-Italian TikToker Khaby Lame was held by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement at Las Vegas airport. He self-deported after allegedly overstaying his visa.
ICE has confirmed it will provide security at World Cup venues, following the Trump administration's stance on immigration enforcement.
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